L.I. Open Title Decided in Dramatic 10th Frame

SEATTLE (November 19) -- Tommy Delutz Jr. survived a thrilling title match against Chris Barnes and won his second PBA title Sunday, Nov. 18, in the PBA Long Island Open at Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, CT).

Following a see-saw 10th frame, Delutz, of Flushing, N.Y., defeated Barnes, of Dallas, 215-213, and earned the $40,000 top prize.

Entering the 10th, Delutz needed a strike and nine pins for the win but left the dreaded 7-10 split on a light pocket hit.

"I didn't really throw it that bad," he said. "So, I wasn't frustrated with myself. It was just a big letdown more than anything."

Barnes, who finished the match, controlled his own destiny in the 10th frame with a chance to pick up his second win of the season. The three-time champion needed a spare and strike to win by one. His first shot left the 10-pin which he converted, staging the tension-packed fill-ball.

On the game's last shot, Barnes threw the ball too fast and entered the pocket light. He left the 2-4-5 combination and was forced to settle with the $20,000 second prize.

"I can't believe what I actually left," he said. "I was just stunned. I thought that was the one. It felt great. Under the same set of circumstances, I'd do the same thing."

Barnes struck in frames one, two, four, five and nine. He picked up spares in the third, sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th. Delutz struck in frames one, three and threw the game's only foundation of strikes in frames six-nine. He converted spares in the second, fourth and fifth.

"After so many weeks of bowling this format, when people have needed a hit against me to win, they've got it every time," said Delutz. "I think I've saved up all my breaks until today. But, Barnes is one of the top three bowlers in the world. I never expected to catch that kind of break against him."

Delutz, a rookie in 1991, won his only other title in 1999 at Lakewood, CA. He believes he may have silenced some detractors with win No. 2.

"The second one justifies it and proves the first one wasn't some kind of lucky deal," Delutz commented. "There's a ton of guys with one title, but the list gets shorter as you go up from there."

"I've been out here for 10 years and have been in the top 16 for a good part of that stretch. So for my doubters, I have a resume that just got a bit longer today."

In the semifinals, Delutz defeated Tony Reyes, of San Jose, Calif., 258-216, while Barnes knocked off Walter Ray Williams Jr., of Ocala, Fla., 247-213. Reyes and Williams tied in third place with $10,000 each.

Delutz got beat by Barnes, 3-2, in the round of eight Saturday night, but managed to qualify for the finals in the wild card spot after having the best average of the eliminated players. He beat Norm Duke, of Clermont, Fla., in the wild card match, 238-218, and advanced into the semifinals. Duke finished fifth and pocketed $9,000.