Torrance Bowling Tournament : Pedersen Collects $27,000 for 258-247 Win Over Bohn

Lee Trevino has his fleas who follow him around a golf course, but bowler Randy Pedersen has his owls.

Pedersen’s rooting section was loud and clear in the final of the AC/Delco tournament Saturday at Gable House Bowl in Torrance.

“Hoot, hoot, hoot!” went his fans after every strike posted by the tall right-hander, a 1980 graduate of St. Monica High School who now lives in Santa Maria.

Pedersen gave his Southern California pals plenty to hoot about as he defeated Parker Bohn III, 258-247, in a stirring title match for the $27,000 first prize.

James Miller of Tempe, Ariz., finished third; Marshall Holman of Medford, Ore., was fourth, and Ron Palombi Jr., of Erie, Pa., wound up fifth.

Pedersen, a 6-foot 2-inch 180-pounder, watched Holman defeat Palombi, 237-207. Pedersen then beat Holman, 234-167, and Miller, 235-192, before taking on Bohn, a left-hander from Freehold, N.J., who topped the 160-man field over 42 games leading to the title roll-off.

Pedersen started fast, opening with 6 consecutive strikes. It looked like a rout, but Bohn wasn’t finished, closing with 6 strikes, forcing Pedersen to mark in his 10th frame.

“I’m on cloud nine, Pedersen aptly told Gen. Chuck Yeager, the man who broke the sound barrier and was on hand to present the winner’s check.

Pedersen wore different colored bowling shoes. “The red (right foot) is my favorite for sliding up to the line,” he said. “I lost the other red one, so I just wear a white one to go with it.”

A diamond-studded, gold rabbit’s foot was on Pedersen’s neck chain.

“Joe Berardi (who won this tournament in 1988) lent it to me. Said I could win with it,” Pederson said.

Pedersen is the first Southern Californian to win at Gable House, a center that was holding its 12th Professional Bowlers Assn. tournament.

Pederson also became the first Southern Californian to gain a PBA tournament title in this region since Gary Madison of San Bernardino won at Anaheim in 1971.

It was Pedersen’s 4th title in 9 years on the national tour. His biggest victory was the 1987 National Pro at Toledo, Ohio.