BOWLING / PBA AT RIVERSIDE : Golf Lesson Is Key to Success for David Ozio

A pro bowler who practiced patience and won is back.

Four months ago, during a title showdown at Torrance, David Ozio rolled a bad ball that threatened his chances of winning. “I could have panicked, folded right there,” he said. “But suddenly I remembered a comment on patience by (golfer) Tom Kite: Stop and think, take the deep breath, get your concentration back on the positive and go into the next shot.”

The next shot worked. So have many of the “next shots” since that victory at Gable House Bowl. Ozio also won the next tournament, at Las Vegas, and three weeks ago won the Firestone Tournament of Champions at Akron, Ohio.

Ozio is the star entrant in the $145,000 Kessler PBA tournament, starting a four-day run today at Town Square Lanes in Riverside.

After 15 events on the 1991 tour, Ozio is the money leader with $138,885 and appears to have a clear lane to bowler-of-the-year honors. Pete Weber, also a three-time winner this year, is serving a six-month PBA suspension for an alleged bowling conduct infraction, and Amleto Monacelli, another contender, is taking a monthlong vacation.

“A victory or two more with some additional high finishes could give me good position for that honor,” Ozio said. “And I’ll tell you, I’m sure going for it.”

At Riverside, Ozio will face 134 rivals, including several of the PBA’s marquee performers--Marshall Holman, Walter Ray Williams, John Mazza, Bob Benoit, Chris Warren, Ron Palumbi, Mike Miller, Wayne Webb and Mark Williams.

Danny Wiseman of Baltimore, a surprise winner last year, is back to defend his title.