Bowling

Governing body's fate hinges on one last vote

Delegates to the ABC national convention in Knoxville, Tenn., handed their parent organization a defeat last week by voting down the proposed Single Membership Organization.

SMO would merge ABC, the Women's International Bowling Congress, the Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling into one governing body, the U.S. Bowling Congress. The proposal first was presented three years ago.

The YABA and USA Bowling had approved SMO, and it needed approval from the ABC or WIBC. A two-thirds majority of the 1,258 ABC delegates was needed, but votes were split 630-628. The defeat potentially sets the ABC on its own in dealing with its 1.4-million members.

SMO's fate hinges on the WIBC delegates at their annual meeting April29 in Reno, Nev. Delegates must vote to rescind their decision at last year's meeting to delay their vote on SMO until this year. Then they must vote on the SMO. If both measures pass, the USBC will bebowling's newest organization. If either draws a no, SMO is no more.

ABC president Jim Bevins Jr. told delegates, "You once again proved the democratic process works. You told us you want ABC to go in a different direction and that's what we'll do."

"WIBC's leadership still believes in the merger, and we are going to do everything we can to move forward with the proposal," WIBC executive director Roseann Kuhn said.

ABC executive director Roger Dalkin said his organization developed contingency plans, but they will not be disclosed until WIBC votes.

In other business, the ABC awarded Hudson's Ron Woods the Darold Dobs BVL Memorial Award. Woods, former owner of Hudson Bowl, instituted the ABC Honor ScoreBVL Contribution Program in 1994. The program allows bowlers to donate honor score money to the Bowlers Veterans Link. The BVL is a national organization that distributes funds raised to veterans hospitals.

WILLIAMS WRAPS IT UP: Ocala's Walter Ray Williams Jr. won the PBA World Championship at Taylor, Mich., March9, capping a record-breaking season and setting him up for his sixth PBA player of the year title.

Williams defeated Brian Kretzer of Dayton, Ohio, 226-205 and earned $120,000, his third win this season and second major title. He leads money winners with more than $419,000, a season record.

"This is such a great feeling," said Williams, second all-time with 37 tour titles. "This feeling never gets old. This win ranks right up there with the other majors I've won."

Williams left a 2-pin spare in the fifth frame, and Kretzer took the lead with a strike, but saw the momentum swing with a 7-10 split in the sixth frame. Williams let Kretzer rally, failing to strike in frames five through eight. Kretzer had a chance to force Williams to strike, but left a 3-6-10 in the ninth. Williams' strikes in the eighth, ninth and 10th sealed it.

Williams defeated Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 217-207 in the semifinals, and Kretzer beat Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., 248-222. Weber and Bohn tied for third, worth $20,000.

Lake Worth's Steve Wilson lost in the Super 16 round, and Titusville's Jason Hurd was ousted in the round of 32. Ten-time winner Steve Hoskins of Tarpon Springs and Hollywood's Randy Pedersen also lost in the round of 32. Clermont's Jason Couch and Tavares' Dale Eagle lost in the round of 64.

Eric Forkel, Danny Wiseman and Dennis Horan earned $8,000 each after winning the team championship, a new feature installed for this event.

SEASONS: The World Championship ended the 2002-03 tour after 22 events, and the new season begins in October. The PBA seniors open with the Chillicothe (Ohio) Open May3, and the PWBA opens April7 with the WIBC Queens tournament at Reno, Nev. ESPN2 will air the women's competition.

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