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Williams ties Roth on career wins list

Ocala's Walter Ray Williams Jr. tied Mark Roth for second all-time with his 34th victory at the Greater Cincinnati Classic on Sunday. Williams defeated rookie Mike Machuga 247-194 to win $40,000.

"It feels great to accomplish this," Williams said. "I still don't consider what I have accomplished comparable to Roth's achievements, but I guess it's pretty good."

Roth beat Williams for his 34th title in Ontario in 1995.

Earl Anthony had 41 victories.

Machuga earned $20,000, and Doug Kent and Rick Steel-smith each earned $10,000, tying for third. Machuga joined the PBA three months ago and advanced to the title match by beating Steelsmith 205-203. Steel-smith was making his first championship round appearance of the year. In the wild-card match, Kent defeated Tim Criss 216-194. Machuga ousted Steve Hoskins of Tarpon Springs 3-2 in the round of 32. Tampa's Chris Hayden finished 48th and Ken Fishman of Lutz was 63rd.

The race for rookie of the year includes young bowlers, regional stars and top amateurs.

In the Johnny Petraglia Open two weeks ago, eight rookies made the top 32, five made the round of 16, two gained the round of eight and one -- Brian Kretzer -- made the championship round. Other rookies are Tommy Jones, Mike Wolfe, Chris Sand, Michael Eaton Jr. and Nick Vogelgesang.

ROLLING A SEVEN: Carolyn Dorin-Ballard joined the all-time PWBA greats by winning her seventh title of the season, the $100,000 Brunswick Women's World Open Saturday at Las Vegas.

Dorin-Ballard, four-time runner-up for player of the year, defeated Michelle Feldman 280-258 for the $15,000 payoff.

Dorin-Ballard tied Patty Costello's professional women's record of seven titles in one season.

"I'm just on cloud nine right now," Dorin-Ballard said. "This has been a very special year for me. I can't imagine Hollywood writing a better script."

The PWBA leader in titles (7), earnings ($125,670) and averages (214.44) this season, Dorin-Ballard made her 18th televised championship-round appearance in 22 events.

Feldman earned $7,500 for second place. Lisa Bishop won the opening shootout 268-209-164 over Liz Johnson and Kelly Kulick. Bishop earned $5,000, Johnson $4,300 and Kulick $3,700.

Dede Davidson earned her first title this season and eighth overall, defeating Dorin-Ballard 194-186 in the $50,000 Las Cruces, N.M., Open on Nov. 1.

In what could be considered a side tournament to the World Open, Feldman beat Anne Marie Duggan in the 12th frame of the Brunswick Shoot-Out at Las Vegas on Saturday and earned an extra $21,500. The top eight PWBA points finishers competed in the frame-by-frame, single-elimination competition, much like golf's Skins Game.

The Shoot-Out will air at 9 p.m. Nov. 26 and Nov. 29 on ESPN2, and 2 p.m. Nov. 29 on ESPN.

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

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