Professional Bowlers Association

Doug Kent, bowling in his first Oronamin C Japan Cup, defeated a pair of former champions to earn his second career PBA title at Tokyo Port Bowl.

Kent, Canandaigua, N.Y., defeated Walter Ray Williams Jr., in the semifinal match, 237-181, then took care of tournament leader Parker Bohn III in the title match, 237-231, to earn the $50,000 first-place check. This was the 13th Annual Oronamin C Japan Cup which features the top 16 players from the PBA and the top 16 from the Japan Professional Bowlers Association (JPBA).

"I didn't know what to expect when I got here," said Kent. "I didn't know how I would react to the surroundings, the time change or anything. Actually, Parker was the one who showed me around and taught me some of the customs. Then I turn around and beat him for the title."

The title match was close throughout. Both players had four strikes (including "three-baggers" for each) and four spares after the first eight frames, and Kent led by five.

Atter a strike by Bohn in the ninth, Kent got up in his ninth frame needing three strikes and six pins for the win. He threw three strikes and finished with a nine-count to assure victory. Winning the Japan Cup assured Kent an invitation to the 1998 Japan Cup.

In addition, the PBA was competing to retain the Nakano Cup. The Nakano Cup, which is named after tournament organizer Mr. Keijiro Nakano, goes to the team (PBA or JPBA) with the highest scratch pinfall. The PBA retained the cup, 116,412 to 112,220.

The championship round was broadcast live on NHK-TV.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Shafer defeated Wilson, 267-237; Duke defeated Shafer, 278-225; Williams defeated Duke. 279-225; Kent defeated Williams, 237-181 and in the championship game, Kent defeated Bohn, 237-231.

32-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City/State		Pins		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Parker Bohn III, Jackson. NJ		7662		23-9-0		690		8352
#2		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY		7624		20-10-2		630		8254
3		W.R.WilliamsJr., Stockton,CA		7547		21-11-0		630		8177
4		Norm Duke, Clermont, FL		7407		20-12-0		600		8007
5		Ryan Shafer, Elmira, NY		7366		21-11-0		630		7996
6		Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, FL		7307		20-12-0		600		7907
7		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD		7289		20-12-0		600		7889		$6,000
8		Brian Voss, Atlanta		7446		14-17-1		435		7881		5,250
9		Randy Pedersen, Hollywood, FL		7292		16-16-0		480		7772		4,700
10		Akio Harada. Saitama		7203		18-14-0		540		7743		4,200
11		Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL		7238		15-17-0		450		7688		3,900
12		Ken Taniguchi, Osaka		7105		18-12-2		570		7675		3,700
13		Yukio Yamazaki. Tokyo		7176		15-16-1		465		7641		3,500
14		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA		7180		15-17-0		450		7630		3,350
		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX		7150		16-16-0		480		7630		3,350
16		David Traber, Woodstock, IL		7080		17-13-2		540		7620		3,200
17		Yasuharu Tsuno, Kanagawa		7149		15-17-0		450		7599		3,100
18		Minoru Sendan, Hiyogo		7080		16-15-1		495		7575		3,000
19		Hiroshi Nagatani, Tokyo		7083		16-16-0		480		7563		2,950
20		Takeo Sakai, Osaka		7072		16-16-0		480		7552		2,900
21		Akio Ishihara, Chiba		7034		15-15-2		480		7514		2,850
22		Masaaki Saijoh, Kanagawa		7097		13-18-1		405		7502		2,800
23		Tsuguo Tsukahara, Kanagawa		6944		18-14-0		540		7484		2,750
24		Pete Weber, St. Ann. MO		6934		15-17-0		450		7384		2,700
25		Dave Arnold. Gilbert, AZ		6952		13-19-0		390		7342		2,650
26		Shigenon Sakata, Aichi		6954		11-19-2		360		7314		2,600
27		Jyunichi Yajima, Tokyo		6870		14-17-1		435		7305		2,550
28		Hiroyuki Inoue, Kanagawa		6994		10-22-0		300		7294		2,500
29		Masayuki Koyama, Saitama		6921		12-20-0		360		7281		2,450
30		Nobuaki Takahashi,Tokyo		6876		11-20-1		345		7221		2,400
31		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, KS		6938		9-23-0		270		7208		2,350
32		Teruyuki Obara, Kanagawa		6662		11-21-0		330		6992		2,300