BILLY HARDWICK'S record-setting seventh professional title came in the Joliet (111.) Open at Town and Country Lanes. The Louisville, Ky., bowler made the Joliet competition his sixth PBA championship, added to his triumph in the BPAA All-Star, he became the first pro ever to garner seven titles in one year. Both Dave Davis and Jim Stefanich had six championships, in 1967 and 1968, respectively. After leading all the way, the "Louisville Slugger" fell behind Mike McGrath in the next-to-last game, but then proceeded to overcome the 20-pin deficit. Hardwick won the title tilt, 213-202, dropping McGrath to third place behind Ray Bluth, who was taking the measure of Tim Harahan. Hardwick averaged 217 for his 24-game qualifying round, then took five of his first six match games until the late-and futile-bid by McGrath. 40-GAME FINALS | |  | Name, City/State | | Pins | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Billy Hardwick, Louisville, Ky. | | 8700 | | 9-7-0 | | 450 | | 9150 | | $3,000 | | 2 | | Ray Bluth St. Louis, Mo. | | 8563 | | 11-5-0 | | 550 | | 9113 | | 1,600 | | 3 | | Mike McGrath, El Cerrito, Calif. | | 8609 | | 10-6-0 | | 500 | | 9109 | | 1,400 | | 4 | | Tim Harahan, Canoga Park, Calif. | | 8605 | | 8-7-1 | | 425 | | 9030 | | 1,200 | | 5 | | Dave Soutar, Gilroy, Calif. | | 8555 | | 9-7-0 | | 450 | | 9005 | | 1,100 | | 6 | | Dave Davis, Phoenix, Ariz. | | 8544 | | 8-8-0 | | 400 | | 8944 | | 1,050 | | 7 | | Dick Ritger, Hartford, Wisc. | | 8434 | | 8-7-1 | | 425 | | 8859 | | 1,000 | | 8 | | Jim Godman, Elkhart, Ind. | | 8402 | | 8-7-1 | | 425 | | 8827 | | 950 | | 9 | | Gary Dickinson, Ft. Worth, Tex. | | 8454 | | 7-9-0 | | 350 | | 8804 | | 900 | | 10 | | Don Helling, St. Louis, Mo. | | 8419 | | 7-8-1 | | 375 | | 8794 | | 850 | | 11 | | Wayne Sheridan, Richmond, Va. | | 8424 | | 6-8-2 | | 350 | | 8774 | | 800 | | 12 | | Bud Horn, Los Angeles, Calif. | | 8329 | | 8-8-0 | | 400 | | 8729 | | 750 | | 13 | | Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis, Mo. | | 8363 | | 6-9-1 | | 325 | | 8688 | | 700 | | 14 | | Ralph Hartmann, New Hyde Park, N. Y. | | 8315 | | 7-9-0 | | 350 | | 8665 | | 650 | | 15 | | Bill Tucker, Louisville, Ky. | | 8228 | | 6-9-1 | | 325 | | 8553 | | 625 | | 16 | | Billy Walden, St. Louis, Mo. | | 8182 | | 6-10-0 | | 300 | | 8482 | | 600 | |
24-GAME TOTALS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | *17 | | Glenn Allison, Los Angeles, Calif. | 5007 | $450 | | 18 | | Dick Weber, St Louis, Mo. | 4998 | 380 | | 19 | | Alex Seymore, Kannapolis, N. C. | 4982 | 365 | | 20 | | Pete Tountas, Calumt City, Ill. | 4980 | 355 | | 21 | | Larry Lichstein, Bloomfield, Conn. | 4977 | 345 | | 22 | | Ernie Schlegel, Newburgh, N. Y. | 4967 | 335 | | 23 | | Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill. | 4946 | 325 | | 24 | | Mario Borghi, Corona, N. Y. | 4933 | 315 | | 25 | | Vern Downing, San Francisco, Calif. | 4930 | 310 | | 26 | | John Petraglia, Brooklyn, N. Y. | 4928 | 305 | | 27 | | Butch Gearhart, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | 4919 | 300 | | 28 | | John Guenther, Seattle, Wash. | 4913 | 295 | | 29 | | Norm Meyers, St. Louis, Mo. | 4905 | 290 | | 30 | | Tom Delutz, New York, N. Y. | 4902 | 285 | | 31 | | Pat Patterson, St. Louis, Mo. | 4900 | 280 | | 32 | | Carmen Salvino, Chicago, Ill. | 4894 | 275 | | 33 | | Eddy Cook, Florence, S. C. | 4888 | 267.50 | | | | Don Johnson, Kokomo, Ind. | 4888 | 267.50 | |
*Alternate. 24-Game Qualifying Leader-Hardwick, 5218. 16th Low-Godman, 5010Pro-Am Cashers ($50)-Ed Bourdase, Dave Davis, Bob Strampe, Norm Meyers, NelsonBurton Jr., Jack Biondolillo. _ ._ |