Monday, November 26, 2007

Part 3 - On the Road: Women's Series


Each week as a PBA Women’s Series competitor, we get the same perks and discipline as any of the PBA exempt bowlers. We have roll-call before our qualifying and match-play blocks and can be fined for being late.

We also have to make sure our scorecards are added correctly and that we verify our opponent’s score card.

If either scorecard is wrong, both the person and the verifier will be fined. We have to dress appropriately (no T-shirts or tennis shoes) when we are inside the bowling center and not competing.

We also have access to the PBA truck in which we can get bowling balls drilled and have our bowling balls transported from stop-to-stop each week.

Being on Brunswick's staff, I also have access to amazing ball rep Rick Benoit, who has been a tremendous help to myself and to all of the Brunswick women staffers.

We also have the benefit of receiving complimentary lunch and dinner after blocks of qualifying and match play, which is often generously provided by the host bowling center.

Over the course of the past three weeks, the fan support that the PBA Women’s Series is getting is tremendous. We have been to three major bowling towns and the fans have been great!

The thing I hear most from spectators is: “Were glad to see the women bowling again! There needs to be more tournaments for you ladies to bowl in! I learn so much from watching the women bowl on TV!”

I think I can speak on behalf of all of the women and say that we are all hearing these positive comments!

Last week the PBA and PBA Women’s Series traveled to Stardust Bowl II in Merrillville, Ind., for the Lake County Indiana Classic.
We competed on the 39 foot Chameleon PBA lane pattern, and after 14 games of qualifying, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard led the women, averaging 223.93. To qualify for the Top 8 cut to match play it took +170 or a 212.14 average.

I squeaked into the top 8 cut after a roller coaster second block of qualifying.

Have you ever felt like you're in a really bad dream and can’t wake up? I was living this bad dream for a little while, shooting 490 for three straight games in the block. However, I finally remembered how to bowl again and shot 690 for my last three games of the set to finish in 6th place after qualifying.

In match play, I faced Kelly Kulick in the round of 8. After being ahead 3-1 in the match, Kelly fired back winning the next 4 games and advanced to the round of 4.

Overall, it was Joy Esterson who took home the championship in an exciting finish against Liz Johnson on live TV. After both ladies struck out in the 10th frame to tie with 226s, they then went into a sudden death one-ball roll-off. Joy bowled first and packed a strike, while Liz then knocked down only seven pins, leaving the 2-4-10 split.

The PBA Women’s Series has this week off for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, stay tuned for Part 4 of On the Road: Women’s Series, where we will return to action in our final stop Nov. 28-Dec. 2 for the PBA Women’s Series Great Lakes Classic held in Wyoming, Mich.

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