Pete Weber Leads Bowlers in Torrance Tournament

Every year, young bowlers take a shot at the national pro bowlers’ tour. Most find the going tough.

Veteran Pete Weber of St. Louis made sure it wasn’t easy for Rick Steelsmith, 23, of Wichita, Kan., but the rookie Steelsmith still made his presence felt on the opening day of the Pro Bowling Assn. AC/Delco tournament at Gable House Bowl in Torrance.

Steelsmith, the 1987 national collegiate champion from Wichita State, took the early lead after games of 227, 279, 238, 217, 246 and 255.

Later, however, he slipped from the top spot to eighth place as Weber had a barrage of strikes for the 12-game lead. Weber fired the second 300 of the day to compile a 2,804 total.

Earlier, Mark Williams of Beaumont, Tex., runner-up here in 1986, began the tournament with a 300 game.

Marshall Holman, Walter Ray Williams and Pete McCordic were back in the pack and will need big scores this morning before the field is cut to 48 bowlers after 18 games. It’s a 40-game grind to make the top five for Saturday’s nationally televised final.

Steelsmith turned pro last October after a sensational year in amateur bowling.

First, he pulled the surprise of 1987 by beating an open field including top professionals in the American Bowling Congress’ masters division.

Steelsmith then won two gold medals, a silver and two bronzes, and set three records at Helsinki in the World FIQ Championships. His Finland conquests included the only 300 game ever in that international competition.

“I feel comfortable and haven’t the jitters like some said I’d get as a rookie,” Steelsmith said. “It took me four years before my game got to be good in junior play. At college, I averaged 225.”

Cedric Logan, a league bowler from San Diego, won the pro-am tournament Tuesday with games of 287, 277 and 230.