BOWLING : PBA AT TORRANCE New Ball, Outlook Help McDowell

Marc McDowell was down in 89th place and feeling out of it after six games at Gable House Bowl three days ago.

He decided to try another ball, “a new model with unique weight blocks inside,” McDowell said.

Before using it, the former bowling All-American for West Texas State retired to his hotel room for 20 minutes of hypnotic therapy off a cassette.

Returning to the action in the $175,000 AC/Delco PBA Tournament, McDowell took off up the standings and never stopped climbing until the $37,000 first prize was his.

That came in a title rolloff Saturday, when he defeated Marshal Holman, 228-184; Rick Steelsmith, 241-205, and Wayne Webb, 216-190, in that order.

“It’s the combination every pro needs to win on the national tour,” said McDowell, of Madison, Wis. “New confidence and a ball to fit the lane conditions.”

In collecting the $19,000 second prize, Webb, of Beaumont, Tex., had some consolation. He became the sixth pro bowler to win a million dollars in his career ($1,003,081).

Webb, with 17 titles but still a non-winner in six finals at Gable House, joined Holman ($1.5 million), Mark Roth ($1.4), Earl Anthony ($1.3), Pete Weber ($1.3) and Mike Aulby ($1.1) in the millionaire club.

Holman was a runaway leader in this event until his game became erratic. He opened the final with a 258-201 victory over Ricky Ward only to be eliminated by McDowell with a sub-par 184.

At 29, McDowell is the youngest president in the 33 years of the Pro Bowlers Assn.

“My goal?” he answered. “To be elected Bowler of the Year. I’m off to the best start toward that.”

With that the 5-foot-8, 160-pound right-hander packed away the new ball and the cassettes and departed for Las Vegas, second pro 1992 tournament stopoff.