Professional Bowlers Association

Dave Davis didn't see the $25,000 ball he threw in his 213-205 victory over Don Johnson in the $100,000 Firestone Tournament of Champions at Riviera Lanes in Akron, Ohio ---- He was afraid to look.

It was the wrap-up in the richest of all bowling tournaments. Davis needed a mark in the tenth frame to take home the $25,000 first-place check. He threw his first ball and a solid seven defied the strike. The 6-3, 150-pounder stood on the approach ready to throw his second ball and knowing he needed that one pin for victory. He took off on his approach and HORRORS! . . . he hit his ankle on the down-swing. Fortunately . . . for Davis . . . it hung on and he got his mark.

While Davis was taking bows as king of the 48 champions, Johnson was kneedeep in sympathizers. For the second straight year he had come so close and yet finished so far away. And, it was the pin that Davis refused to watch, the seven, that proved his downfall for the second year in a row.

Not that Johnson missed "the critter," as he put it. But in the seventh frame when he was working on three strikes in a row, he threw what he thought was the fourth and the seven pin didn't wiggle.

As the qualifying leader, Davis "rested" while the other four finalists shot down each other. Dick Weber, the perennial finalist, was the first victim as he lost a 236-223 decision to Johnson. Johnson then humbled Bill Tucker, 195-187.

Enter Jim Stefanich, the defending champion. Jim was just as bad as he had been good the year before when he set 13 records on his way to the title. Four big splits produced a 145 game while Johnson tallied 201.

The stage was set and Davis strode into the picture. He and Johnson played even for the first five frames. Then from the sixth through the eighth Johnson turkeyed. But Davis went strike, strike, spare, strike to set the stage for the seven pin high jinks in the tenth frame.

In the meantime, Johnson ran into a four-six-ten split which washed him out. The Kokomo Kid was non-committal about his sour luck for the second straight year. Of course, the $12,500 second-place check salved his wound.

Stefanich, who just the year before celebrated putting $25,000 in the bank, picked up $6,500 for third, Tucker won $3,500 for fourth and Weber got $2,500 for fifth place.

"Firestone Week" was a typical plush affair which started with the Dinner of Champions Monday night at Firestone Country Club.

And, the girls had their shot in the sun. While the champions were being feted at the Firestone Country Club, Mrs. Lorraine Stitzlein was hosting the wives of the champs and Firestone officials at a gala dinner party. Mrs. Roone Arledge, wife of the president of ABC-Television sports, was one of the guest speakers.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Johnson defeated Weber, 236-223; Johnson defeated Tucker, 195187; Johnson defeated Stefanich, 201-145, and Davis defeated Johnson, 213-205, in the final game for the championship.

48-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City/State		Pins		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Dave Davis, Phoenix, Ariz.		10194		16-7-1		825		11019
2		Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill.		10158		16-8-0		800		10958
3		Bill Tucker, Los Angeles, Calif.		10293		13-11-0		650		10943
4		Dick Weber, St. Louis, Mo.		10071		14-10-0		700		10771
5		Don Johnson, Kokomo, Ind.		10034		14-10-0		700		10734
*6		Jim Godman, Hayward, Calif.		10002		14-10-0		700		10702		$2,050
7		Wayne Zahn, Atlanta, Ga.		9960		13-11-0		650		10610		1,700
8		Jim St. John, San Jose, Calif.		9850		14-9-1		725		10575		1,600
9		Joe Joseph, Lansing, Mich.		9867		14-10-0		700		10567		1,500
10		Mike Limongello, Babylon, N.Y.		10035		10-13-1		525		10560		1,450
11		Mike Durbin, Costa Mesa, Calif.		9836		14-10-0		700		10536		1,400
12		Pete Tountas, Tucson, Ariz.		9859		11-12-1		575		10434		1,375
13		Bud Horn, Los Angeles, Calif.		9906		10-14-0		500		10406		1,350
14		John Guenther, Seattle, Wash.		9737		13-11-0		650		10387		1,325
15		Vern Downing, San Francisco, Calif.		9551		15-8-1		775		10326		1,300
16		Sam Baca, Hayward, Calif.		9904		8-16-0		400		10304		1,275
17		Teata Semiz, River Edge, N. J.		9579		14-10-0		700		10279		1,250
18		Dick Ritger, Hartford, Wis.		9692		10-14-0		500		10192		1,225
19		Skee Foremsky, El Paso, Tex.		9614		10-14-0		500		10114		1,200
20		Nelson Burton, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.		9652		8-16-0		400		10052		1,175
21		Harry Smith, Fresno, Calif.		9442		12-12-0		600		10042		1,150
22		Bill Allen, Orlando, Fla.		9556		9-15-0		450		10006		1,125
23		Ralph Engan, Monsey, N. Y.		9536		8-15-1		425		9961		1,100
24		Billy Welu, St. Louis, Mo.		9321		5-19-0		250		9571		1,075

Pos.		Name, City/State	Total	Amount
25		Les Schissler, Denver, Colo.	4764	$1,000
**26		Jack Biondolillo, Houston, Tex.	4761	1,075
27		Don Helling, St. Louis, Mo.	4754	1,000
28		Dave Soutar, Detroit, Mich.	4747	1,000
29		Don Carter, Tarzana, Calif.	4741	1,000
30		Carmen Salvino, Chicago, Ill.	4733	1,000
31		Earl Johnson, St. Paul, Minn.	4723	1,000
32		Tom Harnisch, Buffalo, N.Y.	4718	1,000
33		Tim Harahan, Encino, Calif.	4710	1,000
34		Buzz Fazio, Delton, Mich.	4695	1,000
35		Ray Bluth, St. Louis, Mo.	4683	1,000
36		Bill Lillard, Dallas, Tex.	4682	1,000
37		Glenn Allison, Los Angeles, Calif.	4680	1,000
38		Bob Strampe, Detroit, Mich.	4677	1,000
33		Billy Hardwick, Louisville, Ky.	4676	1,000
40		Johnny Meyer, Lake Ronkonkoma N.Y.	4640	1,000
41		Gene Rhoda, Valparaiso, Ind.	4588	1,000
42		Barry Asher, Santa Ana, Calif.	4570	1,000
43		George Howard, Kalamazoo, Mich.	4550	1,000
44		Dennis Chapis, St. Louis, Mo.	4547	1,000
45		Gary Martineau,, Nashville, Tenn.	4498	1,000
46		Butch Gearhart, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.	4366	1,000
47		Billy Golembiewski, Detroit, Mich.	4359	1,000
48		Lou Scalia, Hollywood, Fla.	4303	1,000