BubbaRay
10-04-2007, 05:29 AM
10/3/2007
By Matt Cannizzaro
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - After three games of qualifying at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, a USBC event, Shannon O'Keefe of Rochester, N.Y., found herself in 117th place and losing her battle with the Viper, the first of the five PBA Experience lane conditions she'd face during the week at the National Bowling Stadium.
The 28-year-old Team USA member opened with games of 159, 178 and 148, but drew on years of experience to fuel a monumental turnaround that helped her finish the day in ninth place after games of 194, 259, 257, 255 and 237.
"I think I got caught up in what I was supposed to be doing, instead of what I do well and watching what my ball reaction was telling me," said O'Keefe, who recently won a singles gold medal at the World Tenpin Bowling Association Women's World Championships. "I changed balls, got softer and moved left, and everything fell into place perfectly. You read all the pamphlets and articles about how you're supposed to play the patterns, so I spent too much time thinking about that and worrying about what other people were doing before I did what I needed to do to hit the pocket."
O'Keefe learned from the first day's mishaps and conquered three more PBA Experience lane conditions, and her 6,874 total through 32 games of qualifying led the field 132 competitors. She earned the No. 1 seed for the ESPN-televised bracket portion of the event.
In Sunday's final quarterfinal telecast, O'Keefe will take on former Team USA member and collegiate standout Olivia Sandham of Wichita, Kan., who grabbed the 16th and final spot in the single-elimination bracket with a 230 in her last game of qualifying.
"Every time I put my shoes on is a learning experience, and I also learn from the experiences and advice of my friends and teammates," said O'Keefe, who finished fifth at the 2007 USBC Queens. "I was a nervous wreck the morning of the Women's Challenge last year and was so upset I didn't know what to do. I was a disaster at the Queens this year, but remembered that experience and settled down as soon as I put my bowling shoes on. Now, I'm just going to stay in the moment and enjoy every minute of it."
Sunday's other opening match, which will be contested simultaneously on an adjacent pair of lanes, features Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., a 20-time Professional Women's Bowling Association champion, who at 18, became the youngest U.S. Women's Open winner, against Team USA member and three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion Stefanie Nation of Orlando, Fla.
The winners of each quarterfinal match then will battle for a spot in the Oct. 14 final round, which will be televised live on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern. USBC High School spokesperson and 20-time professional champion Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 11-time PWBA champion Liz Johnson and reigning U.S. Amateur champion Lynda Barnes already have secured their spots in the finale.
To earn their place among the top 16, the quarterfinalists survived 32 grueling games of qualifying over four days on four different PBA Experience lane conditions.
The final 16 players were placed into a one-game, single-elimination bracket and all quarterfinal rounds were televised by ESPN on consecutive Sundays beginning Sept. 16.
Along with top-flight bowling action, those who tune in each week will get to see a unique format, compelling feature stories, interviews with the industry's top figures and some familiar faces from bowling telecasts of the past.
By Matt Cannizzaro
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - After three games of qualifying at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, a USBC event, Shannon O'Keefe of Rochester, N.Y., found herself in 117th place and losing her battle with the Viper, the first of the five PBA Experience lane conditions she'd face during the week at the National Bowling Stadium.
The 28-year-old Team USA member opened with games of 159, 178 and 148, but drew on years of experience to fuel a monumental turnaround that helped her finish the day in ninth place after games of 194, 259, 257, 255 and 237.
"I think I got caught up in what I was supposed to be doing, instead of what I do well and watching what my ball reaction was telling me," said O'Keefe, who recently won a singles gold medal at the World Tenpin Bowling Association Women's World Championships. "I changed balls, got softer and moved left, and everything fell into place perfectly. You read all the pamphlets and articles about how you're supposed to play the patterns, so I spent too much time thinking about that and worrying about what other people were doing before I did what I needed to do to hit the pocket."
O'Keefe learned from the first day's mishaps and conquered three more PBA Experience lane conditions, and her 6,874 total through 32 games of qualifying led the field 132 competitors. She earned the No. 1 seed for the ESPN-televised bracket portion of the event.
In Sunday's final quarterfinal telecast, O'Keefe will take on former Team USA member and collegiate standout Olivia Sandham of Wichita, Kan., who grabbed the 16th and final spot in the single-elimination bracket with a 230 in her last game of qualifying.
"Every time I put my shoes on is a learning experience, and I also learn from the experiences and advice of my friends and teammates," said O'Keefe, who finished fifth at the 2007 USBC Queens. "I was a nervous wreck the morning of the Women's Challenge last year and was so upset I didn't know what to do. I was a disaster at the Queens this year, but remembered that experience and settled down as soon as I put my bowling shoes on. Now, I'm just going to stay in the moment and enjoy every minute of it."
Sunday's other opening match, which will be contested simultaneously on an adjacent pair of lanes, features Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., a 20-time Professional Women's Bowling Association champion, who at 18, became the youngest U.S. Women's Open winner, against Team USA member and three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion Stefanie Nation of Orlando, Fla.
The winners of each quarterfinal match then will battle for a spot in the Oct. 14 final round, which will be televised live on ESPN at 1 p.m. Eastern. USBC High School spokesperson and 20-time professional champion Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 11-time PWBA champion Liz Johnson and reigning U.S. Amateur champion Lynda Barnes already have secured their spots in the finale.
To earn their place among the top 16, the quarterfinalists survived 32 grueling games of qualifying over four days on four different PBA Experience lane conditions.
The final 16 players were placed into a one-game, single-elimination bracket and all quarterfinal rounds were televised by ESPN on consecutive Sundays beginning Sept. 16.
Along with top-flight bowling action, those who tune in each week will get to see a unique format, compelling feature stories, interviews with the industry's top figures and some familiar faces from bowling telecasts of the past.