John Gant, a 26-year-old rookie on the PBA Tour, lived up to his advance notices and captured the $115,000 Denver Open. He won two games including the title match against leading qualifier Steve Cook, 223-173, to notch his first PBA victory and firmly establish himself as leading contender for Sporting News PBA Rookie of the Year honors. Gant, who averaged 229 during the 42 games of qualifying and match play, eliminated Pete Weber, 255-215, for the right to face Cook In a battle of southpaws. Weber looked tough in the early going as he first outscored newcomer Gerry Kesler, 232-215, and then hometown favorite Henry Gonzalez, 252-200. Shawn Christensen tied a PBA record when he rolled three perfect games at the Celebrity Sports Center during the week. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | John Gant, Pittsburgh, Pa. | 478 (2 games) | $16,000 | | 2 | | Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif. | 173 (1 game) | 8,250 | | 3 | | Pete Weber, St. Louis | 699 (3 games) | 6,000 | | 4 | | Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo. | 200 (1 game) | 5,000 | | 5 | | Gerry Keslar, Seward, Neb. | 215 (1 game) | 4,000 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Weber defeated Keslar, 232-215; Weber defeated Gonzalez, 252-200; Gant defeated Weber, 255-215; and in the championship game, Gant defeated Cook, 223-173.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif. | | 9531 | | 226.9 | | 17-7-0 | | 510 | | 10041 | | | | 2 | | John Gant, Pittsburgh, Pa. | | 9642 | | 229.5 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 10002 | | | | 3 | | Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo. | | 9538 | | 277.0 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9898 | | | | 4 | | Pete Weber, St. Louis | | 9275 | | 220.8 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 9755 | | | | 5 | | Gerry Keslar, Seward, Neb. | | 9266 | | 220.6 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9688 | | | | **6 | | Mike Morris, Fargo, N.D. | | 9161 | | 218.1 | | 15-8-1 | | 465 | | 9626 | | $3,550 | | #7 | | Steve J. Martin, Kingsport, Tenn. | | 9225 | | 219.6 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9615 | | 3,000 | | 8 | | Bob Chamberlain, Pontiac, Mich. | | 9297 | | 221.3 | | 10-13-1 | | 315 | | 9612 | | 2,800 | | 9 | | Bobby Jacks, New Orleans | | 9238 | | 219.9 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9598 | | 2,600 | | 10 | | Bill Straub, Lincoln, Neb. | | 9149 | | 217.8 | | 14-9-1 | | 435 | | 9584 | | 2,500 | | 11 | | Pete Couture, Windsor Locks, Conn. | | 9274 | | 220.8 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9574 | | 2,400 | | #12 | | Marshall Holman, Jacksonville, Ore. | | 9180 | | 218.5 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9540 | | 2,300 | | 13 | | Leroy Bornhop, St. Charles, Mo. | | 9120 | | 217.1 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9510 | | 2,200 | | 14 | | Keith Kolozsi, Xenia, Ohio | | 9092 | | 216.4 | | 13-10-1 | | 405 | | 9497 | | 2,100 | | 15 | | Norm Duke, Mt. Pleasant, Texas | | 9060 | | 215.7 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9480 | | 2,000 | | 16 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chino, Calif. | | 9146 | | 217.7 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9476 | | 1,900 | | 17 | | Pete McCordic, Houston | | 9144 | | 217.7 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9444 | | 1,800 | | 18 | | Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash. | | 9088 | | 216.3 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9388 | | 1,700 | | 19 | | David Ozio, Vidor, Texas | | 8999 | | 214.2 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9359 | | 1,600 | | 20 | | Mark Fahy, Chicago | | 8965 | | 213.5 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9269 | | 1,500 | | 21 | | Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J. | | 8947 | | 213.0 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9217 | | 1,400 | | 22 | | Larry Laub, Tucson, Ariz. | | 8848 | | 210.6 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9208 | | 1,300 | | 23 | | Randy Johnson, Webster Groves, Mo. | | 8671 | | 206.4 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8971 | | 1,250 | | 24 | | Mike Barish, Bothell, Wash. | | 8715 | | 207.5 | | 5-19-0 | | 150 | | 8865 | | 1,200 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Mike Aulby, Indianapolis | $1,160 | | + | | Roger Haskell, Renton, Wash. | 1,070 | | 27 | | Gary Dickinson, Burleson, Texas | 1,050 | | 28 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. | 1,040 | | #29 | | Shawn Christensen, Denver, Colo. | 1,030 | | 30 | | Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M. | 1,020 | | #31 | | Carmen Salvino, Chicago | 1,010 | | 32 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | 995 | | | | Joe Salvemini, Reno, Nev. | 995 | | 34 | | Ted Hannahs, Zanesville, Ohio | 980 | | 35 | | Jim Miller, Mesa, Ariz. | 965 | | | | Kent Wagner, Allentown, Pa. | 965 | | 37 | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | 950 | | 38 | | Tom Robards, Carmichael, Calif. | 940 | | 39 | | Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas | 930 | | 40 | | John Forst, La Grange, Ill. | 920 | | 41 | | Ralph Smith, Colo. Springs, Colo. | 910 | | 42 | | Rick Vittone, Salem, Ore. | 900 | | 43 | | Mal Acosta, Hayward, Calif. | 890 | | 44 | | Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio | 880 | | 45 | | Scott Buckingham, Anchorage, Alaska | 865 | | | | Ron Williams, Cahokia, Ill | 865 | | 47 | | Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla. | 850 | | 48 | | Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas | 840 | | 49 | | Sam Zurich, Hicksville, N.Y. | 830 | | 50 | | Dennis Jacques, Belford, N.J. | 820 | | 51 | | Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill. | 805 | | | | Steve Wunderlich, St. Louis | 805 | | 53 | | Daniel Eberl, Tonawanda, N.Y. | 395 | | | | Steve Giljum, Crestwood, Mo. | 395 | |
* - Match play alternate. ** - TV finals alternate. 18-game qualifying leader - Gerry Keslar, 4143. 24th place -.Brian Voss, 3953. 53rd place - Dan Eberl and Steve Giljum, 3866. # -Shawn Christensen (3), Marshall Holman, Carmen Salvino, George Steinbach, Bob Learn Jr. and Steve J. Martin rolled 300 games ($100 each). PRO-AM CASHERS Hugh Miller, Mats Karlsson, Dave Husted, Bruce Carter, Jack Frost, Mark Williams, Billy Young Jr., Tom Milton, John Gant, Mike Bouvia, Avery LeBlanc and Matt Surina ($50 each). +-Aulby defeated Haskell in a roll-off for alternate spot.
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