BubbaRay
10-30-2007, 04:54 PM
For the first time since 2003, the top female bowlers are ready to showcase their talent on tour in the inaugural Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series, sponsored by the United States Bowling Congress, which begins this week at Taylor Lanes in Taylor, Mich.
The four-event PBA Women's Series is being held in conjunction with Denny's PBA Tour events this fall and features 16 of the best professional and amateur female bowlers in the world competing for the $10,000 top prize from the $51,100 total prize fund each week.
Competitors will bowl two seven-game qualifying blocks Thursday, with the top eight qualifiers advancing to the best-of-7 match play Friday. After two rounds of match play, the two remaining players will advance to the TV finals, which will be included in Sunday's live ESPN finals of the Denny's PBA Tour Motor City Classic. The telecast begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.
"I'm so happy to be bowling in the events I've been bowling in lately, and I think the Women's Series is a great opportunity for women's bowling," said 20-time professional champion and USBC High School spokesperson Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, who recently became the first woman to roll a 300 game at the USBC Masters. "I'm looking forward to the coming weeks and what it could mean for the future."
To qualify for the PBA Women's Series, the 16 players survived 32 grueling games of qualifying on four different PBA Experience lane conditions in the PBA Women's Tour Trials, which took place in August as part of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, a USBC event. Of the 132 U.S. Women's Open competitors, 65 chose to participate in the Women's Tour Trials.
The field for the Motor City Classic Women's Series this week also includes:
Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif.: A former collegiate standout and the first woman to win two PBA regional titles.
Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md.: A former All-American at Morehead State.
Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y.: A 12-time PWBA winner and qualifying leader in the Women's Tour Trials.
Clara Juliana Guerrero, Armenia, Colombia: International star, 2005 World Ranking Masters champion and former standout at Wichita State.
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y.: Won the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and recently placed 14th at the USBC Masters, the highest finish for a woman in the history of the event. Along the way, she rolled an 843 series, the third highest series in tournament history.
Tish Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo.: A USBC Hall of Famer who is tied for fourth all-time with 25 PWBA victories.
Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.: Became the first woman to earn an exemption on the Denny's PBA Tour (2006-07) and later won the 2007 USBC Queens.
Tennelle Milligan, Costa Mesa, Calif.: A member of Team USA, she picked up five medals at the 2007 Women's World Championships. A former pro, she won the 2000 U.S. Open and the 2005 Queens.
Stefanie Nation, Orlando, Fla.: A former collegiate star and player of the year at Central Florida, she has been a member of Team USA since 2005 and recently helped lead the U.S. women to a team silver medal at the 2007 Women's World Championships, a feat she also accomplished at the same event in 2005.
Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix: A three-time U.S. Amateur champion, three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion, three-time collegiate national champion, two-time winner at the QubicaAMF World Cup and the 2006 Queens champion.
Robin Romeo, Newhall, Calif.: A 17-time winner on the PWBA Tour, she just missed one of the 16 spots for the Women's Series, but will fill in this week for Wendy Macpherson, who is unable to compete due to a prior tournament commitment.
Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan.: A Team USA member in 2004 and 2006 and a Junior Team USA member from 2002 until 2004. During her All-American career at Wichita State, she helped the Shockers to a win at the 2005 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City: The 1999 PWBA Rookie of the Year, she went on to win four titles in her short professional career.
Amy Stolz, Castle Rock, Colo.: A Junior Team USA member and the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow in 2001, she went on to become an All-American at Arizona State.
Karen Stroud, Plantation, Fla.: A member of the most recent Bowlers Journal All-America team, she won Classic All-Events and Classic Singles at the 2006 USBC Women's Championships.
PBA Women's Series competition continues at the Etonic Championship Women's Series (Nov. 7-11) in Cheektowaga, N.Y., the Lake County Indiana Classic Women's Series (Nov. 14-18) in Merrillville, Ind., and the Great Lakes Classic Women's Series (Nov. 28-Dec. 2) in Wyoming, Mich.
The four-event PBA Women's Series is being held in conjunction with Denny's PBA Tour events this fall and features 16 of the best professional and amateur female bowlers in the world competing for the $10,000 top prize from the $51,100 total prize fund each week.
Competitors will bowl two seven-game qualifying blocks Thursday, with the top eight qualifiers advancing to the best-of-7 match play Friday. After two rounds of match play, the two remaining players will advance to the TV finals, which will be included in Sunday's live ESPN finals of the Denny's PBA Tour Motor City Classic. The telecast begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.
"I'm so happy to be bowling in the events I've been bowling in lately, and I think the Women's Series is a great opportunity for women's bowling," said 20-time professional champion and USBC High School spokesperson Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, who recently became the first woman to roll a 300 game at the USBC Masters. "I'm looking forward to the coming weeks and what it could mean for the future."
To qualify for the PBA Women's Series, the 16 players survived 32 grueling games of qualifying on four different PBA Experience lane conditions in the PBA Women's Tour Trials, which took place in August as part of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, a USBC event. Of the 132 U.S. Women's Open competitors, 65 chose to participate in the Women's Tour Trials.
The field for the Motor City Classic Women's Series this week also includes:
Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif.: A former collegiate standout and the first woman to win two PBA regional titles.
Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md.: A former All-American at Morehead State.
Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y.: A 12-time PWBA winner and qualifying leader in the Women's Tour Trials.
Clara Juliana Guerrero, Armenia, Colombia: International star, 2005 World Ranking Masters champion and former standout at Wichita State.
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y.: Won the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and recently placed 14th at the USBC Masters, the highest finish for a woman in the history of the event. Along the way, she rolled an 843 series, the third highest series in tournament history.
Tish Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo.: A USBC Hall of Famer who is tied for fourth all-time with 25 PWBA victories.
Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.: Became the first woman to earn an exemption on the Denny's PBA Tour (2006-07) and later won the 2007 USBC Queens.
Tennelle Milligan, Costa Mesa, Calif.: A member of Team USA, she picked up five medals at the 2007 Women's World Championships. A former pro, she won the 2000 U.S. Open and the 2005 Queens.
Stefanie Nation, Orlando, Fla.: A former collegiate star and player of the year at Central Florida, she has been a member of Team USA since 2005 and recently helped lead the U.S. women to a team silver medal at the 2007 Women's World Championships, a feat she also accomplished at the same event in 2005.
Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix: A three-time U.S. Amateur champion, three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion, three-time collegiate national champion, two-time winner at the QubicaAMF World Cup and the 2006 Queens champion.
Robin Romeo, Newhall, Calif.: A 17-time winner on the PWBA Tour, she just missed one of the 16 spots for the Women's Series, but will fill in this week for Wendy Macpherson, who is unable to compete due to a prior tournament commitment.
Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan.: A Team USA member in 2004 and 2006 and a Junior Team USA member from 2002 until 2004. During her All-American career at Wichita State, she helped the Shockers to a win at the 2005 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City: The 1999 PWBA Rookie of the Year, she went on to win four titles in her short professional career.
Amy Stolz, Castle Rock, Colo.: A Junior Team USA member and the Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow in 2001, she went on to become an All-American at Arizona State.
Karen Stroud, Plantation, Fla.: A member of the most recent Bowlers Journal All-America team, she won Classic All-Events and Classic Singles at the 2006 USBC Women's Championships.
PBA Women's Series competition continues at the Etonic Championship Women's Series (Nov. 7-11) in Cheektowaga, N.Y., the Lake County Indiana Classic Women's Series (Nov. 14-18) in Merrillville, Ind., and the Great Lakes Classic Women's Series (Nov. 28-Dec. 2) in Wyoming, Mich.