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Bohn wins $40,000 at PBA's Memorial Classic

Parker Bohn III looked to heaven and a deceased friend for a little help to win the PBA's Earl Anthony Memorial Classic on Sunday at Kirkland, Wash.

"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. "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."

Bohn beat Patrick Healey Jr. 235-215 to move to second among left-handers for winnings in PBA history. He trails the event's namesake, who died in August.

Healey, looking for his first title, started the championship match poorly with a 4-6-7 split in the first frame. Unable to convert, Healey didn't let the open frame shake him, and the fourth-year pro struck in the next three frames.

Bohn started strong with a single-pin conversion in the first frame and a trio of strikes.

Bohn's 28th title puts him ahead of Mike Aulby and Pete Weber, fourth on the PBA's win list. It was Bohn's fourth win of season.

Bohn advanced to the title match by beating Mike DeVaney in a semifinal 200-181. DeVaney earned $10,000 by tying for third with Patrick Allen. In the wild-card match Bohn beat Dennis Horan Jr. 216-202. Horan settled for fifth and $9,000. Tampa's Chris Hayden was ousted by Bohn and finished 20th, and Ocala's Walter Ray Williams Jr. was 100th.

The tour is in Medford, Ore., with the finals at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. FORMAT REVISITED: For those of you who didn't catch the new PBA format introduced last year, here's a review.

All bowlers compete in nine games of qualifying. The top 64 advance to the second nine-game round, after which a cut is made to the top 32. Single-elimination bracket competition begins with the 32 in best-of-five matches to advance. After three rounds head to head, the remaining four plus a wild card meet in the finals for the $40,000 top prize.

The prize fund has increased 140 percent and pays through 64th.

All events are played in an arena setting starting with the quarterfinals, which fans can watch from bleachers on both sides of the lanes.

RECORD PAYOFF: The 52nd ABC Masters will be Jan. 16-20 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., with the finals live on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 20.

As one of the PBA's majors, the Masters offers a record $350,000 prize with $100,000 going to the winner. This is the second largest first prize of the season. The PBA World Championship in February in Toledo, Ohio, is the highest-paying major at $120,000.

Bohn will defend his title against the nation's top professionals and amateurs. He beat Clermont's Jason Couch to win last year's title.

Nine more events follow the Medford stop, ending with the Battle at Little Creek. All finals are Sundays on ESPN.

The Professional Women's Bowling Association has not released its schedule, but the tour usually starts in May.

-- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com.

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