kakcpa
PBA Forum Member
Member # 23072
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The date was April 1, 1967.
http://media.putfile.com/300-game-at-firestone
Here is the write up about the tournament from the PBA archive:
100,000 FIRESTONE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Riviera Lanes, Akron, Ohio, Mar 28-Apr 1, 1967
Stefanich: King Of Champs
They'll be shouting about the shooting in the 1967 Professional
Bowlers Association $100,000 Firestone Tournament of Champions for
many a day. You just don't riffle the record book with 17 - new
marks and roll four 300 games in one tourney without causing a
commotion.
Jim Stefanich, of Joliet, Ill., took home the $25,000 first prize,
popped one of the perfectos, his first ever, and inked his name
beside an even dozen in THE book. Billy Welu got out of the
starting blocks like a greyhound to knock off three records and
his fourth 300.
Jack Biondolillo socked the biggest 300 in the history of the
game. His came before the American Broadcasting Company's national
colored television cameras for which he collected a cool ten thou
($10,000). Mike Limongello's 12 strikes were worth $8.33 apiece
($100), as were Welu's and Stefanich's.
But all this was just the forerunner to a finish which left the
25,000,000 TV fans and some 1,500 in attendance at Riviera Lanes
hanging out the window.
The championship match simmered and then boiled before ending in a
227 tie when Don Johnson, the Kokomo (Ind.) Kid, struck on his
last pitch. A two-frame playoff saw Johnson die when his nose hit
produced a split. Stefanich shot him down with three in the
one-three pocket.
As the leading qualifier through the first 48 games, Jim was
seeded into the championship match. He watched in awe as
Biondolillo stroked his 300 in defeating Les Schissler who had
216. But Biondolillo shot his wad in this one and had to struggle
to gain a 188-181 decision over Mike Durbin. Johnson then
encircled the Houston entry, 228-172, to set up the heroics in the
title go.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Pos. Name, City/State Amount
1 Jim Stefanich, Joliet, Ill. $25,000
2 Don Johnson, Kokomo, Ind. 12,500
3 Jack Biondolillo, Houston, Texas 6,500
4 Mike Durbin, Costa Mesa, Calif. 3,500
5 Les Schissler. Denver 2,500
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Stefanich and Johnson tied at 227 and Stefanich
won rolloff, 43-36. ROUND ROBIN: Biondolillo defeated Schissler,
300-216 ; Biondolillo defeated Durbin, 188-181 ; Johnson defeated
Biondolillo, 228-172. |