Jaros jumps past Johnson to take the Toledo final

Sitting on the sidelines, all Steve Jaros could do was watch. Needing a spare in the last frame, Chris Johnson left the 2-4-10 split, and then couldn't knock down the 10-pin, giving Jaros the title, 224-222, in the PBA Toledo Open at Southwyck Lanes.

"Chris bowled great in the finals," said Jaros, who won $40,000 to go along with his fourth career PBA title. "Things could have gone either way and luckily I came out on top."

Jaros struck to start the 10th frame, then converted the 6-9-10 to open the door up for Johnson, who won $20,000. However, Johnson gave the match right back to Jaros after missing his split conversion.

"I just got a little too much loft on the last shot, but I thought I threw it well," Johnson said. "I wish I could have won the title, but I'm not disappointed at the way I bowled."

In the wild card match, Jaros took on high qualifier Patrick Healey Jr. After opening in the 6th frame, Jaros threw the next three strikes en route to defeating HeaLey, 209-195.

In the first semifinal, Johnson took on PBA veteran Danny Wiseman, who had won 10 prior titles. The rookie outdueled the seasoned pro to get to the finals, winning 224-172.

In the other semifinal, Jaros faced Amleto Monacelli, who is the only international member of the PBA Hall of Fame. Monacelli, who converted two difficult spares during the match, needed to strike twice in the 10th frame, but left the 10-pin on his first shot, losing 226-207.

Jaros is the fourth semifinalist ever to come from the wild card match to win a title. The last bowler to do so was Healey, who accomplished the feat last year in Blue Springs, Mo.

Healey won $9,000 for his fifth-place finish, while Wiseman and Menacelli took $10,000 for tying for third.

Toledo Open
November 9, 2003
Southwyck Lanes, Toledo

Rank, Name              Avg./Games   Earnings

1. Steve Jaros           219.7/3     $40,000
2. Chris Johnson          223/2       20,000
3. Amleto Monacelli       207/1       10,000
3. Danny Wiseman          172/1       10,000
5. Patrick Healey Jr.     195/1        9,000

           Championship Finals

Wild Card   Jaros def. Healey      209-195
Semifinal   Johnson def. Wiseman   224-172
Semifinal   Jaros def. Monacelli   226-207
Final       Jaros def. Johnson     224-222