Couch Leads Showboat

After taking two weeks off for the birth of his daughter, Jason Couch threw his best block of the year and leads the first round of the 1996 Showboat Invitational bowling tournament.

The Clermont, Fla., native averaged 250.38 for eight games with a 2,003 pinfall total. Couch, who was the 1992 Rookie of the Year, won two Professional Bowlers Association titles last year and has four in his career.

Andy Neuer of Milton, Pa., was in second with a 245.25 average.