1984 Firestone Tournament Of Champions

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$200,000 FIRESTONE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Riviera Lanes, Akron, Ohio, Apr 17-21, 1984
Durbin Unstoppable In Firestone

Mike Durbin became the first bowler tow in the Firestone Tournament of Champions three times, doing it the same week he was enshrined in the PBA Hall of Fame.

Durbin, the 1972 and '82 victor at Riviera Lanes, came from fourth place in the championship round, rolling 950 for four games while overwhelming his last three opponents.

Steve Cook, the 1981 Firestone winner, was Durbin's first victim, falling 205-188 in what proved to be the closest match of the day.

Then Durbin fell into dead stroke, routing George Pappas, 255-191; Joe Salvemini, 244-198; and top-seeded Mike Aulby; 246-163. Durbin's 13th PBA title was worth $40,000, pushing his career PBA earnings past $600,000 of which more than 25 percent has been a result of the Firestone.

"I would not mind if every tournament was here at Riviera," said the 42-year-old Durbin.

Earlier in the week Durbin realized one of his most sought bowling goals when he was ceremoniously placed into the PBA Hall of Fame along with PBA Public Relations Director Bud Fisher and veteran Glenn Allison.

In the exciting tournament days that followed, Cook built up nearly a 500-pin advantage before faltering badly during the last two rounds of match play and barely clinging to the fifth spot in the championship round.

Meanwhile Aulby, who had not seen action on the PBA Tour for more than a month due to illness, came on strong to outdistance Salvemini by 115 pins for the top-seeded position. Veteran strokers Pappas and Durbin completed the championship round field, representing the immediate past president and current president of the PBA.

In the title game, Aulby opened in the fourth and fifth frames while Durbin, who was zeroed in on the pocket, built a 52-pin lead. The match never tightened with Durbin on top going away.

The win enabled Durbin to move a notch ahead of Earl Anthony, Dave Davis and Jim Godman, each of who has won the Firestone twice.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Pos. Name, City/State Total Amount

1 Mike Durbin, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 950 (4 games) $40,000
2 Mike Aulby, Indianapolis 163 (1 game) 22,000
3 Joe Salvemini, Reno, Nev. 198 (1 game) 15,000
4 George Pappas, Charlotte, N.C. 191 (1 game) 10,000
5 Steve Cook, Roseville, Calif. 188 (1 game) 7,000

PLAYOFF RESULTS - Durbin defeated Cook, 205-188; Durbin defeated Pappas, 255-191; Durbin defeated Salvemini, 244-198; and in the championship game, Durbin defeated Aulby, 246-163.