PBA Northwest Classic



$100,000 PBA NORTHWEST CLASSIC
Fiesta Bowl, Richland, WA, Jun 28-Jul 1, 1998
Fourth Time Is The Charm For Criss In Northwest Classic

Tim Criss finally removed the "runner-up" label that had been dogging him this year on the PBA Tour. After three second-place finishes this year, Criss was able to break into the winner's circle by capturing the PBA Northwest Classic at Fiesta Bowl.

In a non-televised event (the Tour's first since Brian Voss won the 1993 tournament in Riverside, Calif ') Criss defeated Butch Soper in the final game of match play (the "position round" match), 245-207, to earn his third career title and $16,000.

Criss was in second place going into the final round of match play, trailing Soper by just 15 pins. The resident of Bel Air, Md., was impressive over those final eight games, winning all of his matches, including the decisive one against Soper. In the end, Criss totaled 10,063 pins to Soper's 9,940. Soper, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., earned $6,000 for second.

"I've led a tournament this year and lost," said Criss. "It takes the pressure off, because when you lead a tournament you have to come back for the championship round and figure out the lanes all over again. It alleviates you of essentially having to win the tournament twice."

In the position round match, Soper suffered an early open frame when he failed to convert the 3-6-10 spare. Criss started with the first flue strikes, then converted a pair of spares, before stringing together three more strikes to secure the win.

Soper, who also has three second-place finishes this year, said, "All night long I kept shooting good games. But, unfortunately for me, so was Tim and I just couldn't catch him." Soper added, "I need to get luckier. I've had guys shoot well against me (in the championship match) and you can't do anything about that. Hopefully, what comes around, goes around."

Criss finished the tournament with a field-Nest 19-5 match play record and a 226 average for his 42 games. Soper compiled a 17-7 record and averaged 224. Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, Wash., finished third with 9,913 total pins and earned $5,000. Rounding out the top five were Jess Stayrook, Tempe, Ariz. (9,787 and $4,000) and Steve Hoskins (9,783 and $3,500).

42-GAME TOTALS

 Name, CityPinsAvg  WLT+TotAmt
1Tim Criss, Bel Air, MD 9493 226.0 19-5-0 570 10063 $16,000
2Butch Soper, Lake Havasu City, AZ 9430 224.5 17-7-0 510 9940 8,200
3Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, WA 9553 227.4 12-12-0 360 9913 5,000
4Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ 9277 220.9 17-7-0 510 9787 4,000
5Steve Hoskins, Tarpon Springs, FL 9393 223.6 13-11-0 390 9783 3,500
6Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA 9325 222.0 14-10-0 420 9745 3,100
7Tommy Delutz Jr., Flushing, NY 9318 221.9 14-10-0 420 9738 2,800
8Danny Wiseman, Baltimore 9342 222.4 12-12-0 360 9702 2,600
9Norm Duke, Clermont, FL 9336 222.3 11-13-0 330 9666 2,400
10Jason Couch, Clermont, FL 9180 218.6 14-10-0 420 9600 2,200
11Dave Arnold, Gilbert, AZ 9122 217.2 13-10-1 405 9527 2,000
12Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela 9114 217.0 13-11-0 390 9504 1,900
#13Doug Kent, Canandaigua, NY 9143 217.7 10-14-0 300 9443 1,800
14Greg Thomas, Old Town, ID 9080 216.2 12-12-0 360 9440 1,700
15Dave Husted, Milwaukie, OR 9062 215.8 12-12-0 360 9422 1,650
#16Hugh Miller, Seattle 8970 213.6 12-11-1 375 9345 1,600
17Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL 9092 216.5 8-16-0 240 9332 1,550
#18Robert Smith, Simi Valley, CA 8876 211.3 12-12-0 360 9236 1,500
#19Kurt Pilon, Clinton Township, MI 8900 211.9 11-13-0 330 9230 1,450
20Norman Titus, Flemington, NJ 8885 211.5 8-16-0 240 9125 1,400
21Mike Edwards, Oklahoma City 8901 211.9 7-17-0 210 9111 1,350
22Chris Barnes, Wichita, KS 8774 208.9 11-13-0 330 9104 1,300
23Bob Spaulding, Portland, OR 8888 211.6 6-18-0 180 9068 1,250
24Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, KS 8697 207.1 9-15-0 270 8967 1,200

OTHER CASHER

Pos.Name, City/StateAmount
#*25Craig Tuholski, Washougal, WA$1,120

*-Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader-Danny Wiseman, 4230. 24th place-Dave Arnold, 3926.#-Doug Kent, Hugh Miller, Robert Smith, Kurt Pilon, Craig Tuholski and Mike Miller rolled 300 games ($100 each). PRO-AM CASHERS-Darren Wong, John Bauerle Jr., Rick Steelsmith, Tom Baker and Brian Himmler ($50 each).