Tom Baker from neighboring Buffalo, who practically owned the 1985 Fall Tour, took up where he left off a year ago by winning the Kodak Invitational and a check for $27,000. Baker upset leading qualifier Steve Wunderlich, 212-205, in the championship game of the $150,000 event, to record his seventh PBA title and his first since winning the Budweiser Classic a year ago at Columbus. Baker was leading the field going into the position round game at Marcel's Olympic Bowl, but a loss to Wunderlich dropped him to third with leading money winner Walter Ray Williams Jr. moving to second for the NBC-TV finals. In the opening game, fifth-seeded John Gant suffered an unbelievable five splits while losing to Randy Pedersen, 187-158. Baker then stepped in and ousted Pedersen by a 230-173 count. Next against Williams, Baker opened with a double and maintained a slight lead all the way to a 198-189 win, setting the stage for the title game. Baker opened a 14-pin lead in the seventh frame with a double, but Wunderlich also doubled to pull to within four pins. However, a wiggling seven-pin in the 10th frame prevented Wunderlich from putting heavy pressure on Baker and when Baker struck on his first ball in the 10th frame it was all over. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. | 640 (3 games) | $27,000 | | 2 | | Steve Wunderlich, St. Louis | 205 (1 game) | 14,000 | | 3 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif. | 189 (1 game) | 8,000 | | 4 | | Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif. | 360 (2 games) | 6,500 | | 5 | | John Gant, Independence, Ky. | 158 (1 game) | 5,500 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Pedersen defeated Gant, 187-158; Baker defeated Pedersen, 230-173; Baker defeated Williams, 198-189; and in the championship game, Baker defeated Wunderlich, 212-205.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Steve Wunderlich, St. Louis | | 9032 | | 215.0 | | 14-9-1- | | 435 | | 9467 | | | | 2 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif. | | 9051 | | 215.5 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9441 | | | | 3 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. | | 9007 | | 214.5 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9427 | | | | 4 | | Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif. | | 8994 | | 214.1 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9384 | | | | 5 | | John Gant, Independence, Ky. | | 8988 | | 214.0 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9378 | | | | 6 | | Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas | | 8956 | | 213.2 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9316 | | $4,500 | | 7 | | Jim Pencak, Richmond Hts., Ohio | | 8876 | | 211.3 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9266 | | 4,000 | | 8 | | George Branham III, Arleta, Calif. | | 8833 | | 210.3 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9253 | | 3,500 | | 9 | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | | 8762 | | 208.6 | | 14-9-1 | | 435 | | 9197 | | 3,200 | | 10 | | Les Zikes, Palatine, Ill. | | 8665 | | 206.3 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9115 | | 3,000 | | 11 | | Robert Worrall, Flagstaff, Ariz. | | 8772 | | 208.9 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9102 | | 2,800 | | 12 | | Mark McClain, Rochester, N.Y. | | 8702 | | 207.2 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9092 | | 2,600 | | 13 | | Harry Sullins, Roseville, Mich. | | 8718 | | 207.6 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9078 | | 2,500 | | 14 | | Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa. | | 8689 | | 206.9 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9049 | | 2,400 | | 15 | | Steve J. Martin, Kingsport, Tenn. | | 8724 | | 207.7 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9024 | | 2,300 | | 16 | | Mark Sullivan, Indianapolis | | 8625 | | 205.4 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 8985 | | 2,150 | | | | Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash. | | 8655 | | 206.1 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8985 | | 2,150 | | #18 | | Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela | | 8644 | | 205.8 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8944 | | 2,000 | | 19 | | Bo Bowden, Dallas | | 8573 | | 204.1 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 8933 | | 1,900 | | 20 | | Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. | | 8625 | | 205.4 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8925 | | 1,800 | | 21 | | Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla. | | 8707 | | 207.3 | | 7-17-0 | | 210 | | 8917 | | 1,700 | | 22 | | Carmen Salvino, Chicago | | 8592 | | 204.6 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8892 | | 1,600 | | 23 | | Palmer Fallgren, Sacramento, Calif. | | 8524 | | 203.0 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 8884 | | 1,500 | | 24 | | Tim Weisbrod, Cincinnati, Ohio | | 8481 | | 201.9 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8781 | | 1,380 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Joe Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y. | $1,360 | | 26 | | Jimmy Certain, Toledo, Ohio | 1,230 | | 27 | | Pete McCordic, Houston | 1,220 | | 28 | | Frank Edwards, Moscow, Pa. | 1,205 | | | | Gil Sliker, Sarasota, Fla. | 1,205 | | 30 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | 1,185 | | | | Joseph Firpo, Lake Worth, Fla. | 1,185 | | 32 | | Pete Couture, Windsor Locks, Conn. | 1,170 | | 33 | | Ron Ramicone, Houston | 1,160 | | 34 | | Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A. | 1,150 | | 35 | | Randy Stoughton, Indianapolis | 1,140 | | 36 | | George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C. | 1,125 | | | | Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M. | 1,125 | | 38 | | Nelson Burton Jr., Troy, Mo. | 1,105 | | | | Paul Gibson, O'Fallon, Ill. | 1,105 | | 40 | | Bobby Jacks, Union City, Calif. | 1,090 | | 41 | | Jeff Bellinger, Columbia, S.C. | 1,080 | | 42 | | Gerry Keslar, Kansas City, Kan. | 1,070 | | 43 | | Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla. | 1,060 | | 44 | | Dave Davis, Orlando, Fla. | 1,050 | | 45 | | Butch Soper, Los Angeles | 1,040 | | 46 | | James A. Miller, Mesa, Ariz. | 1,030 | | 47 | | Billy Cathey, Duncanville, Texas | 1,020 | | 48 | | Art Trask, Fresno, Calif. | 1,010 | | 49 | | Tom Milton, St. Petersburg, Fla. | 1,000 | | 50 | | Mark Roth, Spring Lake Hts., N.J. | 990 | | 51 | | Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore. | 980 | | 52 | | Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla. | 970 | | 53 | | Mike Aulby, Indianapolis | 960 | |
* - Match play alternate. # - Jimmy Keeth and Amleto Monacelli rolled 300 games. 18-game qualifying leader - Tom Baker, 3998. 24th place - Mike Edwards, 3745. 53rd place - Mike Aulby, 3661. PRO-AM CASHERS Rod Pasteur, Art Trask, Jim Harvey, Brian Voss ($50 each), David Ozio, Ron Palombi and Norm Duke ($33.33 each).
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