The Japan Gold Cup



THE JAPAN GOLD CUP
Starlanes, Tokyo, Japan, Sep 20-Oct 5, 1969
Ritger A Flash In Japan

For the second straight year, America's outstanding professional bowlers visited Japan and this time around it was DICK RITGER of Hartford, Wisc., who came away with the victory. Ritger, who also triumphed in the Buffalo Open earlier in the year, shot a spectacular 234-plus for 56 games of match play and then survived a step-ladder elimination round to win the championship game from Don Glover, 237-227.

Glover, as a matter of fact, averaged nearly four pins better than Ritger throughout match play and led the seven-man field into the nationally televised finals with a 7-1 record. In the playoffs, however, Ritger downed defending champion Don Johnson, 234-192, to earn a shot at Glover in the top spot, and then he turned the tables on Glover.

THE FINALS

Pos.Name, City/StateTotalAmount
1Dick Ritger, Hartford, Wisc.471 (2 games)$2,000
2Don Glover, Bakersfield, Calif.227 (1 game)1,200
3Don Johnson, Kokomo, Ind.707 (3 games)1,050
4John Guenther, Fresno, Calif.243 (1 game)950
5Wayne Zahn, Tempe, Ariz.738 (3 games)850
8Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill.227 (1 game)750
7Carmen Salvino, Chicago, Ill.235 (1 game)650
*8Billy Hardwick, Louisville, Ky. NO TOTAL550550

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Zahn defeated Salvino, 236-235; Zahn defeated Stefanich, 257-227; Johnson defeated Zahn, 246-245; Johnson defeated Guenther, 269-243; Ritger defeated Johnson. 234-192; and in the championship game, Ritger defeated Glover, 237-227.
MATCH GAME TOTALS (56 games)

 Name, City/StatePins  WLT+TotAmt
1Don Glover 13371 33-20-3 1725 15096 
2Dick Ritger 13144 37-16-3 1925 15069 
3John Guenther 13026 32-23-1 1625 14651 
4Don Johnson 13127 28-24-4 1500 14627 
5Jim Stefanich 12925 31-24-1 1575 14500 
8Carmen Salvino 12489 28-27-1 1425 13914 
7Wayne Zahn 12114 24-29-3 1275 13389 

*Billy Hardwick withdrew from tournament. Johnson, Glover each had two 300 games.