BOWLING / SENIOR PBA AT LAKEWOOD : Gibbs Error Helps Stus Win a Title

In a title showdown between bowling heavyweights, Gene Stus of Allen Park, Mich., defeated Robert Gibbs of Abilene, Tex., at Cal Bowl in Lakewood Thursday night.

Stus, at 240 pounds, beat the 225-pound Gibbs, 200-189, to win the Pacific Senior PBA tournament. It was the first professional title for the retired auto company supervisor.

When Gibbs left the 10-pin standing on a try for a spare on a 6-10 shot to open in the sixth frame, Stus capitalized by striking three times to win.

Gibbs finished second for the second consecutive week on the senior tour. In the opening match of the playoff, he defeated Jim Brenner, the retired process planner from LeClaire, Iowa, 247-235.

The difference in the match was Gibbs’ string of six strikes. Brenner’s game featured a strike streak, too, but it lasted only five frames.

Jimmy Certain was eliminated by Gibbs in the second match, 200-198. Certain, a three-time pro titlist, played in knickers to the applause of the fans and opened with a couple of strikes for an early lead.

However, a 7-10 split and a 1-2-4-10 washout, neither of which Certain picked up, allowed Gibbs the narrow decision. Gibbs won his duel with Certain despite a 7-10 split for an open frame.

John Handegard of Lake Jackson, Tex., was Gibbs’ third victim by a score of 226-185. Handegard was in contention until he ran into a baby split. After that Gibbs found the pocket again and closed the match with four strikes in a row.