It's been 38 events and a couple of years since pro bowler Mika Koivuniemi landed in the winners circle.

Koivuniemi, a native of Finland, ended his drought Sunday by beating Chris Barnes 214-185 in the PBA Sun City Classic in Arizona.

It's been a rough spell for Koivuniemi this year, as this was only his second television appearance of the year.

To get to the championship game, Koivuniemi topped Patrick Allen 214-202. Barnes knocked off 25-year veteran Mike Edwards 265-257.

Koivuniemi earned $25,000, while Barnes went home with $13,000. Barnes picked up $6,500, and Edwards earned $5,500.

The PBA heads to Texas for the Geico Classic this week. ESPN will televise the finals at 12:30 p.m. Sunday

Speaking of dry spells, Mike Edwards has only one title to his credit in 25 years on the PBA tour.

True or false: If you rolled your first shot and the bowling ball came in contact with a bowling pin that was laying in the gutter, the shot would count. Answer at the end of the column.

The professionals had to deal with the "Scorpion" oil pattern this week. The characteristics of this pattern are an outlay of lane dressing, commonly known as oil, 41 feet down the lane, with a heavier concentration of oil in the middle of the lane.Also, the oil is heavier farther down the lane than in the front part, making the ball hook sooner and causing it to lose its hooking power.What to do? One solution would be to lift the ball out onto the lane a bit farther to delay the hook as much as possible.Another solution would be to move your feet into the center of the lane and keep your strike target in the middle of the lane as well. In this situation, it is best to keep things simple by going as directly at the pocket as possible.

Doug Mason, who recently celebrated a birthday, began a game with the first nine strikes in the Magnetic Mixed League at Family Bowlaway, then leaving an eight count, spare and nine count for a 277 game.• <B>Fox's Pizza Den:</B> Bobby Eppinger, 267/736, Scott Walker, 276-693; Rod Walker, 243-693; Tom Fennell, 255-691.• <B>Automotive League:</B> David fair, 266-706; Scott Wetzel, 259-702; Kevin Richardson, 258-697.

The shot does not count. The bowling pin should have been removed from the gutter before the shot. Call a dead ball and repeat your turn.