FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – Solidifying his goal of being known as the world’s best bowler, Mika Koivuniemi became the first foreign-born player to win Bowling’s U.S. Open.

Koivuniemi, Finland, topped Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico City, in Sunday’s championship match at Fountain Bowl, 247-182, and picked up the winner’s green jacket along with the $100,000 top prize.

“I really like to make history,” said the dry-witted Finn who recently moved his family to Ann Arbor, Mich. A three-year pro, Koivuniemi also put his name in the record books last year as the first foreign player to win the American Bowling Congress (ABC) Masters title in Reno, Nev.

With his first two titles now being majors, “The Big Finn” was asked if his new nickname could be “Mr. Major.”

“I like it,” he said in characteristic confident style. The win gives him one jewel in the PBA’s Triple Crown, which is also comprised of PBA World Championship and Tournament of Champions, and one-half of the Grand Slam (Triple Crown plus the ABC Masters).

“This may have been the best I’ve ever bowled. I stuck to my game play and didn’t make too many mistakes all week.” Koivuniemi led the tournament heading into the finals by 55 pins over his tour roommate, Healey following the extended 62-game format.

“He’s obviously a great talent, but he’s an even greater friend,” said Healey, who earned $50,000. 𠇋ut, now he’s going to pay for our room and buy me dinner tonight.

“If I could pick one tournament to win, this would be it. I’ll come back next year and try to take it to the top next time.”

Through nine frames, Koivuniemi struck in every frame but the third and ninth. Healey struggled to find a good ball reaction throughout the match. He left the 2-4-5-8 “bucket” in the first and followed with the first of two open frames, the 6-7-10 split, in the second. After a double in the third and fourth frames, Healey alternated spares and strikes through the eighth. He missed the 3-6-10 spare combination in the ninth, but the match was long over at that point.

“I made the wrong adjustments,” said Healey. “The match was over in the seventh frame. I don’t know what happened. I lost my ball reaction between matches.”

In the semifinal match, Healey was forced to get by Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla. Healey overpowered the PBA Hall of Famer, 279-209, and sent him home with the $25,000 third-place prize. Williams defeated Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., in the first match, 223-189. DeVaney rounded out the group in fourth with $15,000.

The U.S. Open ends the first half of the 2001-2002 PBA Tour season. The second-half resumes, Jan. 1-6, with the PBA Earl Anthony Memorial Classic at Tech City Bowl, Kirkland, Wash. ESPN will televise the championship round live Sunday, Jan. 6, from 1-2:30 p.m. (ET).

BOWLING’S U.S. OPEN

Fountain Bowl

Fountain Valley, Calif.

Sunday, Dec. 9

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND RESULTS

Pos. Name/City & State Total/Games Money

1. Mika Koivuniemi, Finland 247 (1 game) $100,000

2. Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico 461 (2 games) 50,000

3. Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, FL 432 (2 games) 25,000

4. Mike DeVaney, Escondido, CA 189 (1 game) 15,000

PLAYOFF RESULTS – In the first match, Williams def. DeVaney, 223-189; In the semifinal match, Healey def. Williams, 279-209; And in the championship match, Koivuniemi def. Healey, 247-182.

This is Koivuniemi’s second PBA title and second PBA major. He is the first international player to win the U.S. Open.