Professional Bowlers Association

It will go down in the record books as one of the most exciting moments ever to take place in a sports event. To be sure, the many millions of "witnesses" who watched the drama unfold on television will never forget that twelfth and final shot tossed by Don Johnson in the 1970 Firestone Tournament of Champions, the sixth edition of the $100,000 tournament.

This was "Kokomo's" event almost from the beginning and the 47 other champions in the field seemingly knew it. After 48 games, Don held a lead of 161 pins on second-placer Mike Durbin, even though Johnson's 16-7-1 record in match play was a notch under the 19-4-1 performance turned in by the Dayton, Ohio, righthander. The way Don did it was by spilling more than 300 pins than anyone else in the star-studded lineup.

When the cast had been determined for the finals, behind Don and Mike came Dick Ritger, Hartford, Wisc., Barry Asher of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill. All were battle-hardened veterans and all were to be participants in the thrilling climax to this most important of all professional bowling competitions.

When the televised action got under way, the foes were Stefanich and Asher and Steffie gave a portent of things to come when he won, 269-217. The high-scoring mood was maintained in the next battle when Ritger dumped Jim, 263-215. Then, it was Ritger over Durbin by 237-211. Johnson stepped up on the approach for the $25,000 showdown, the same Johnson who earlier in the event had tossed a 300 to Ritger's 249.

Six frames later, all that went up on the scoreboard were strikes-six for Ritger, six for Don. In the seventh, Dick left a four-pin, but Don kept going . . . and going . . . and going. Right up until the 12th and final shot. The title was cinched, but waiting for Johnson was a $10,000 bonus and a new automobile if he could register a perfect game.

A hush came over the huge crowd at Riviera Lanes as he stepped on the approach. The delivery . . . the impact . . . a perfect hit . . . and a ten pin that refused to fall. Don had his title, a 299 game, and the first man to help the prostrate Don to his feet was runnerup Ritger, who received $12,500. It was a memorable ending to a memorable tournament.

TELEVISED FINALS

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Stefanich defeated Asher, 269-217; Ritger defeated Stefanich, 263-215; Ritger defeated Durbin, 237-211; and in the championship game Johnson defeated Ritger, 299-268.

48-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City/State		Pins		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
**1		Don Johnson, Akron, O.		11154		16-7-1		825		11979
2		Mike Durbin, Dayton, O.		10843		19-4-1		975		11818
3		Dick Ritger, Hartford, Wisc.		10687		15-8-1		775		11462
4		Barry Asher, Costa Mesa, Cal.		10789		12-12-0		600		11389
5		Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill.		10608		13-9-2		700		11308
*6		Carmen Salvino, Chicago, Ill.		10608		13-11-0		650		11258		$2,050
7		Dick Weber, St. Louis, Mo.		10500		15-9-0		750		11250		1,700
8		Ralph Engan, Monsey, N.Y.		10559		13-10-1		675		11234		1,600
9		Dave Davis, Miami, Fla.		10461		14-9-1		725		11186		1,500
10		Vern Downing, San Francisco, Cal.		10585		12-12-0		600		11185		1,450
11		Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis, Mo.		10532		13-11-0		650		11182		1,400
12		Earl Johnson, Tacoma, Wash.		10560		10-14-0		500		11060		1,375
13		Skee Foremsky, Houston, Tex.		10459		12-12-0		600		11059		1,350
14		Mike Limongello, N. Babylon, N.Y.		10452		11-12-1		575		11027		1,325
15		Teata Semiz, River Edge, N.J.		10436		11-13-0		550		10986		1,300
16		Jim Godman, Elkhart, Ind.		10399		11-12-1		575		10974		1,275
17		Sam Baca, Akron, 0.		10354		11-13-0		550		10904		1,250
18		Les Zikes, Palatine, Ill.		10328		11-13-0		550		10878		1,225
19		Joe Dignam, Seattle, Wash.		10459		7-16-1		375		10834		1,200
20		George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C.		10373		8-16-0		400		10773		1,175
21		Tommy Tuttle, King, N.C.		10268		10-14-0		500		10768		1,150
22		Allie Clarke, Akron, 0.		10200		9-15-0		450		10650		1,125
23		Billy Hardwick, Louisville, Ky.		10044		8-16-0		400		10444		1,100
24		Terry Booth, Mountain View, Cal.		9803		9-15-0		450		10253		1,075

Pos.		Name, City/State	Total	Amount
25		Bob Strampe, Detroit, Mich.	5128	$1,000
26		Ray Bluth, St. Louis, Mo.	5123	1,000
*27		Dave Soutar, Gilroy, Cal.	5121	1,075
28		Johnny Guenther, Seattle, Wash.	5114	1,000
29		Wayne Zahn, Tempe, Ariz.	5112	1,000
30		Harry Smith, Fresno, Cal.	5106	1,000
31		Pete Tountas, Calumet City, Ill.	5097	1,000
32		Jim St. John, San Jose, Cal.	5093	1,000
33		Bill Tucker, St. Louis, Mo.	5025	1,000
34		Glenn Allison, Los Angeles, Cal.	5019	1,000
35		Don Glover, Bakersfield, Cal.	4997	1,000
36		Mike McGrath, El Cerrito, Cal.	4976	1,000
37		Ed Bourdase, Fresno, Cal.	4964	1,000
38		Tim Harahan, Canoga Park, Cal.	4913	1,000
39		Fred Lening, Yardley, Pa.	4887	1,000
40		Lou Scalia, Hollywood, Fla.	4865	1,000
41		Butch Gearhart, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.	4822	1,000
42		Don Helling, St. Louis, Mo.	4796	1,000
43		Bill Allen, Orlando, Fla.	4792	1,000
44		Marty Piraino, Syracuse, N.Y.	4779	1,000
45		Buzz Fazio, Delton, Mich.	4763	1,000
46		Don McCune, Munster, Ind.	4752	1,000
47		Jim Chestney, Denver, Colo.	4375	1,000
48		Billy Welu, St. Louis, Mo., (16 Games)	3282	1,000