Denver Open



$50,000 DENVER OPEN
Colorado Bowl, Denver, Colo., Jan 23-27, 1973
Robinson Wins At Denver

Jay Robinson, a 29-year-old from Los Angeles joined the ranks of PBA champions when he topped number one seeded Gus Lampo, Endicott, N.Y., in the finals of the $50,000 Denver Open to win $6,000 and a spot in the Firestone Tournament of Champions in Akron. Lampo fell to Robinson, 193-182, in the championship game.

Before the start of the nationally-televised (ABC-TV) finals, the odds were against Robinson winning because four veteran performers, Lampo, Nelson Burton Jr., Don Johnson, and Teata Semiz, were vying for the top prize.

In the championship game Robinson opened in the first frame and fell behind but converted a 4-9 split in the fifth frame to take a 97-96 lead over Lampo. Robinson suffered a split in the seventh frame, and Lampo a split one frame later, and that left them knotted at 144.

Lampo spared in his final two frames while Robinson doubled in the 10th to nail down the cherished victory and the winner's share. Lampo received $3,500 for second, Burton $2,000 for third, while Semiz and Johnson received $1,800 and $1,600 respectively.

TELEVISED FINALS

Pos.Name, City/StateTotalAmount
1Jay Robinson, Los Angeles, Calif.417 (2 games)$6,000
2Gus Lampo, Endicott, N.Y.182 (1 game)3,500
3Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis, Mo.426 (2 games)2,000
4Teata Semiz, River Edge, N.J.419 (2 games)1,800
5Don Johnson, Akron, Ohio210 (1 game)1,600

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Semiz defeated Johnson, 228-210; Burton defeated Semiz, 252-197; Robinson defeated Burton, 224-174; and in the championship game Robinson defeated Lampo, 193-182.

42-GAME TOTALS

 Name, City/StatePins  WLT+TotAmt
1Gus Lampo, Endicott, N.Y. 9103 18-5-1 555 9658 
2Jay Robinson, Los Angeles, Calif. 9075 15-9-0 450 9525 
3Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis, Mo. 9041 14-10-0 420 9461 
4Don Johnson, Akron, Ohio 9096 12-12-0 360 9456 
5Teata Semiz, River Edge, N.J. 9059 13-11-0 390 9449 
*6Barry Asher, Costa Mesa, Calif. 8912 14-9-1 435 9347 $1,450
7Dick Battista, Astoria, N.Y. 8891 15-9-0 450 9341 1,200
8Butch Soper, Tustin, Calif. 8871 13-10-1 405 9276 1,150
9Roy Buckley, Columbus, Ohio 8709 16-8-0 480 9189 1,100
10Ernie Schlegel, Newburgh, N.Y. 8770 13-11-0 390 9160 1,050
11Jerry Buchholz, San Jose, Calif. 8756 13-11-0 390 9146 1,000
12Jim Godman, Lorain, Ohio 8834 9-14-1 285 9119 950
13Mark Roth, Brooklyn, N.Y. 8701 13-11-0 390 9091 900
14Palmer Fallgren, Sacramento, Calif. 8734 11-12-1 345 9079 850
15Dennis Swayda, Phoenix, Ariz. 8791 9-14-1 285 9076 800
16Les Schissler, Denver, Colo., 8684 12-12-0 360 9044 750
17Dick Weber, St. Louis, Mo. 8619 12-12-0 360 8979 700
18Tim Albin, No. Hollywood, Calif. 8645 10-14-0 300 8945 650
19Les Zikes, Chicago, Ill. 8571 10-12-2 330 8901 625
20Mike Lemongello, Islip, N.Y. 8626 8-16-0 240 8866 600
21Tom Hudson, Akron, Ohio 8633 7-17-0 210 8843 575
22Dave Davis, Miami, Fla. 8513 10-14-0 300 8813 550
23Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill. 8589 6-18-0 180 8769 525
24Bill Straub, Lincoln, Neb. 8370 11-13-0 330 8700 500

18-GAME TOTALS

Pos.Name, City/StateTotalAmount
*@25Darrell Beer, Denver, Colo.3768$475
26Gary Dickinson, Ft. Worth, Texas3765390
27Johnny Guenther, Seattle, Wash.3763380
28Jimmy McHugh, New York, N.Y.3762370
29Mickey Higham, Kansas City, Mo.3760355
 George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C.3760355
31Gil Sliker, Washington, N.J.3757340
32Bill Allen, Orlando, Fla.3749325
 Norm Meyers, St. Louis, Mo.3749325
34Don Glover, South Bend, Ind.3744310
35Carmen Salvino, Chicago, Ill.3706295
 Curt Schmidt, Ft. Wayne, Ind.3706295
37Don McCune, Munster, Ind.3702280
38Alex Seymore, Kannapolis, N.C.3700270
39Larry Laub, San Francisco, Calif.3698260
40Billy Hardwick, Louisville, Ky.3693255
41Sandy Finkelstein, Cortland, N.Y.3692250
42Dave Frame, Azusa, Calif.3685245

*Alternate. @Local entry. 18-game qualifying leader-Johnson 3971. 24th low-Hudson 3796. PRO AM CASHERS-$50-Les Zikes, Les Schissler, Gus Lampo, Barry Asher, Dick Battista, Billy Hardwick.