Professional Bowlers Association

Eric Forkel was looking to end a dry spell by winning in the desert. Norm Duke would have none of it.

Forkel led every round of the PBA Tour's Tucson Open, but fell victim to a nearly perfect Duke in the title match of the 37th annual event at Golden Pin Lanes, which was televised live by CBS Sports.

Duke, Clermont, Fla., struck on 11 of 12 shots and defeated Forkel, who was performing in front of his hometown fans, 279-256, to claim his 14th career title and the $16,000 first-place check. It was Duke's second win in Tucson, having won the event in 7991.

Duke, who was disqualified from the Tour's previous event, the Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship, after reporting late for the start of the first round of match play, commented on the victory.

"This win means a lot to me, especially after what happened at the TPC," said Duke. "Bless Eric's heart, he outbowled us all week and I know he'll be back. I was just fortunate today."

Through the first five frames of the title match, both bowlers were perfect and still alive for the $1 million 300 game bonus being offered by Showboat Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center. Duke blinked first, leaving a 10-pin and converting it for a spare in frame six.

Forkel, who was after his first singles title since the fall of 1994, was perfect through seven frames. He threw his only bad shot of the match in frame eight, coming up a little light and leaving the 3-5-6-9 "bucket," which he converted. That opening was all Duke needed as he struck on his final six shots to win the match, leaving Forkel with the second-place check for $6,500.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Match one: Duke (235) defeated Ward (225) and Stayrook (175); and in the championship game, Duke defeated Forkel, 279-256.

42-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Eric Forkel, Tucson, AZ		9994		237.9		16-8-0		480		10474
#2		Ricky Ward, North Fort Myers, FL		9683		230.5		16-8-0		480		10163
3		Norm Duke, Clermont, FL		9586		228.2		19-5-0		570		10156
4		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ		9612		228.9		16-8-0		480		10092
5		Mike Aulby, Indianapolis		9536		227.0		14-10-0		420		9956		$3,500
6		John Mazza, Shelby Township, MI		9505		226.3		15-9-0		450		9955		3,000
#7		Jason Couch, Clermont, FL		9557		227.5		13-11-0		390		9947		2,700
8		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ		9605		228.7		11-13-0		330		9935		2,500
#9		Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY		9403		223.9		15-9-0		450		9853		2,300
10		Pete Weber, St. Ann, MO		9429		224.5		13-71-0		390		9819		2,100
11		Tom Baker, Buffalo, NY		9434		224.6		11-13-0		330		9764		1,900
12		W.R. Williams Jr., Stockton, CA		9328		222.1		74-10-0		420		9748		1,800
13		Jeff Lizzi, Sandusky, OH		9476		225.6		9-15-0		270		9746		1,750
14		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX		9275		220.8		14-10-0		420		9695		1,700
15		Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD		9318		221.9		11-12-1		345		9663		1,625
		Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, NY		9303		221.5		12-12-0		360		9663		1,625
17		Randy Pedersen, Hollywood, FL		9306		221.6		11-13-0		330		9636		1,550
18		Wayne Webb, Akron, OH		9309		221.6		10-13-1		315		9624		1,500
19		Dennis Horan, San Diego		9305		221.5		B-16-0		240		9545		1,450
20		Ryan Shafer, Elmira, NV		9222		219.6		9-15-0		270		9492		1,400
#21		Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, FL		9037		215.2		10-14-0		300		9337		1,350
22		George Branham III, Indianapolis		8988		214.0		10-14-0		300		9288		1,300
23		Michael Haugen Jr., Pasadena, CA		8902		211.9		4-20-0		120		9022		1,250
#24		Sean Swanson, Springfield, MO		8837		210.4		6-18-0		180		9017		1,200

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*25		John Bauerle Jr., Indianapolis	$1,120
26		Billy Myers Jr., Temple City, CA	970
27		Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City	940
28		Danny Wiseman, Baltimore	920
29		Curtis Odom, Coldwater, MI	900
30		Tony Rosamilia, Ledgewood, NJ	890
31		Brian Ziesig, Levittown, NY	880