AMF Grand Prix Of Bowling



$100,000 AMF GRAND PRIX OF BOWLING
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich., Dec 6-10, 1977
Jay Is Grandest Of Grand

Veteran Jay Robinson thwarted Mark Roth's bid to win his fifth title of the season when he defeated the hard-throwing youngster in the title game of the AMF Grand Prix of Bowling.

Despite the loss, Roth became only the second man in PBA history to go over the $100,000 mark in earnings for a season. The $7,000 he received for second gave him a year end total of $105,583. Earl Anthony earned over $100,000 in both 1975 and 1976.

Robinson, who qualified for match play in 10th and last place, won 10 of 16 match play games Friday, including a 300-277 victory over Roth, to earn the second-seeded spot in the nationally televised finals.

Joining the top-seeded Roth and Robinson in the finals were Pete Couture, seeking his first title, and Tommy Hudson.

In the opening game, Hudson started with eight straight strikes en route to a 269-213 win over Couture. Hudson then lost his touch in the next match as Robinson finished with eight strikes in a row for a 268-213 win.

After experiencing trouble with the approaches early in the title game, Roth finished with five consecutive strikes. But Robinson met the challenge with a clutch double in the 10th for a 238-222 victory to win the $10,000 top prize in the men's division.

TELEVISED FINALS

Pos.Name, City/StateTotalAmount
1Jay Robinson, Los Angeles506 (2 games)$10,000
2Mark Roth, Staten Island, N.Y.222 (1 game)7,000
3Tommy Hudson, Akron, Ohio482 (2 games)5,000
4Pete Couture, Windsor Locks, Conn.213 (1 game)3,000

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Hudson defeated Couture, 269-213; Robinson defeated Hudson, 268213, and in the championship game, Robinson defeated Roth, 238-222.

38-GAME TOTALS

 Name, City/StatePins  WLT+TotAmt
1Mark Roth, Staten Island, N.Y. 8828 11-9 330 9158 
2Jay Robinson, Van Nuys, Calif. 8665 16-4 480 9145 
3Pete Couture, Windsor Locks, Conn. 8654 10-10 300 8954 
4Tommy Hudson, Akron, Ohio 8493 10-10 300 8793 
5Bill Spigner, Hamden, Conn. 8441 11-9 330 8771 $2,650
6Carmen Salvino, Chicago 8385 11-9 330 8715 2,400
7Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore. 8419 6-14 180 8599 2,200
8Dennis Lane, Kingsport, Tenn. 8304 9-11 270 8574 2,000
9Dick Weber, St. Louis 8267 9-11 270 8537 1,800
10Steve Westberg, Cottage Grove, Ore. 8208 7-13 210 8418 1,700

OTHER CASHERS

Pos.Name, City/StateAmount
11Mike Berlin, Muscatine, Iowa$1,500
12Nelson Burton Jr., St. Louis1,400
*13George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C.1,425
14Earl Anthony, Tacoma, Wash.1,300
15Roy Buckley, Columbus, Ohio1,250
16Timmy Certain, Huntsville, Ala.1,200
17Steve Neff, Sarasota1,150
18Rick Minier, Portland1,100
19Dale Glenn, Glendale, Calif.1,050
20Eddie Ressler, Allentown, Pa.1,000

*Alternate (Includes $75). George Pappas accepted the alternate's spot when it was refused by Mike Berlin and Nelson Burton Jr. 18-game qualifying leaders-Roth, 4243; Neal, 3954. 10th place-Lane, Robinson and Weber, 3948, Ortner 3606. Tommy Hudson, Pete Couture, Jay Robinson received $100 each for 300 games.