BOWLING : Hromek Takes Lead at Lakewood

Justin Hromek of Andover, Kan. led comfortably after 26 games of the $220,000 AC/Delco PBA Tournament Thursday night at Cal Bowl in Lakewood.

But popular sentiment seemed to be with Robert Smith, who graduated two years ago from Royal High School in Simi Valley and was in third place--65 pins behind the leader.

Hromek, seeking his second PBA title, won six of eight matches with a high game of 268 for a 5,913 total.

Parker Bohn III of Freehold, N.J., at 5,849, was second. Smith’s total was 5,848. Floridian Joe Firpo, at 5,828, was fourth and Mike Aulby of Indianapolis fifth at 5,815.

Smith, the only amateur in the competition, is a budding international star for the United States. He will be among members of Team USA at Colorado Springs later this month for Olympic training.

The field of 183 was cut to 24 earlier in the day after 18 games.

Aulby, Del Ballard Jr., Wayne Webb and David Ozio survived the cut.

Several favorites, however, didn’t, including Walter Ray Williams Jr., Pete Weber, Brian Voss, Gary Dickinson and Marshal Holman.