The Fair Lanes PBA Open in Baltimore is fast acquiring a reputation for dramatic firsts. Last year Danny Wiseman won his first tournament in his hometown. And last week Pete Weber led all qualifiers by rolling 42 consecutive games over 200 -- a PBA record.
But it was the last ball of the last frame of the tournament that stunned a full house at Fair Lanes Kings Point and a national TV audience Saturday.
After Weber finished the championship game with five strikes and a 213 score, Del Ballard Jr. needed 27 pins in the 10th frame to win. Ballard got the toughest part -- the first two strikes -- and all he had to do was knock down seven more for the $30,000 first prize. Weber sat waiting for the ax to fall.