ERIE, Pa. -- Steve Wilson thought he had blown his chance when he missed a 10-pin spare in the final match of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Flagship Open at Eastway Lanes, Sunday, Feb. 24. The open 10th frame allowed his opponent, Jason Queen, Oreana, Ill., a chance to strike out and win by one. But, Queen left a flat 10-pin on his second ball and handed the victory back to Wilson, 267-257.

Wilson, Lake Worth, Fla., picked up his fourth career title and his second win of the 2001-2002 season, along with the $40,000 top prize. “I had a great reaction today,” said Wilson. “The left lane played a little tighter than it did all week, but other than that, the lanes broke down just like they did the rest of the tournament.”

But, Wilson couldn’t get over his missed spare in the 10th. “I just blew it,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it. That was the first one (10-pin) I missed all week. It’s one of the easiest spares we shoot out here.”

Queen, who earned $20,000 for second place, knew why he failed to get three strikes in the 10th. “I tend to throw the ball a little harder,” he said. “So, with the way the lanes were breaking down, I made the move right. I missed inside my breakpoint and the ball went just a little long.”

However, Queen was still happy with his first PBA finals finish. “Two weeks ago my coach (PBA Hall of Famer John Jowdy) and I worked on my timing. Last week I made match play with the new technique. As this week went on, it just continued to feel better and better. I’d like to give my thanks to John."

Wilson has now won two, single-elimination match play format tournaments. Last March, he claimed the Battle at Little Creek (Virginia Beach, Va.). “It’s just a different style of bowling for me,” he said. “I enjoy doing it. I tend to focus and make better shots. In longer formats, I sometimes just go through the motions - that’s how qualifying still is. But, when the matches start you have to go get ‘em.”

Wilson, who went 11-2 in match play, threw eight of 12 possible strikes against Queen. He spared (10-pin) in the fourth frame and missed the same spare in the 10th. Queen, too, rolled eight strikes with spares (10-pin and 7-pin) in the third and fourth and 10th frames.

In the semifinals, Wilson defeated rookie Blaise Bedolla, 278-247, while Queen knocked off Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi, 243-211. Bedolla, Roseburg, Ore., and Koivuniemi finished tied for third place with $10,000 each. In the wild card match, Koivuniemi beat hometown favorite Bob Learn Jr., 255-219. Learn, Erie, Pa., finished fifth with $9,000.

The PBA moves on to Southwyck Lanes in Toledo, Ohio, for the final major of the season, the PBA World Championship. ESPN will televise the four-man finals live on Sunday, March 3, from 12:30-2 p.m. (ET). The winner will take home a professional bowling record, $120,000 top prize.

PBA TOUR
PBA Flagship Open
Eastway Lanes, Erie, Pa.
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002

Pos. Name/Hometown Total/Games Money
1. Steve Wilson, Lake Worth, Fla. 545 (2 games) $40,000
2. Jason Queen, Oreana, Ill. 500 (2 games) $20,000
3. Blaise Bedolla, Roseburg, Ore. 247 (1 game) $10,000
(T) Mika Koivuniemi, Finland 466 (2 games) $10,000
5. Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa. 219 (1 game) $ 9,000

PLAYOFF RESULTS - In the wild card match, Koivuniemi def. Learn, 255-219; in the semifinals, Wilson def. Bedolla, 278-247, and Queen def. Koivuniemi, 243-211; and in the final match, Wilson def. Queen, 267-257.

This is Wilson’s fourth career PBA title and his second of the 2001-2002 season.