Bobby Martin of Kansas City won the open division title in the 8th Annual Bob Symon Memorial Handball tournament Sunday. He defeated defending champion Mike Gardner of Tucson, Ariz., 12-21, 21-16, 11-6 for the title.

A capicity crowd witnessed the title match at the St. Joseph YMCA. Gardner is a former champion and top-rated player on a touring team of professionals.

Martin, 20, has six years of handball experience and currently is attending Lake Forest College in Chicago on a handball scholarship.

Gardner fell behind early in the opening match, but rallied to tie the score at eight before rolling to a win. He hammerred through low, cross-fire shots that caused difficulty for Martin.

Martin grabbed an early lead in the second game, but Gardner knotted the score at 10. Then Martin reverted to a continous ceiling ball to the left back corner and killed Gardner's returns and Martin burrowed his way to a win that evened the match at a game apiece.

In the short tie-breaker, the rangy Martin continued to use the ceiling ball while Gardner was having trouble scooping up the floor-hugger returns Martin fired back, and the local product romped to a victory.

The Championship was worth $750. Martin picked up $350.

In the 35 team contender's division, Tony Tocco of Kansas City defeated Kyle Kelly.

The division win by Tocco was his first championship and he will advance to division play next year. He won his semifinal match at the Kansas City Hanballesta in December, only to have to forfeit his spot in the tourney finals due to an injury.