Missy Makes Stepladder Finals in PWBA Fountain Valley Open

In the third week of the PWBA season, I was actually able to sleep in my own bed and compete, as the PWBA Tour travelled to Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley, CA for the PWBA Fountain Valley Open. 

Prior to the tournament, I invited some of the bowlers over for a fun little get together at my house. It was nice to get to know some of the ladies a bit more off the lanes. Everyone seemed to have a great time. 

This week, I also had a few of the ladies stay at my house for the tournament - Danielle McEwan, Tannya Roumimper and Jodi Woessner. 

So funny side story...every morning my husband Drew got up early to make us breakfast before we bowled, with the catch that we all had to make each cut. Well we all ended up making the top 32. Three out of the 4 made the top 12 and 2 of us made the final 4 stepladder finals. So I think Drew needs to cook breakfast for us every week! 

This week, we bowled on a 46’ pattern with 26mL using Current conditioner. 

During qualifying, I struggled the first couple of games and was -45 after two games. I then moved a zone further inside and switched to my trusty Columbia 300 Oath and shot 246, 222, 225, 211, 243 and 223 to end up +125 overall and in 10th place. 

The next block, the lanes were pretty tricky and I grinded, shooting 184, 206, 238, 192, 209, 195, 224 and 212 using my Columbia 300 Oath and Hammer Rhodman Pearl. That put me at +185 and tied for 8th place. It took +18 to make the top 32.

In the Round of 32, I used my Track Paradox Black to shoot games of 242, 194, 254, 236, and 191. Then switched to my Hammer Rhodman Pearl and shot 210, 224 and 209 for +345 overall. This jumped me into 5th place. It took +205 to make the top 12, in which there was a tie between Diana Zavjalova and Liz Johnson. Liz ended up winning the one-game roll-off. 

In the Round of 12, we bowled six more games before cutting to the top 4 stepladder finals. I used my Paradox Black and Rip’d Solid to shoot 236, 235, 226 and 228 which jumped me into 2nd place. Unfortunately, I hit a really tough pair and shot 172 dropping me down to 4th place going into the final game.

I knew everything was close for making the stepladder finals. Luckily I got lined up quick and made great shots early and shot 214 to maintain the 4th and final position for the stepladder finals.

This year, all of the events finish in the center we compete in. So with a little break, it was time to warm up for the LIVE XtraFrame stepladder finals. 

I faced No. 3 seed and Team USA teammate Danielle McEwan in the first match. Rocio Restrepo was 2nd seed and Bryanna Cote was the tournament leader. 

Due to how everyone played the lanes during practice, the pair got tricky in a hurry. I struggled to find a consistent line in the beginning of the game and switched to my Rip’d Solid and moved further inside to strike out for 202, but it was a little too late as I lost to Danielle’s 220.

Although it’s not the overall outcome I had hoped for, it was still a great week! 

Words can’t express how thankful I am for all of my family, friends, employees, students and fans that came out to cheer me on all week at the event! I loved hearing all of the clapping and seeing everyone! It was amazingly gratifying to be able to share the excitement of the tournament with everyone first hand. 

Congratulations to Danielle McEwan for winning the tournament! 

2018 PWBA Sonoma County Open

For our second stop of the PWBA season, we travelled to Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, CA for the PWBA Sonoma County Open.

Although it’s only a 7 hour drive, I choose to fly this year because of traveling with my little guy. It was DJ’s first flight and he did awesome! 

This week, we bowled on a 36’ pattern with 26 mL on curve conditioner. Here’s a look at the pattern.

Knowing this bowling center, I knew it would be a lower scoring pace since moving from pair to pair is very difficult. 

My first block of qualifying was definitely a bit of a roller coaster. I started out using my Paradox Black with 1000 grit and shot 174 to start. I brought it back with games of 228 and 223, but then followed it up with 186 and 159. 

Making the turn to the low end of the house, I switched to my Hammer Rhodman Pearl and shot 212 and 204, but struggled the last game shooting 169 for -45 overall. I was currently the cut number to the top 32.

After a nice relaxing lunch and a quick nap, I bowled another 8-game block of qualifying before the field would be cut to the top 32. 

This time, I started with my Hammer Diesel and shot 172 to start. I then brought it back shooting 215, 218 and 236, but then hit a bit of transition and shot 166. Switching to my Paradox Black, I Shot 192 and then switched to the Rhodman Pearl for 203 and 225 to end the day at -18. This put me in 21st place going into the Round of 32. It took -65 to make the cut.

The next morning, we bowled another 8-game block for the Round of 32. My goal was to minimize my low games and simply work on execution. Well I did just that. I used my Paradox Black to shoot 201, 205, 212 and 212. I was slowly climbing closer to the cut for the top 12. 

I then switched to my Hammer Diesel and shot 223 and 204. Then switching again to my Rhodman Pearl, I struck out in the 8th, 9th and 10th to shot 217 and was the cut number going into the last game. 

Unfortunately, I lost my look a bit and struggled a little with execution the final game. I needed to strike my first shot in the 10th frame to make the cut to the top 12 and failed to do so. I shot 190 which put me at +64 for the day and +46 overall. I missed the cut my 11 pins. 

So I finished the tournament in 13th place. I’m disappointed for not making the top 12, but very happy with my execution as the lanes were very difficult and I made a lot of great shots and kept the ball in play. Although it’s not where I quite want to be yet, it was definitely a far better week than my 1st week in Las Vegas. 

Now it’s on to next week, where I get to stay close to home for the PWBA Fountain Valley Open. 

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