Sunday, November 24, 2002
Updated: November 15, 12:23 PM ET
Perfect Millionaire
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SPRINGFIELD, Pa.- Randy Pedersen won his first Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) title since 1999 in the PBA Pepsi Open Sunday at Sproul Lanes.
Pedersen, Hollywood, Fla., defeated Chris Barnes, Dallas, in the championship match, 216-210, and earned his 13th career PBA Tour title along with the $40,000 top prize. He needed a strike on his first ball in the 10th for the win.
"I never thought I'd win again," he said. "Last week was nice (6th place in PBA Banquet Classic, Grand Rapids, Mich.) but I thought it was just going to be something to build on. So today when I just had to strike in the 10th to win, I got focused. I told myself, 'you've done it all week long when you had to - just relax.' I threw a good shot."
The 40-year-old became the first player to finish match play undefeated (12-0) since single-elimination began last season. He also became the 24th millionaire in PBA history, pushing his career winnings to $1,036,576.
Barnes finished second for the third time this season. The 1998 PBA Rookie of the Year has 10 runner-up finishes and three titles in his still-young, five-year career.
"It took four or five years for guys like Mark Roth and Walter Ray Williams Jr. to put all the pieces together," said Barnes, who earned $20,000. "Then they started winning consistently. Eventually, you just start making the right adjustments when you need to. I tried a few different things today. Some worked and, unfortunately, some didn't."
Today marked Barnes' 26th career finals appearance. For Pedersen, a 19-year tour veteran, it was only his 29th. But, Pedersen has won 45 percent of the time in the finals (13/29).
"Physically, Randy never breaks," Barnes commented. "Confidence-wise, he can get down on himself. But, when he's got confidence, he can get on a roll. He's a great athlete. He might be just as good now as when he started. He's was a premium model for what today's players have become."
Pedersen moved to the top of the exemption list for the Tournament of Champions in three weeks at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., squeezing out Norm Duke.
In the semifinals, Pedersen knocked off second-year pro Blaise Bedolla with his first 10th frame clutch strike of the day (207-206). Barnes beat Frank Guccione (228-181), another second-year player who was making his first finals appearance. Bedolla, Roseburg, Ore., and Guccione, Highlandsranch, Colo., earned $10,000 each in third. In the opening match, Bedolla defeated three-time champion Steve Jaros (267-218). Jaros, Bolingbrook, Ill., finished fifth with $9,0000.
The PBA Tour travels to Syosset, N.Y., and AMF Syosset Lanes for the PBA Cambridge Credit Classic, Nov. 27-Dec. 1. The event will mark the 10th of 22 tournaments on the 2002-03 season.
PBA TOUR
PBA Pepsi Open
Sproul Lanes, Springfield, Pa.
Sunday, Nov. 24
FINALS
Pos. Name/City & State
Total/Games Money
1. Randy Pedersen, Hollywood, FL 423 (2 games) $40,000
2. Chris Barnes, Dallas, TX 438 (2 games) $20,000
3-t. Blaise Bedolla, Roseburg, OR 473 (2 games) $10,000
Frank Guccione, Highlandsranch, CO 181 (1 game $10,000
5. Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, IL 218 (1 game) $9,000
PLAYOFF RESULTS - In the wildcard match, Bedolla def. Jaros, 267-218; in the semifinals, Barnes def. Guccione, 228-181 and Pedersen def. Bedolla, 207-206; and in the final, Pedersen def. Barnes, 216-210.
This is Pedersen's 13th title.
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