Computer `Nerd' Bowls 'Em Over For Surprising Pba Win

RENTON - Bespectacled Eric Adolphson, a former physics major at Cal who was considered the bowler least likely to succeed when the finals of the Seattle Open began yesterday, won his first PBA Tour tournament at Skyway Park Bowl.

The fifth-seeded Adolphson, 29, who never had finished higher than 42nd in a tour event, said he "just started throwing the ball" instead of trying to finesse a hook. The strategy paid off in victories over fourth-seeded Mark Thayer of Lafayette, Ind., No. 3 David Traber of Woodstock, Ill., No. 2 Harry Sullins of Detroit and No. 1 Dave D'Entremont of Parma, Ohio, in the nationally televised finals of the $125,000 tournament.

Adolphson won $18,000, easily the biggest prize of his career. His previous best was the $2,800 he received for winning a PBA regional in Phoenix two years ago.

But it was as much a victory for nonconformity as it was for Adolphson, of Danville, Calif. The self-employed computer consultant doesn't deny that he qualifies as a "nerd," with one exception.

"I dress better," he said. "See, my socks match."

Adolphson's matching argyles provided not only color but a superstitious outlet. When his opponent is preparing to bowl, he tugs at a sock, a gesture he says often leads to problems for his foe.

An example: A sock tug preceded a 2-8-10 split by Sullins in the fourth frame of yesterday's third match. Sullins left the frame open and Adolphson capitalized by throwing the first of five strraight strikes.

Adolphson's socks were contained in bowling shoes of unusual hues. The toe and laces on the left shoe were sprayed with gold glitter; the toe and laces on the right shoe were sprayed with silver glitter.

Why?

"Just to be different," Adolphson said.

Different, too, were Adolphson's reactions. In contrast to the machine-like demeanor of his opponents, Adolphson leaped and gestured in delight whenever he threw a strike.

"That's just me," Adolphson said. "I wear my emotions on my sleeve."

As it turned out, Adolphson's first match, against Thayer, was his closest of the day - 225-205. Adolphson had the only open frame of the match, but he overcame it by throwing strikes - eight total, including seven on his last eight balls.

Adolphson had two open frames (and seven strikes) in beating Traber 199-146. Traber had only two strikes.

After the sock-tug split in the fourth frame, Sullins, a four-time winner appearing in his fourth television final of the year, went on to lose to Adolphson 249-196.

That set up the final against D'Entremont, who was hoping to shed a bridesmaid label resulting from four previous runner-up finishes and no victories. The label, however, remained intact after he lost 234-161.

"I'm starting to feel kind of cursed," D'Entremont said.

Momentum, he said, can be a bigger advantage than being a No. 1 seed. In fact, the top seed has won only three of 18 tournaments this year.

"He got loose," D'Entremont said of Adolphson. "He got the momentum going. Sometimes that's the difference."

NOTES -- Five perfect 300 games were bowled during the tournament, by Robert Lawrence, Kelly Coffman, Joe Firpo, David Traber and Ray Edwards. Of the five, only Traber made the qualifying cut and earned a berth in the 24-bowler match-play phase. Low score of the tournament - a 107 - was posted by Kenny McPartlin. -- Adolphson did not graduate from Cal. He said he dropped out when a computer opportunity became available. He has operated his own computer-consulting business for six years. -- Adolphson's wife, Karen, arrived at Skyway Park just 35 minutes before the finals began.