Parker Bohn III persevered with a little help to capture his 28th PBA title in the PBA Earl Anthony Memorial Classic at TechCity Bowl Sunday afternoon. Bohn, Jackson, N.J., defeated Patrick Healey Jr., 235-215, to become the second-most winning left-hander in PBA history, second only to the event’s namesake who passed in August of 2001.
“There were two people looking down on me today, one no one has ever met and the other was the best friend bowling ever had – Earl,” said Bohn, who earned $40,000 for first. “All week I had lucky breaks right when I needed them and I can’t help but think Earl was behind one or two of them.”
Healey, who was looking for his first PBA title, started the title match on a bad note with a 4-6-7 split in the first frame. Unable to convert the split, Healey, Mexico, did not let the open frame shake him and the fourth-year pro struck in the next three frames.
Bohn started strong with a single-pin (7-pin) conversion in the first frame and a trio of strikes. In the fifth frame Bohn threw a game-changing 7-10 split, which he was unable to convert. “It was a bad break but I immediately put it out of my mind and moved on to the next frame,” said Bohn. “Throughout the whole championship round I had a look but it wasn’t the premier look – I made three or four ball changes throughout the day and had to try and keep it firm and on line.”
Healey, who finished second three weeks ago in the U.S. Open (Fountain Valley, CA), took advantage of Bohn’s split with a successful single-pin spare in the fifth frame (8-pin) and a double in the sixth and seventh frames. Bohn quickly recuperated from the open and kept on his opponent’s heels with strikes in frames sixth through nine. Meanwhile, Healey began to fall behind with two nine counts (7-pin eights frame; 4-pin ninth frame), which he was able to convert but not without giving Bohn a chance to get ahead.
“I manufactured my shots the best I could,” said Healey, who received $20,000 for finishing second. “My shots weren’t all flush and it wasn’t the best game I’ve ever bowled. Parker deserved to win, he did everything right.” Bohn finished the match first and with his strike in the ninth frame he needed only a mark and a pin in the 10th frame to secure the victory. The PBA Hall of Famer got the mark and struck on his fill ball to take home the trophy.
The win puts Bohn one title ahead of Mike Aulby and Pete Weber and makes him fourth on the PBA’s all-time win list. Aulby and Weber move to fifth. “I still have a long way to go,” said Bohn when asked if he thought he could catch Anthony’s 41 titles. “I don’t know if I’ll do it or if anyone can but even if someone does, Earl will still be the greatest bowler of all time.”
The win is Bohn’s fourth of the 2001-2002 PBA season, which includes the regular 20 season events (September 2001 – March 2002) and nine events from the beginning of 2001 which will be added due to a transition from a yearly schedule to a seasonal schedule. This title puts Bohn ahead of the race for earning 2002 PBA Player of the Year Honors.
Bohn advanced to the title match by defeating Mike DeVaney in the semifinal match, 200-181. DeVaney, Escondido, Calif., took home a check worth $10,000 for finishing tied for third. Healey, who is now 5-14 in 14 championship round appearances, won over Patrick Allen in the semifinal round, 232-225. Allen, who was shooting for his second career title, also received $10,000 for third place. In the wild card match, Bohn bested Dennis Horan Jr., 216-202. Horan, Temecula, Calif., settled for $9,000 in fifth place.
The PBA Tour will head south to Medford, Ore., for the PBA Greater Medford Open. The event will be contested January 9 – 13 at Lava Lanes with the finals live on ESPN on Sunday, January 13, from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. (EST).
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND RESULTS
PBA EARL ANTHONY MEMORIAL CLASSIC
At TechCity Bowl, Kirkland, WA, Jan. 6, 2002
Pos. Name/City & State Total/Games Money
1. Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J. 651 (3 games) $40,000
2. Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico 447 (2 games) 20,000
3. Mike DeVaney, Escondido, Calif. 181 (1 game) 10,000
4. Patrick Allen, Tarrytown, N.Y. 225 (1 game) 10,000
5. Dennis Horan Jr., Temecula, Calif. 202 (1 game) 9,000
PLAYOFF RESULTS – In the wild card match, Bohn def. Horan, 216-202; in the semifinals, Healey def. Allen, 232-225, and Bohn def. DeVaney, 200-181; in the championship, Bohn def. Healey, 235-215.
