BOWLING PBA RIVERSIDE TOURNAMENT : Wayne Webb Holds Two-Pin Advantage After 26 Games

At one time, Wayne Webb was king of the hill in pro bowling.

In 1980, he was voted PBA player of the year. By 1985, the 5-foot-5 right-hander had 16 tour victories.

Then came the slump. He went five years with only one victory in early 1989 to show for his work as a full-time touring pro.

Webb recalled the hard luck Thursday at the Town Square Lanes in Riverside--but with optimism.

He had just left the lanes after a high-scoring performance that enabled him to pass Don Genalo and take the lead in the $145,000 Kessler PBA tournament, after 18 games when the 160-man field was cut to 24 semifinalists.

Webb continued to bowl well through the next eight games and held a two-pin margin over Ron Palombi Jr., at the 26-game mark.

Randy Peterson and Larry Stephens in 16th and 17th place respectively, are among Southern Californians in the running. Bowlers play 16 more games today, to decide the five finalists for Saturday’s championship.

Webb, 32, said fellow pros David Ozio and Steve Wunderlich spotted a flaw in his game at a recent practice session back home in Texas.

“It was a simple change of hand position on the ball,” Webb said. “Let’s hope it turns into the breakthrough I’ve been after.”

Tournament Notes

Mike Sands, PBA tour press director, said Webb is a shoo-in to make the PBA Hall of Fame in three years. That is when Wayne Webb becomes 35, the minimum age for gaining admittance. PBA members vote for Hall of Famers annually. . . . Bryan Alpert of Las Vegas and Joe Salvemini have the only perfect games in the tournament. Alpert made the All-Southern California junior team several years ago when he lived in Woodland Hills.