"I was going to send my wife and son home to save some money, but now I can afford to keep them out here." So said the PBA's newest champion, Jim Murtishaw, following his victory over Hugh Miller, 226-199, in the $140,000 Bowlers Journal Florida Open, which also was his first paycheck of 1987. Murtishaw, Vista, Calif., first had to defeat 52-year-old PBA champ Teata Semiz, 191-189, in a tightly contested semifinal game, before pairing off against tournament leader Miller, Mercer Island, Wash. The $23,000 first prize also carried with it an invitation to the 1987 Firestone Tournament of Champions and, even more important to Murtishaw, at least one year's exemption from Pro Tour Qualifier (PTO) competition. Miller had led the tournament, co-sponsored by Bowlers Journal magazine, the Florida Bowling Proprietors' Association and Galaxy Lanes-Venice, by 346 pins entering the ABC Sports-televised championship round and watched the opening matches as Semiz overcame two 4-6-7 leaves and open frames with seven strikes, including his crucial double against Steve Martin, Kingsport, Tenn., to advance, 208-207. Next up was Dallas' Chuck Pierce, appearing in his second championship finals, who bowed to Semiz, 203-181, before Murtishaw came on the scene. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | Pos. |  | Name, City/State | Total | Amount | | | 1 | | Jim Murtishaw, Vista, Calif. | 417 (2 games) | $23,000 | | 2 | | Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash. | 199 (1 game) | 12,000 | | 3 | | Teata Semiz, Paterson, N.J. | 600 (3 games) | 8,000 | | 4 | | Chuck Pierce, Dallas | 181 (1 game) | 6,000 | | 5 | | Steve Martin, Kingsport, Tenn. | 207 (1 game) | 5,000 | |
PLAYOFF RESULTS - Semiz defeated Martin, 208-207; Semiz defeated Pierce, 203-181; Murtishaw defeated Semiz, 191-189; and in the championship game, Murtishaw defeated Miller, 226-199.
42-GAME TOTALS | | | Name, City | | Pins | | Avg | | WLT | | + | | Tot | | Amt | | | 1 | | Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash. | | 9223 | | 219.6 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9613 | | | | 2 | | Jim Murtishaw, Vista, Calif. | | 8787 | | 209.2 | | 16-8-0 | | 480 | | 9267 | | | | 3 | | Chuck Pierce, Dallas | | 8706 | | 207.3 | | 17-6-1 | | 525 | | 9231 | | | | 4 | | Steve Martin, Kingsport, Tenn. | | 8738 | | 208.0 | | 15-9-0 | | 450 | | 9188 | | | | 5 | | Teata Semiz, Paterson, N.J. | | 8796 | | 209.4 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9186 | | | | 6 | | Bob Chamberlain, Auburn Heights, Mich. | | 8730 | | 207.9 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9150 | | $4,000 | | 7 | | Andrew Neuer, E. Longmeadow, Mass. | | 8816 | | 209.9 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9146 | | 3,600 | | 8 | | Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio | | 8714 | | 207.5 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9074 | | 3,300 | | 9 | | Sam Maccarone, Glassboro. N.J. | | 8773 | | 208.9 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 9073 | | 3,000 | | 10 | | Palmer Fallgren, Sacramento, Calif. | | 8676 | | 206.6 | | 13-11-0 | | 390 | | 9066 | | 2,800 | | 11 | | John Mazza, Mt. Clemens, Mich. | | 8721 | | 207.6 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 9051 | | 2,600 | | 12 | | Rod Pasteur, Miami, Fla. | | 8662 | | 206.2 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 9022 | | 2,500 | | 13 | | Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif. | | 8751 | | 208.4 | | 9-15-0 | | 270 | | 9021 | | 2,400 | | 14 | | Dale Eagle, Lake Havasu, Ariz. | | 8587 | | 204.5 | | 14-10-0 | | 420 | | 9007 | | 2,300 | | 15 | | Mark Roth, Spring Lake Hts., N.J. | | 8637 | | 205.6 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 8997 | | 2,200 | | 16 | | Nelson Burton Jr., Troy, Mo. | | 8677 | | 206.6 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8977 | | 2,100 | | 17 | | Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A. | | 8610 | | 205.0 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 8970 | | 2,000 | | 18 | | Joe Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y. | | 8617 | | 205.2 | | 11-12-1 | | 345 | | 8962 | | 1,900 | | 19 | | Leroy Bornhop, St. Charles. Mo. | | 8626 | | 205.4 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8956 | | 1,800 | | 20 | | Harry Sullins, Detroit | | 8640 | | 205.7 | | 10-14-0 | | 300 | | 8940 | | 1,700 | | 21 | | Pete Weber, Florissant, Mo. | | 8547 | | 203.5 | | 12-12-0 | | 360 | | 8907 | | 1,600 | | 22 | | Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y. | | 8443 | | 201.0 | | 11-12-1 | | 345 | | 8788 | | 1,540 | | 23 | | Butch Soper, Los Angeles, Calif. | | 8369 | | 199.3 | | 11-13-0 | | 330 | | 8699 | | 1,485 | | 24 | | Sam Zurich, Hernando Beach, Fla. | | 8347 | | 198.7 | | 6-17-1 | | 195 | | 8542 | | 1,435 | |
OTHER CASHERS | Pos. | | Name, City/State | Amount | | | *25 | | Bobby Jacks, New Orleans | $1,400 | | 26 | | Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio | 1,270 | | 27 | | Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla. | 1,260 | | 28 | | Charlie Tapp, Woodbury, Minn. | 1,250 | | 29 | | Mike Aulby, Indianapolis | 1,235 | | | | Norm Duke, Fort Worth, Texas | 1,235 | | 31 | | Scott Devers, Centerville, Ind. | 1,220 | | 32 | | Ron Williams, Cahokia, Ill. | 1,210 | | 33 | | Rusty Greiner, Richmond, Calif. | 1,200 | | 34 | | Brian Voss, Tacoma, Wash. | 1,190 | | 35 | | Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla. | 1,180 | | 36 | | Adam Colton, Coral Springs, Fla. | 1,170 | | 37 | | Jimmy Certain, Huntsville, Ala. | 1,155 | | | | Todd Thompson, Grand Terrace, Calif. | 1,155 | | 39 | | Mark Fahy, Chicago | 1,140 | | 40 | | Steve Wilson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 1,130 | | 41 | | Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo. | 1,115 | | | | Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore. | 1,115 | | 43 | | Randy Lightfoot, St. Charles, Mo. | 1,100 | | 44 | | Ted Thompson, Sarasota, Fla. | 1,090 | | 45 | | David Ozio, Vidor, Texas | 1,080 | | 46 | | Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y. | 1,070 | | 47 | | Del Ballard Jr., Richardson, Texas | 1,055 | | | | Carmen Salvino, Chicago | 1,055 | | 49 | | Peter Hakim, Forest Hills, N.Y. | 1,040 | | 50 | | Brian Brazeau, Milwaukee, Wis. | 1,030 | | 51 | | George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C. | 1,020 | | 52 | | Jimmie Pritts Jr., Lawrence, Mass. | 1,005 | | | | Del Warren, Lake Worth, Fla. | 1,005 | |
* - Match play alternate. 18-game qualifying leader - Hugh Miller, 4132. 24th place - Steve Martin, 3689. 52nd place Jimmie Pritts Jr. and Del Warren 3601. PRO-AM CASHERS - Carmen Salvino, Pete McCordic, Dennis Jacques, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Mark Williams and Brian Voss ($50 each).
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