Record low overshadows brush with 300

Mika Koivuniemi and Tom Daugherty had rare performances at the Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas Saturday.

Daugherty had a disastrous TV debut, shooting 100 — the lowest nationally televised score in PBA history.

He left seven splits to supplant Steve Jaros in the record book. Jaros bowled a 129 in 1992.

"I would have been more upset if I'd shot 260 and lost," said a chuckling Daugherty, in regard to his record-setting loss. "I destroyed Jaros’ record."

Meanwhile, Finland native Koivuniemi bowled a near-perfect game in the semifinal, coming within one wobbling 10-pin of becoming the first player in PBA history to shoot two 300 games on national television.

Koivuniemi’s 299 score was enough to make it to the final, where he beat top qualifier Tom Smallwood, 269-207 for $250,000 in the final of the $1 million event at Red Rock Lanes, becoming the first international player to win the signature tournament.

Smallwood took home $100,000 for his second-place finish. Daugherty earned $50,000 despite his devastating score for third.