BOWLING : Jacques Gears Down, but Stays in Race for Title

Bowlers come in all sizes, but a look into the record book will attest most champion pros are of average stature or smaller.

“Us big fellows are fundamentally at a disadvantage with natural tendencies to overpower the ball,” 6-3, 235-pound Dennis Jacques said at Gable House Bowl in Torrance.

If so, natural tendencies weren’t in his way Thursday as he outbowled 159 of the game’s best to lead the AC-Delco PBA Tournament after 18 games.

The field was cut to the top 24 and in the match play that followed, Jacques slipped off the pace. But he was a close third behind the new leader, Bill Orlikowski of Marne, Mich., after 26 games.

With 16 more semifinal matches today, the goal is to stay among the top five to make Saturday’s title roll-off.

Defending champion Marc McDowell and Ron Williams, the 1990 Torrance winner, made the semifinals. So did PBA player of the year Dave Ferraro, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Randy Pedersen.

Among those eliminated were Mike Fowler (32nd), Gary Dickinson (37th), Pete Weber (39th), and Marshall Holman (59th).

Jacques, 32, of Monmouth Junction, N.J., said he practiced from 30 to 40 hours a week to “gear down” his delivery. “It’s always a challenge to stop muscling the ball if you are a big man,” he said.

On and off the tournament tour since 1981, Jacques (pronounced “jakes”) has three titles, the last at Riverside in 1985.

Jacques said he is using eight balls at this tournament.

“Each ball is different with varying hooking action,’ he said. “You go for the one you feel is right for the lane you are on.”

There were two 300 games Wednesday night, by Brad Snell and Tony Westlake.