Displaying a memorable "clutch touch," Rickie Sajek came through with a 246-243 triumph against top qualifier Gary Skidmore to notch his first PBA championship in the $125,000 Meister Brau Open. Against Skidmore, the 6 ft., 120 pound Sajek, also known as 'Toothpick Rick," struck in the 10th frame, but never saw the pins go down on the title-clinching shot. Instead, the exuberant right-hander was sliding on his knees facing the crowd, awaiting their reaction to the $20,000 shot. Earlier Sajek had bounced Ernie Schlegel, 233-204, before battling tooth and nail with Mike Durbin and prevailing, 238-235. Schlegel won the opening match of the championship round, 192-184, against Frank Ellenburg. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Rickie Sajek, Highland, Ind. | 717 (3 games) | $20,000 | | 2 | | Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M. | 243 (1 game) | 11,000 | | 3 | | Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, Ohio | 235 (1 game) | 7,500 | | 4 | | Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A. | 396 (2 games) | 6,000 | | 5 | | Frank Ellenburg, Mesa, Ariz. | 184 (1 game) | 5,000 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Schlegel defeated Ellenburg, 192-184; Sajek defeated Schlegel, 233-204; Sajek defeated Durbin, 238-235; and in the title match, Sajek defeated Skidmore, 246-243.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M. | | 9157 | | 218.0 | | 18-6-0 | | 540 | | 9697 | | | | 2 | | Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, Ohio | | 9217 | | 219.4 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9607 | | | | 3 | | Rickie Sajek, Highland, Ind. | | 9092 | | 216.4 | | 17-7-0 | | 510 | | 9602 | | | | 4 | | Frank Ellenburg, Mesa, Ariz. | | 9021 | | 214.7 | | 18-6-0 | | 540 | | 9561 | | | | 5 | | Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A. | | 9160 | | 218.0 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9520 | | | | **6 | | David Buff, Springfield, Mo. | | 9094 | | 216.5 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9514 | | $4,050 | | 7 | | Guppy Troup, Jacksonville, Fla. | | 9141 | | 217.6 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9471 | | 3,700 | | 8 | | Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. | | 9043 | | 215.3 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9403 | | 3,400 | | 9 | | Johnny Petraglia, Manalapan, N.J. | | 9025 | | 214.8 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9385 | | 3,200 | | 10 | | Alvin Lou, El Cajon, Calif. | | 8940 | | 212.8 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9300 | | 3,000 | | 11 | | Steve Lickliter, Beckley, W.Va. | | 8892 | | 211.7 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9252 | | 2,900 | | 12 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | | 8859 | | 210.9 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9219 | | 2,700 | | 13 | | Rick Vittone, Salem, Ore. | | 8828 | | 210.1 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9218 | | 2,500 | | 14 | | John Paris, Keansburg, N.J. | | 8794 | | 209.3 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9154 | | 2,400 | | 15 | | Butch Soper, Newport Beach, Calif. | | 8763 | | 208.6 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9153 | | 2,300 | | 16 | | Marshall Holman, Jacksonville, Ore. | | 8873 | | 211.2 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9143 | | 2,200 | | 17 | | Roy Buckley, New Albany, Ohio | | 8759 | | 208.5 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9089 | | 2,100 | | 18 | | Tim Menge, Cleveland | | 8759 | | 208.5 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9059 | | 2,000 | | 19 | | Bob Hart, Columbus, Ohio | | 8773 | | 208.8 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9043 | | 1,900 | | 20 | | Mark Fahy, Chicago | | 8707 | | 207.3 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 8977 | | 1,800 | | 21 | | Sam Zurich, Huntington, N.Y. | | 8642 | | 205.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8972 | | 1,700 | | 22 | | Bruce Carter, Round Rock, Texas | | 8639 | | 205.6 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 8909 | | 1,600 | | 23 | | Don Genalo, N. Merrick, N.Y. | | 8584 | | 204.3 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8884 | | 1,500 | | 24 | | Dave Soutar, Leawood, Kan. | | 8586 | | 204.4 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 8856 | | 1,450 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif. | $1,405 | | 26 | | Russ Mills, Seneca Falls, N.Y. | 1,300 | | 27 | | Palmer Fallgren, Sacramento, Calif. | 1,280 | | 28 | | Karl Kraus, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio | 1,260 | | 29 | | Paul Gibson, O'Fallon, Ill. | 1,240 | | 30 | | George Pappas Charlotte, N.C. | 1,220 | | 31 | | Kent Wagner, Allentown, Pa. | 1,200 | | 32 | | Robert Worrall, Flagstaff, Ariz. | 1,180 | | 33 | | Bob Chamberlain, Pontiac, Mich. | 1,160 | | 34 | | Dale Eagle, Chicago | 1,140 | | 35 | | Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash. | 1,130 | | 36 | | Sam Flanagan, Syracuse, Ohio | 1,120 | | 37 | | Mats Karlsson, Sweden | 1,110 | | 38 | | Gil Sliker, Washington, N.J. | 1,100 | | 39 | | Mike Lastowski, Baltimore, Md. | 1,090 | | 40 | | Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J. | 1,080 | | 41 | | Pete Weber, Jacksonville. Fla. | 1,070 | | 42 | | John Werner, Fair Oaks, Calif. | 1,060 | | 43 | | Joe Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y. | 1,050 | | 44 | | Hugh Miller, Everett, Wash. | 1,040 | | 45 | | John Hricsina, Franklin, Pa. | 1,030 | | 46 | | Art Trask, Fresno, Calif. | 1,020 | | 47 | | Steve Lang, Indianapolis | 1,010 | | #48 | | Bo Bowden, Dallas | 1,000 | | 49 | | Mark Baker, Garden Grove, Calif. | 990 | | 50 | | Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa. | 980 | | 51 | | Mike Steinbach, Alsip, Ill. | 970 | | 52 | | Chuck Pierce, Dallas | 960 | | 53 | | Dave Davis, Tinton Falls, N.J. | 950 | |
* - Match play alternate. ** - TV finals alternate. 18-game qualifying leader -Schlegel, 4029. 24th place-Roy Buckley, Dave Soutar and Rick Vittone tied at 3754. 53rd place - Dave Davis, 3637. # - Bo Bowden rolled a 300 game ($100). PRO-AM CASHERS - Larry Barwick, Guppy Troup, Willie Willis, George Pappas, Rick Vittone, Tom Milton, Mike Durbin, Henry Gonzalez, Dave Soutar, Randy Stoughton, Steve Lickliter, Steve Fehr, Bobby Knipple, Bobby Jacks, Avery LeBlanc and Jim Pencak ($50 each).
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