Bay City Open



$37,500 BAY CITY OPEN
Eastland Lanes Bay City, Mich., Aug 11-14, 1972
Ritger Holds On

Dick Ritger staved off numerous threats by Don Johnson to capture the $37,500 Bay City Open at Eastland Lanes. Ritger had re-joined the tour just one week before in the $55,000 Columbia Open at Cranston, R.I. after a vacation, and finished fifth there before moving to Bay City to record his 10th PBA career win.

Ritger and Johnson took over the battle for the title after 18-game qualifying leader Bob Strampe, Detroit, Mich., fell out of contention during match game finals play. Ritger held a nine-pin lead over Johnson going into the final eight games of match play and held a slim lead for four more games.

In the fifth game of the night, Johnson took over first place when Ritger lost a game; but Ritger bounced right back with a 248-199 win over Wayne Zahn, Tempe, Ariz., and held it to the finish. Going into the position round, Ritger held a 30-pin lead over Johnson and Johnson needed a victory and the accompanying 30 bonus pins to nail down the title. But Ritger was not to be denied and he buried Johnson, 237-202.

 Name, City/StatePins  WLT+TotAmt
1Dick Ritger, Hartford Wise. 9228 17-7-0 510 9738 $4,000
2Don Johnson, Akron, Ohio 9193 15-9-0 450 9643 2,200
3Roy Buckley, Columbus, Ohio 9046 16-8-0 480 9526 1,500
4Norm Meyers, St. Louis, Mo. 9139 12-11-1 375 9514 1,200
5Don McCune, Munster, Ind. 9064 13-11-0 390 9454 1,100
6Bill Beach, Sharon, Pa. 9051 13-11-0 390 9441 1,050
7Curt Schmidt, Ft. Wayne, Ind. 9029 13-10-1 405 9434 1,000
8Dave Soutar, Tarzana, Calif. 8913 17-7-0 510 9423 950
9Ralph Hartmann, New Hyde Park, N.Y. 8944 15-8-1 465 9409 900
10Butch Soper, Tustin, Calif. 8931 15-9-0 450 9381 850
11Jim Stefanich, Joliet, III. 9028 11-13-0 330 9358 825
12Mike Lemongello, No. Babylon, N.Y. 8992 10-13-1 315 9307 800
13Ernie Schlegel, Newburgh, N.Y. 8955 11-12-1 345 9300 775
14Dennis Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio 8943 10-14-0 300 9243 750
15Tim Albin, No. Hollywood, Calif. 8969 8-15-1 255 9224 712.50
 Bob Strampe, Detroit, Mich. 8924 10-14-0 300 9224 712.50
17Wayne Zahn, Tempe, Ariz. 8867 11-13-0 330 9197 675
18Les Zikes, Chicago, Ill. 8795 13-11-0 390 9185 650
19Tom Hudson, Akron, Ohio 8787 9-14-1 285 9072 625
20Bob Krajnik, Buffalo, N.Y. 8769 9-15-0 270 9039 600
21Jimmy McHugh, New York, N.Y. 8713 10-14-0 300 9013 575
22Mike Orlovsky, Endicott, N.Y. 8753 8-15-1 255 9008 550
23Bill Straub, Lincoln, Neb. 8601 10-14-0 300 8901 525
24Bobby Jenkins, Atlanta, Ga. 8409 8-16-0 240 8649 500

18-GAME TOTALS

Pos.Name, City/StateTotalAmount
*25Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis, Mo.3742$465
26Fred Jaskie, Milwaukee, Wis.3733360
 Bob Sedlacek, Ozone Park, N.Y.3733360
28Jay Robinson, Santa Susana, Calif.3723327.50
 Barry Warshafsky, Watertown, Mass.3723327.50
30Barry Asher, Costa Mesa, Calif.3719325
31Charlie Venable, Brooklyn, N.Y.3717320
32Mickey Higham, Kansas City, Mo.3715315
33Mark Roth, Brooklyn, N.Y.3714310
34Sam Stump, Columbus, Ohio3709305
35Tye Critchlow, Los Angeles, Calif.3707300
36Gus Lampo, Endicott, N.Y.3698295
37Carmen Salvino, Chicago, Ill.3695290
38Larry Lichstein, Windsor Locks, Conn.3690285
39Joe Dignam, Seattle, Wash.3686280
40Bobby Cooper, Houston, Texas3683275
41Bobby Williams, Detroit, Mich.3679270
42Bob Collatos, Miami, Fla.3673265
43George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C.3672260
44Dick Ciprich, Buffalo, N.Y.3667252.50
 Billy Walden, Sullivan, Mo.3667252.50
46Jimmy Wright, San Antonio, Texas3665245
47Randy Cottom, Harrisburg, Ill.3658240
48Bill Johnson, New Orleans, La.3650235

*Alternate 18-game qualifying leader-Strampe 3961. 24th low-Zikes 3743. PRO-AM CASHERS-$50-Jim Godman, Sandy Finkelstein, Dave Soutar, John Handegard, Barry Warshafsky and Rich Carrubba.