BOWLING : Ron Williams Takes Lead in Gable House Bowl Event

Ron Williams turned 31 Thursday and celebrated the birthday Friday with a perfect game at Gable House Bowl.

The 300 topped several games above 250 in a hot round of match play that lifted the Ft. Worth right-hander into the lead of the $200,000 AC-Delco Tournament.

After that, he held off semifinal challengers in eight more matches to take the No. 1 seeding for today’s nationally televised final starting at noon.

Joining him in the shootout for the $42,000 first prize will be Mark Williams, Dave Ferraro, Billy Orlikowski and Tony Westlake.

“You might say I’m getting to like this place,” said Ron Williams, who won this tournament in 1990.

“If there is anything to the phrase ‘horses for courses,’ it’s happening for me in Gable House. I’ve cashed here nine out of 10 times.”

The birthday bowler won’t have a picnic in the finals.

Mark Williams of Beaumont, Tex., has twice won the Firestone Tournament of Champions (1985 and 1988), the most desired title in pro bowling.

Ferraro, the 1992 PBA player of the year, impressively earned the No. 3 seeding, moving up from fifth place by scoring the fourth 300 of the tournament in the 42nd game.

Orlikowski has not won a title or made a TV final. Yet, he is a celebrity of sorts for posting the perfect scores of both golf and bowling.

Last year, the Michigan right-hander holed out a 173-yard ace at Grand Rapids Golf Course and the next night bowled a 300 in his father’s center, Clique Lanes.

Which is more difficult to score?

“A 300,” he said.

Why?

“Well, it takes longer.”

Westlake, of Oklahoma City, has won four PBA titles.