Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Norm Duke (pictured left) won the PBA Detroit Open presented by Track Sunday for his second win of the 2011-12 season and the 36th of his career.

Duke, of Clermont, Fla., defeated reigning PBA Player of the Year and No. 1 seed, Finland native Mika Koivuniemi (right), 266-217, in the championship match at Thunderbowl Lanes to win the $10,000 first prize which pushed his career earnings over the $3 million mark.

Koivuniemi, who now makes his home in Hartland, Mich., was trying for his 10th career Tour title.

Duke joins fellow Hall of Famers Walter Ray Williams Jr. (left) and Pete Weber (right) as the only players to earn more than $3 million and his 36 wins also moved him into a tie for third place on the all-time career list for titles won.

Williams is PBA's all-time career titles leader with 47 followed by Earl Anthony with 43 and Weber, also with 36. Williams holds the all-time career earnings mark with $4.35 million followed by Weber with $3.52 million.

"At this point in my career I feel just blessed to be able to compete," said the 47-year-old Duke. "It's just so hard to win out here that at this point in my career I'm just blessed — that's all I can say. I'm jealous of what the young guys can do so it makes it all the more special."

Duke, the No. 2 seed, soundly defeated 2009 PBA World Championship winner Tom Smallwood (left) of Saginaw, Mich., in the semi-final match 288-178 to advance to the championship match. Duke attributed his success to reducing the amount of practice he took before each match.

"Usually, everyone wants as much practice as they can get but for me that's not always the case," Duke said. "Sometimes you need the practice but other times you have to know when to get out of there.

"The guys with the big rev rates will just burn up the lane and I didn't want to add to that. Fortunately, I was able to play outside on the lane where I like to play. I had to make a one-board adjustment in the first game but even in the championship match I had to make a three and a half board adjustment."

In the opening stepladder match, Smallwood, who was trying for his second career title, defeated three-time Tour titlist Bill O'Neill (right) of Southampton, Pa., 245-214, to advance to the semifinal against Duke.

The Detroit Open was the third PBA Tour event streamed live exclusively on pba.com's Xtra Frame online bowling channel. The next stop for the PBA Tour will be the Dick Weber Playoffs from Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis March 30-April 1 which will also be streamed live on Xtra Frame.

 

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PBA Detroit Open presented by Track

Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. United States (March 9-11, 2012)

Championship Round:
1, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 554 (2 games), $10,000
2, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 217 (1 game), $5,000
3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 423 (2 games), $3,200
4, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 214 (1 game), $2,500

Playoff Results:
First Match: No. 4 Smallwood def. No. 3 O'Neill, 245-214
Semifinal Match: No. 2 Duke def. Smallwood, 288-178
Championship Match: Duke def. No. 1 Koivuniemi, 266-217

 

Match Play Results

Players with position, hometown, match play record and 22-game total including bonus pins. The top four advanced to stepladder finals.

1, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 10-3, 5,629
2, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 11-2, 5,598
3, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 10-3, 5,499
4, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 9-4, 5,484

Missed Cut:
5, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 7-6, 5,373, $2,300
6, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 5-7-1, 5,372, $2,000
7, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 10-3, 5,299, $1,900
8, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 6-6-1, 5,296, $1,800
9, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 7-6, 5,264, $1,750
10, Jason Couch, Clermont, Fla., 8-5, 5,241, $1,700
11, Jeffrey Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 6-7, 5,227, $1,750
12, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 5-8, 5,209, $1,600
13, Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 4-9, 5,201, $1,550
14, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 7-6, 5,200, $1,500
15, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 4-9, 5,195, $1,450
16, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 7-6, 5,147, $1,400
17, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., 8-5, 5,121, $1,350
18, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 5-8, 5,117, $1,300
19, Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich., 6-7, 5,067, $1,275
20, Troy Stus, South Lyon, Mich., 5-8, 5,023, $1,250
21, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 4-9, 5,015, $1,225
22, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala., 4-9, 4,956, $1,200
23, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 5-8, 4,940, $1,275
24, Justin O'Hara, Westland, Mich., 2-11, 4,613, $1,150