Professional Bowlers Association

Pete Weber has always been known as one of the most emotional and flamboyant players on the PBA Tour and it was never more evident than at Ducat's Imperial Lanes.

The exuberant former PBA Rookie of the Year from St. Ann, Mo., let it all hang out as he defeated David Ozio, 277-236, in the title match of the PBA National Championship. The win was the 24th of Weber's career and earned him $28,000. It also marked the second time Weber has won the PBA National Championship (1989).

"Now I just need to win the (Brunswick World) Tournament of Champions again and I'll have my second Triple Crown," said Weber, who also owns a pair of BPAA U.S. Open wins (1988 and 1990) and a Tournament of Champions (1987). The Triple Crown consists of the PBA National Championship, the BPAA U.S. Open and the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions.

The title match was a memorable one as Weber and Ozio put on a show for the fans at Ducat's Imperial Lanes and the ESPN audience. Ozio, who was coming off a 270-235 win over Tom Baker in the semifinal match, started with the first four strikes before converting a solid 9-pin for a spare in frame five. He struck in the sixth, then converted another single-pin spare in the seventh before striking in frames eight and nine.

However, Ozio's performance would be for not as Weber converted the 2-4-5 combination in frame one and then proceeded to reel off the next nine strikes in a row, pumping his fists and exhorting the crowd the entire time. Ozio's spare and strike in frame 10 proved meaningless as he settled for the second-place check worth $14,500.

"I threw nine great shots and then sat on the bench and watched him close me out," said Ozio, who was making his first TV appearance since September of 1996. "I have to be pleased with my performance today. Nobody works harder at this game than I do and a lot of people have kept their faith in me. Now it's time for me to have some faith in myself."

Weber's victory came in just his second event of the year. He sat out the first three events due to a suspension which resulted from comments made to the press concerning lane conditions after he finished second at the Ebonite Challenge in Windsor Locks, Conn., in 1997.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Aulby defeated Johnson, 280-201; Baker defeated Aulby, 238-208; Ozio defeated Baker,270-235; and in the championship game, Weber defeated Ozio, 277-236.

56-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO		12565		224.4		14-10-0		420		12985
2		David Ozio, Vidor, TX		12447		222.3		16-8-0		480		12927
3		Tom Baker, Buffalo, NY		12371		220.9		17-6-1		525		12896
#4		Mike Aulby, Indianapolis		12460		222.5		12-12-0		360		12820
5		Jim Johnson Jr., Tampa, FL		12263		218.9		18-6-0		540		12803
6		Dale Eagle, Lewisville, TX		12269		219.1		14-9-1		435		12704		$4,400
7		Brian Voss, Atlanta		12235		218.5		15-9-0		450		12685		4,000
8		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, CA		12305		219.7		12-11-1		375		12680		3,700
9		Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, WA		12235		218.5		14-9-1		435		12670		3,500
10		Michael Haugen Jr., Pasadena, CA		12263		218.9		11-12-1		345		12608		3,300
11		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD		12278		219.2		8-15-1		255		12533		3,100
12		Chris Warren, Rockwall, TX		12240		218.6		8-16-0		240		12480		2,900
13		Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, OH		12137		216.7		10-14-0		300		12437		2,700
14		Jeff Morin, Rockaway, NJ		12007		214.4		14-10-0		420		12427		2,500
15		Bryon Smith, Sutherlin, OR		12049		215.2		10-14-0		300		12349		2,400
16		Roger Bowker, Ocala, FL		11985		214.0		12-12-0		360		12345		2,300
17		John Mazza, Shelby Township, MI		11965		213.7		12-11-1		375		12340		2,200
18		Brad Snell, Itasca, IL		11940		213.2		13-11-0		390		12330		2,100
19		Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., MI		12023		214.7		10-14-0		300		12323		2,000
#20		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY		12015		214.5		9-15-0		270		12285		1,900
21		Brian LeClair, Chatham, NY		11892		212.4		11-13-0		330		12222		1,800
22		C.K. Moore, Chehalis, WA		11909		212.7		10-14-0		300		12209		1,700
23		Anthony Lombardo, Lowellville, OH		11825		211.2		8-15-1		255		12080		1,600
24		Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, FL		11694		208.8		6-18-0		180		11874		1,500

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
25		John Gant, Winston-Salem, NC	$1,250
*26		Kent Burgan, Cynthiana, KY	1,320
27		Butch Soper, Lake Havasu City, AZ	1,160
28		Curtis Odom, Coldwater, MI	1,120
		Dale Traber, Cedarburg, WI	1,120
30		Darren Wong, San Jose, CA	1,100
31		John Bauerle Jr., Indianapolis	1,090
32		Jason Couch, Clermont, FL	1,080
33		Dave Wodka, Las Vegas	1,070
34		David Traber, Woodstock, IL	1,060
35		Lee Vanderhoef, Baltimore	1,050
36		Don Moser, Murrieta, CA	1,040
37		Brian Ziesig, Levittown, NY	1,030
38		Bill Oakes, Lawton, OK	1,020
39		Eric Forkel, Tucson, AZ	1,010
40		Brian Himmler, Cincinnati	1,000
41		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX	990
42		Don Genalo, Perrysburg, OH	980
43		Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City	970
44		Danny Wiseman, Baltimore	960
45		Don Sylvia, Vero Beach, FL	950
46		Mitchell Beasley, Jacksonville, AR	940
47		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ	930
48		Rohn Morton, Vancouver, WA	920
49		Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, FL	910
50		Norm Duke, Clermont, FL	900