McCordic Hoping ‘300’ Game Is Good Enough to Win Now

Bowler Pete McCordic is back in town with a fond recollection of his last visit here.

A year ago, the Houston pro leaped from virtual anonymity to instant notoriety by bowling the sport’s richest perfect game.

His 300 in the 1987 nationally televised Southern California Professional Bowlers Assn. Open finals won him a bonus of $100,000 and the hearts of 500 cheering spectators at Gable House Bowl in Torrance. Several million saw it on television.

“How can I forget the highlight of my career,” said McCordic Tuesday in warmups for today’s start of the four-day $150,000 AC-Delco tournament at Gable House.

“I’ve been signing autographs ever since. At every tournament stop-off, fans, especially young people who bowl, have given me a lot of attention, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. As you know, I was never one to be a hero in pro bowling until that 300.”

McCordic, 34, referred to a life of frustration on the PBA tournament trail.

In 13 years, he has never won a tournament. He has the dubious honor of being the pro bowler who has made the most money, $545,000, without winning. McCordic has finished second 20 times.

Another bowler currently suffering that old second-place feeling in the 160-man field is Marshall Holman of Medford, Ore.

Holman, one of the game’s great champions with 20 titles and known for his classic delivery, hasn’t won in a year and a half, during which time he has recorded a number of runner-up finishes.

Despite the winless streak, Holman was named last week as 1987 PBA player of the year.

The voting by 935 PBA members has led some experts to question how a nonwinner in ’87 can be that year’s player of the year.

Holman, whose 216 average was tops in the PBA last year, got 389 votes, narrowly beating Pete Weber of St. Louis, the Firestone Tournament of Champions winner and 1987 money champion, who polled 382 votes. Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Stockton, a two-time winner, was a distant third with 86.

“I’m grateful for the honor,” Holman said. “I’d never won it before and thank all who voted for me. The voting figured to be close with no clear-cut candidate as in most years. If one had asked before the announcement if I thought I’d win, I probably would have said I’d be surprised if I did.”

Asked his opinion, Weber, also competing here: “I have no comment at this time.”

The question on the kingship of 1987 bowling is yet to be fully answered, though, since the American Bowling Congress is polling members of the Bowling Writers of America to elect its 1987 U.S. bowler of the year. Holman, Weber and Williams again are the strong candidates.

What has kept Holman from winning lately?

Holman, 33, said he has lost six times in TV finals when opponents shot games of 258 or better against him.

“You can call that tough luck, or better yet to say I was just outplayed,” he said.

Oddly, this week’s tournament has not one, but two defending champions.

They are San Diego’s George Branham III, who won the AC-Delco in Union City last year, and Sweden’s Mats Karls, the PBA winner at Gable House in 1987.

The tournament will be conducted day and night through Friday, with ABC televising the roll-offs Saturday at noon.

Once again, a TV sponsor is putting up a $100,000 bonus prize for a 300 game if scored during the nationally televised portion.

Williams, who was the 1986 PBA and U.S. bowler of the year, was raised here and became a champion pro while living in the Chino area.

Other Southern California hopefuls include Mark Baker, Dave Frame, Bob Knipple, Jim Murtishaw, Butch Soper, Mike Taylor, Frank Bellinder, Ricky Corona, Troy Kendrick and Eric Forkel.