1980 ARC Alameda Open

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$85,000 ARC ALAMEDA OPEN
Mel's Southshore Bowl, Alameda, Calif., Dec 31-Jan 5, 1980
Nelson Nails 1980 Opener

A stunning 7-10 split conversion by Mark Roth highlighted the inaugural tournament of the decade, but at the finish it was Warren Nelson who grabbed his second PBA title and the 510,000 first prize in the $85,000 ARC'.

Alameda Open at Mel's Southshore Bowl,Nelson put on a "bowling clinic" in the final round of match play that dazzled his opponents as he out-averaged second-seeded Marshall Holman by five pins per game going into the finals and then defeated his closest pursuer; 236-190, in the championship game.

Roth, the Sporting News PBA Player of the Year for the previous three seasons, astounded the gallery and the millions of ABC-TV Pro Bowlers Tour viewers when, in the first match of the finals, he knocked the 10-pin off the kickback into the 7-pin for a spare that helped him defeat Bill Straub, 222-184. Jim Plessinger then eliminated Roth and was defeated by Holman to set the stage for the title match.

TELEVISED FINALS

Pos. Name, City/State Total Amount
1 Warren Nelson, Downey, Calif. 236 (1 game) $10,000
2 Marshall Holman, Medford, Ore. 411 (2 games) 6,000
3 Jim Plessinger, State College, Pa. 417 (2 games) 5,000
4 Mark Roth, N. Arlington, N.J. 402 (2 games) 4,000
5 Bill Straub, Lincoln, Neb. 184 (1 game) 3,500
MATCH RESULTS: Roth defeated Straub, 222-184; Plessinger defeated Roth, 237-180; Holman defeatedPlessinger, 221-180, and in the championship game, Nelson defeated Holman, 236-190:'