VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. -- Parker Bohn III won his 29th career Professional Bowlers Asociation (PBA) title Sunday, March 17, in the season-ending PBA Battle at Little Creek at Virginia Wesleyan College’s Jane P. Batten Center. Bohn, Jackson, N.J., defeated Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico, in the title match, 279-212, and earned the $40,000 top-prize. He also moved past Pete Weber into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time win list.

The 38-year-old threw the first nine strikes against Healey and was bidding for his second career televised 300 game before leaving the 7-pin standing in the 10th frame.

“I’ve been there before,” said Bohn. “I just wanted to make a good shot. I missed it a little at the bottom of the swing. I’d probably rate it a nine on a scale of one to 10. As I was watching it, I knew it either had to skid a little further or turn over. It did neither.” Healey lost his ball reaction after the semifinals and couldn’t persuade the pins against Bohn. He struck only five times in the match and converted six spares, including the 2-4-8-10 split in the eighth.

“It’s tough to try and play catchup,” said Healey, who earned $20,000. “Parker’s a great champion. When a guy like that sees an opportunity, he jumps on it. That’s exactly what he did today. “All week long I played the lanes harder and straighter out by the gutter. Today I had to play them a little differently. But, I’m happy with my season. I’ve gotten real close to doing everything right. Hopefully, in the future, everything will go my way in the finals.”

Healey finished with his best season in four years on tour, earning $139,708 with three runner-up finishes. Bohn finished with a tour-best five wins this season and $245,200. He also won five times in 1999 en route to PBA Player of the Year honors.

But, as good as Bohn was in the final - he was just as lucky in the semifinals. He survived a close match with Brian LeClair, 234-210. “I felt very fortunate just to get through the match with Brian,” Bohn commented. “A couple of shots really went my way. He leaves a wiggling 9-pin and I’m looking at the 8 and it falls.”

LeClair’s ball in the fourth frame bumped the 9-pin as it cut through the heart of the pins. But, it didn’t fall. Bohn had a similar shot in the fifth, but the 8-pin was cooperative. The shots proved to be the turning point as Bohn tacked on four more strikes for a five-bagger which shut out LeClair.

In the other semifinal, Healey defeated three-time champion Robert Smith, 263-224. Smith and LeClair finished tied for third with $10,000 apiece. The 2002-2003 PBA Season will begin in October.

PBA TOUR
PBA BATTLE AT LITTLE CREEK
Jane P. Batten Center, Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia Beach, VA.
Sunday, March 17, 2002

Pos. Name/Hometown Total/Games Money
1. Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ 513 (2 games) $40,000
2. Patrick Healey Jr., Mexico 475 (2 games) $20,000
3. Brian LeClair, Athens, NY 210 (1 game) $10,000
(T) Robert Smith, Simi Valley, CA 224 (1 game) $10,000

PLAYOFF RESULTS - In the semifinals, Healey def. Smith, 263-224, and Bohn def. LeClair, 234-210; and in the final, Bohn def. Healey, 279-212.

This is Bohn’s 29th career PBA title and his fifth of the 2001-2002 season.