Bowling : Ballard Beats Weber to Win Richest Open

Del Ballard Jr. routed top-seeded Pete Weber, 247-209, in the title game of the $500,000 U.S. Open bowling tournament Saturday to win the $100,000 top prize--richest in the history of the Professional Bowlers Assn.

It was the first PBA title for Ballard, a Richardson, Tex., pro who also earned a three-year waiver into the Tournament of Champions.

Ballard, 23, who made it to the final match with a 278-187 semifinal victory over Ron Bell of Akron, Ohio, said he had to fight off a case of nerves.

“I’m a very nervous person,” he said. “That’s the closest I’ve ever come to passing out.”

Weber, 24, who led the 240-man field by 271 pins after the first 56 games, received the $55,000 second prize, which was also more than the previous winner’s share in a PBA tournament.

“It was difficult to bowl today because I was tense the first couple of frames,” Weber said. “It was just one of those days when Del couldn’t do anything wrong, and I’m really happy for him.”

Marshall Holman of Medford, Ore., opened the nationally televised finals by eliminating another veteran, Gary Dickinson of Burleson, Tex., 265-190.

The third-seeded Bell then beat Holman, 230-203.