OSKU STILL THE TOP MAN
Osku Palermaa, 22, of Helsinki, Finland, maintained pole position after the second eight-game block of Squad 'A' and can now relax and watch for who will challenge his outstanding pinfall of 4000 over 16 games, an incredible 250 average.
Sailing happily along the eight game stint this morning, the lithe Finn hit his 22nd career perfecto in his sixth game. He knows not how he fell to a 171in his fourth today. "I thought that there was less back-end out there today," he commented. "I used the same balls as yesterday but played a little softer."
Asked who he thought would be his danger man over the final stages, he quickly replied: "Just me! I am inclined to watch the other players too much, instead of just concentrating on my own game."

Burly Canuck Michael Schmidt's attempt to overhaul the outstanding score of 4,000 pins set this morning, as he completed 16 of the 24 qualifying games, fell just 200 sticks short. The defending champion (pictured) strung together an impressive series of 200-plus games this afternoon, but they did not better the high games of the striking Finn.
"I was just cruising this afternoon," he told us, "but I lost a bit of ground to Palermaa as I played the lanes incorrectly for a while. The right choice of equipment has to be made at the right time and I didn't do that.. It was better than yesterday but nevertheless I didn't score as well."
The current 24th place, where the cut will be made at the finish of the 24 games tomorrow night, is an amazing 213 average and Puerto Rican Edgargo Ruiz sits on that spot as night-watchman. Seven of the top eight spots are held by Europeans.

MEN'S STANDINGS AFTER 16 OF THE 24 GAMES: