The PWBA Wichita Open

Last week, I competed in the PWBA Wichita Open at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kansas. I flew in just before the Thursday practice session and was able to get a good 45 minutes of practice in. Unfortunately, I was battling a stiff neck that I had treated at home, but it was still not going away. I didn't really realize how bad it was until practice. Every time my swing got to a certain height, it would pull on my neck, hurt extremely bad and cause me to therefore miss my target left. I figured it would hopefully go away by the next day so I could feel 100% going into the tournament.

After the practice session, we had an EBI photo/video shoot and than went back to the room to rest before competition the next day.

This week we bowled on a 38 foot sport pattern with  25.8 mL of oil

The next morning, we started our first six games of qualifying. My neck still wasn't the greatest and I used Bio Freeze to loosen it up a bit. I really struggled the first 3-4 games with my execution, missing a couple of easy spares and even missing the headpin left. I can't even tell you the last time I missed the headpin left, but I did spare the 1-3-6-9. After some Advil and constant Bio Feeze on my neck, I finally was able to start executing and ended up shooting +40 on the block using my Ebonite Game Breaker 2 and Hammer Red Legend.

The next block, luckily everything physically felt better and I was able to fully execute. The lanes were much flatter the 2nd set of 6 games, and scores definitely dropped. I started out on the end pair and struggled, shooting 163 to start the block. I brought it back with clean games of 218 and 214, before hitting another bad pair (on Xtra Frame) and shooting 162. I made a ball change to my new Columbia 300 Urge and shot 234 to have a chance at the cut with a big game. I moved to my last pair and started out the game great, but the lanes changed a bit and I got a little caught up in the transition and ended up shooting 190 the last game to be +21 overall. I missed cashing by 14 pins.

Although I am definitely disappointed with my performance this past week, I am taking care of my injuries with proper care, so that I am ready for next week's competition. Many people don't realize the amount of games that we are competing in does take a toll on our body and really does require proper care. We are athletes and should be treating ourselves as such. Besides practice and working out with my trainer, I also make sure to get the proper care that my body needs. I've been getting a sports deep tissue massage every week and seeing my chiropractor as needed in between the PWBA Tour stops. This week I will be getting at least two deep tissue massages and also a chiropractic adjustment. Hopefully along with some rest, that'll do the trick.

BIG congratulations to Hammer staffer and good friend Stefanie Johnson for dominating and winning the PWBA Wichita Open using the new Track Paradox.

After the PWBA Wichita Open, I caught a ride with Maria Jose Rodriguez and Nathan Bohr from Wichita to Austin, Texas. I'm staying in Austin this week with Maria and Clara Guerrero before heading to our next tournament in Houston. I've never been to Austin before, so I'm excited to see some of the sights. So far I've been to the Oasis, an amazing restaurant overlooking Lake Travis with a gorgeous view of the sunset.

 


I'm excited for this week's upcoming event - The Luci Bonneau Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles. Scott Norton and I look to defend our titles in one of my favorite tournaments of the year! It's also one of the best run events and for such a great cause that is extremely dear to my heart - breast cancer. With one of my bowling Moms passing away from this horrific disease, I always try to do anything and everything to support finding a cure for breast cancer.

Subscribe to Xtra Frame to watch all of the best PWBA/PBA bowlers in the world compete at this amazing event starting Thursday, July 30th.  Until then...

Missy Comes in 3rd in PWBA Lubbock Sports Open

This past week, I competed in the 2nd PWBA Tour stop - the PWBA Lubbock Sports Open in Lubbock, TX.

Coming off of last week's stepladder finals, I felt great going into this week. This week, we competed on a 40 foot pattern with higher volume, so a few feet shorter than Sacramento's 44 foot pattern. Each week, we find out the pattern just before our Thursday afternoon practice session. Here it is. 

In the first block of qualifying, I started out of the gates strong, shooting 279 (and I was on the live stream pair.) I followed that up shooting very steady with games of 197, 196, 226, 218 and 235 for +151 using my New Hammer Red Legend Solid.

We then had a short break and came back for 6 more games of qualifying later that afternoon. The 2nd block the lanes were definitely flatter and more difficult in my opinion. I shot games of 215, 204, 207 and then hit the end pair 39-40. To say I struggled a lot was an understatement. I tried a variety of bowling balls and angles and couldn't seem to stay clean shooting 137 game 4. I then brought it back shooting 199 and 259 to end the block at +21 shooting +172 overall for the 12 games of qualifying. Luckily 39-40 were out of play during match play.

I qualified 2nd going into the top 16 round robin match play finals, behind Singapore's Jazreel Tan who was dominating the field at +297. We then bowled 16 games all on Saturday to determine who would advance to the top 4 stepladder finals. The winner of each match received 30 bonus pins and 15 pins for a tie. So again, winning matches was key.

In the first 8 games of match play, I won 5 out of 8 matches and used my Hammer Red Legend Solid, Ebonite Warrior and Hammer Red Legend. With 8 more games of match play to go, I was currently in 3rd place for the stepladder finals and not very far in the top 4 cut.

I knew I needed a big set and definitely needed to win matches. I shot very steady my next 8 games of matchplay and had won 4 out of 7 matches going into the position round match. I shot a huge game 5 - a 268 to jump me into 2nd place and only 100 pins back from Jazreel Tan who had remained in 1st place. 100 pins sounds like a lot, but I knew I would be facing her in game 7 of matchplay and also in the final position round, so winning both matches would get me within 40 pins, which was doable. Unfortunately, game 6 and game 7, I lost both matches by less than 5 pins, making the gap between 1st and 2nd pretty big.

I was 2nd seed going into the final position round and needed to win my match and shoot a decent game to stay the No. 2 seed. Stefanie Johnson had picked up some ground and was only 46 pins behind me.  With not a great look on the position round pair and using my Hammer Red Legend on the left lane and Ebonite Warrior on the right lane, I managed to string a few strikes together to defeat Jazreel 204-202 in the position round and secure my spot as the No. 2 seed.

Here are the Top 4 for the stepladder finals (from right to left): 

Leader - Jazreel Tan, 2nd - Missy Parkin, 3rd - Stefanie Johnson and 4th - Danielle McEwan

The stepladder finals were bowled again on the same pair as my position round game. Although I will admit that was not my favorite pair in the house, I was still very confident going into the stepladder finals, especially after a great performance during last week's stepladder finals in Sacramento. I faced fellow EBI staffer Stefanie Johnson, who had defeated Danielle McEwan in the opening match 233-159.

After practicing on the pair prior to the start of the stepladder finals and even prior to my match, I thought I had a good look. Well that quickly changed as I couldn't get my ball to face up correctly and had to change balls 3 times during the match. Even though I ended up shooting 158, I will say that is probably the best 150 game I've ever bowled. I made a lot of great shots, I just couldn't get my ball to face up correctly.

I'm definitely disappointed with my 3rd place finish this week. I know that I did improve some things from last week's 3rd place finish in Sacramento. Last week, I had some crazy spare issues during match play. This week, I bowled much better at my spares and in 29 games, I missed one single pin (which is still unacceptable, but definitely better than the previous week.) I also bowled more consistent overall and am throwing the ball better physically as well.

Although I still have some things to work on and am still seeking that 1st PWBA title, I am pleased with making back-to-back stepladder finals and feel confident going into next week's tournament in Wichita, Kansas. Congratulations to Singapore's Jazreel Tan on winning the PWBA Lubbock Sports Open!

Until then...

Missy Comes in 3rd in Inaugural PWBA Event

This past weekend, I competed in the first regular PWBA event in over 12 years - the PWBA Sacramento Open. I was still in compete and utter shock that I wasn't dreaming on my 7 hour drive up to Sacramento. We do actually have a full-time Women's Professional Bowling tour, which we will be competing in throughout the entire summer!

After the unofficial practice session on Thursday and then the official practice session on Friday morning, we then completed two 6-game blocks of qualifying, followed by a sold-out pro-am later that night.

