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Duke's 20th win is closest one ever

Since the PBA was formed in 1958, there never has been a closer match than Clermont's Norm Duke against David Traber of Woodstock, Ill., in the Cambridge Credit Classic on Dec. 1 at Syosset, N.Y.

Duke won the third one-ball rolloff 10-9 and claimed the title after he and Traber tied at 245 in the regular championship match. They were tied 9-9 and 10-10 in the first two tiebreakers.

"I finally told myself, 'You've just got to pick up that strike or he's going to dust you,' " Duke said. "I think I willed 'em (the pins) over."

Duke earned $40,000 in winning his 20th career title, becoming the 13th player to reach that milestone. He tied Dick Ritger and Wayne Webb for 11th on the all-time win list. Duke's last title came in 2000 at Tucson, Ariz.

The sudden-death, one-ball rolloff has been used to break ties on the tour since 1997. This was the first time it decided a title match. In the extra frames, Traber left a 10-pin and Duke the 7-pin. Both threw strikes on their second ball. Finally, Traber left the 4-pin on the third ball and Duke fired a strike.

"My legs were wobbling on that first shot," Duke said. "I can't believe I got nine. The way it came off my hand ... that was a six-count all day long."

Duke threw six straight strikes to close out regulation, forcing Traber to strike out. Traber earned $20,000.

Duke defeated Doug Kent of Newark, N.Y., 255-245 in the semifinals, and Traber knocked off Hugh Miller of Seattle 238-209. Kent and Miller tied for third with $10,000 each. In the opening match, Kent beat Titusville's Jason Hurd 224-201, with Hurd taking home $9,000.

Ocala's Roger Bowker was 10th, Hollywood's Randy Pedersen 12th, Lake Worth's Steve Wilson 28th and 10-time winner Steve Hoskins of Tarpon Springs 30th.

KENT BEATS BARNES: Kent relegated top-ranked Chris Barnes of Dallas to his fourth second-place finish Sunday in the PBA's Empire State Open at Loudonville, N.Y.

Kent defeated Barnes 257-204 for his sixth title and $40,000. The match was even heading into the seventh when Barnes opened the door, missing a 2-4-5-8 spare.

Kent became the fourth wild-card qualifier to win since last year. Barnes has been a runner-up twice to wild-card entrants.

"I don't ever want to go to bed saying 'what if?' " said Barnes, who won $20,000. "I would've lost the semifinals if I didn't make an adjustment, changing balls and throwing straighter."

He remained atop the PBA world point rankings.

In the semifinals, Kent edged Tommy Delutz Jr. of Flushing, N.Y., 242-238, and Barnes upended second-ranked Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala 239-198. In the opening match, Kent beat Steve Jaros of Bolingbrook, Ill., 254-214.

Hurd, Wilson and Duke missed the second-round cut. Clermont's Jason Couch defeated Seattle's Hugh Miller 4-3 in the match-play round of 32, then lost to Williams in the round of eight. Hoskins lost to Randy Weiss of Irmo, S.C., 4-2 and Williams stopped John Roberts of Glenallen, Va., 4-0.

The tour is at Uncasville, Conn., for the Tournament of Champions, the first major of the 2002-03 season. ESPN will air the finals from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday. Top prize is $100,000.

WILLIAMS HAS TOP AVERAGE: Points leader Barnes also is the tour's top money-winner with $116,250, while Williams has the best average at 226.22.

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