Prior to the opening qualifying block, I was given the privilege to throw out the first ball of the tournament, alongside Hall of Famer Betty Morris and little 5 year old local Zoe. We represented the past, present and the future of bowling.

Then competition began. The amount of applause, cheering and sheer electricity inside the bowling center was unlike anything I had ever experienced.  I quit honestly had a hard time not tearing up during my first few frames of the actual tournament. Just knowing that my dreams were actually coming true was an overwhelming feeling (and I'm not a super emotional kind of girl.) The center was jam-packed all weekend long, with standing room only for the entire event. It was definitely an amazing opportunity to be able to compete in front of a crowd like that.

My first block of qualifying was very steady, shooting games of 223, 223, 231, 183, 216 and 224  for +100 using my new Columbia 300 Urge, Track Paradox and Ebonite Pivot. I was currently in 6th place. After a quick break, we were back out on the lanes again for round 2. I shot games of 203, 214, 233, 213, 203 and 192 for +158 overall, qualifying 11th going into the top 16 round for MatchPlay.

The next day, we bowled 16 games of round robin matchplay with 30 bonus pins awarded to the winner of each match. I knew winning matches was key. The first block of matchplay was definitely a bit of a roller coaster for me. I won 5 out of 8 matches and had my highest game of the tournament thus far - a 259 and my lowest game - a 168 back-to-back games.

I was tied for 3rd place going into the final 8 game block of the tournament. The top 4 qualified for the live-streamed stepladder finals. Luckily, I had a much more consistent block. I won 4 out of 7 matches going into the stepladder finals and was currently in 4th place. With not many pins between 3rd-6th, I knew I needed to win my match to secure my spot in the stepladder finals. I threw the ball really well and kept the ball in play, defeating Rocio Restrepo 225-185 to move into 3rd place for the stepladder finals.

Qualifying as the tournament leader and absolutely obliterating the field was Kristina Wendell, 2nd seed was Elysia Current and 4th seed was Rocio Restrepo.

First of all, the crowd for the stepladder finals was amazing. The setting was exactly like a TV show with fans along the side of the approach and a HUGE amount of people in the bowling center. All of the fans and many of the bowlers came back for the stepladder finals to watch all of the action unfold. I must say it was an electrifying atmosphere to bowl in.

In the stepladder finals, I faced Rocio Restrepo in the first match. Using my new Track Paradox during the finals, I never missed the pocket the first match coming out of the gates strong and stringing strikes. Rocio started striking in the middle of the match to get back in it, but then missed a difficult spare in the 9th frame to force me to mark in the 9th and 10th frames. I went up and doubled, winning the match 216 to 202.

The 10th frame of Match 1

I then faced Elysia Current in the next match. She had incredible ball reaction and I knew I was going to need a big game. She started out with the first 6 strikes and I was still in the match despite a couple of 10 pins. However, in the 10th frame she needed a mark to lock me out, and left the 3,6 and spared it for the win. I ended up losing 248 to 233.

Elysia then faced tournament leader Kristina Wendell. Elysia kept her great look, shooting another big game - 246 to defeat Kristina's 194 for the win. Congratulations to Elysia Current on her first PWBA Title!

To watch the entire stepladder finals of the PWBA Sacramento Open, click here.

The next stop for the PWBA is the PWBA Lubbock Sports Open from July 16-18 in Lubbock, Texas. Watch all of the action LIVE on Xtra Frame and stay up-to-date with results, bios and news on www.pwba.com 

#letsbowl

Missy Gearing up for Return of PWBA Tour

The 2015 PWBA season returns to action starting with the PWBA Sacramento Open hosted by Steve Cook's Fireside Lanes from July 9-11.

Stay connected with Missy's travels and progress during the PWBA Tour by following Missy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Be sure to follow all of the action this season by visiting the PWBA website - www.pwba.com.

You can also watch all of the action LIVE every tournament by subscribing to Xtra Frame, the online bowling channel. Click here for more information.

Missy Practicing with the New Columbia 300 Urge

See you on the lanes! #letsbowl