BubbaRay
11-18-2007, 05:59 AM
Throughout the Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series, Joy Esterson of Annapolis, Md., has been consistent and effective during qualifying, but has fallen short during match play.
Last week, the 27-year-old right-hander cruised to the top seed after 14 games of qualifying, but fell to 2007 USBC Queens champion and former Denny's PBA Tour exempt player Kelly Kulick in the Round of 8.
This week, Esterson avenged her loss to Kulick with a 4-2 win in the Round of 4 at the Lake County Indiana Classic and earned her first championship round appearance of the year.
Esterson will face Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in Sunday's PBA Women's Series title match. Johnson, who made history in 2005 as the first woman ever to make the finals of a Denny's PBA Tour event, defeated Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 4-3 in the Round of 4.
The live ESPN-televised finals will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. EST at Stardust Bowl II. The two men's semifinals take place first followed by the women's title match, which will award the winner $10,000. The men's title match follows with the winner taking home $25,000 and an exemption for the 2008-09 season.
On the men's side, Michael Haugen Jr. of Cave Creek, Ariz., will take on Denny's PBA Tour rookie Todd Book of Cantonment, Fla., while USBC Sport Bowling spokesperson Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, makes his second consecutive TV appearance and will face fellow Texan Wes Malott.
Next week, the PBA Women's Series is on hiatus, but will return Nov. 28 for its fourth and final event, which will be held alongside the Great Lakes Classic in Wyoming, Mich.
PBA Women's Series
2007 LakeCountyIndiana Classic pres. by United Way
Stardust Bowl II
Merrillville, Ind.
Friday, Nov. 16
ROUND OF 4
(Single elimination, best-of-seven-games match play. Losers eliminated, cash.)
#2 Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., def. #3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 4-2 (197-182, 178-217, 184-174, 248-193, 199-214, 235-200).
#4 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. #1 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 4-3 (173-212, 196-189, 222-234, 184-177, 193-178, 202-234, 257-243).
ROUND OF 8
(Single elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated, cash.)
#4 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. #5 Stefanie Nation, Miami, 4-1 (217-172, 203-247, 232-224, 236-177, 258-174).
#2 Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., def. #7 Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 4-3 (168-182, 182-257, 201-200, 211-269, 234-207, 236-215, 195-177).
#3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., def. #6 Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., 4-3 (205-190, 167-216, 186-188, 170-201, 233-193, 211-203, 235-190).
#1 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, def. #8 Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan., 4-2 (199-224, 226-190, 214-194, 182-233, 255-198, 256-200).
Last week, the 27-year-old right-hander cruised to the top seed after 14 games of qualifying, but fell to 2007 USBC Queens champion and former Denny's PBA Tour exempt player Kelly Kulick in the Round of 8.
This week, Esterson avenged her loss to Kulick with a 4-2 win in the Round of 4 at the Lake County Indiana Classic and earned her first championship round appearance of the year.
Esterson will face Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in Sunday's PBA Women's Series title match. Johnson, who made history in 2005 as the first woman ever to make the finals of a Denny's PBA Tour event, defeated Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 4-3 in the Round of 4.
The live ESPN-televised finals will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. EST at Stardust Bowl II. The two men's semifinals take place first followed by the women's title match, which will award the winner $10,000. The men's title match follows with the winner taking home $25,000 and an exemption for the 2008-09 season.
On the men's side, Michael Haugen Jr. of Cave Creek, Ariz., will take on Denny's PBA Tour rookie Todd Book of Cantonment, Fla., while USBC Sport Bowling spokesperson Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, makes his second consecutive TV appearance and will face fellow Texan Wes Malott.
Next week, the PBA Women's Series is on hiatus, but will return Nov. 28 for its fourth and final event, which will be held alongside the Great Lakes Classic in Wyoming, Mich.
PBA Women's Series
2007 LakeCountyIndiana Classic pres. by United Way
Stardust Bowl II
Merrillville, Ind.
Friday, Nov. 16
ROUND OF 4
(Single elimination, best-of-seven-games match play. Losers eliminated, cash.)
#2 Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., def. #3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 4-2 (197-182, 178-217, 184-174, 248-193, 199-214, 235-200).
#4 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. #1 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 4-3 (173-212, 196-189, 222-234, 184-177, 193-178, 202-234, 257-243).
ROUND OF 8
(Single elimination, best-of-seven games match play. Losers eliminated, cash.)
#4 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. #5 Stefanie Nation, Miami, 4-1 (217-172, 203-247, 232-224, 236-177, 258-174).
#2 Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., def. #7 Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 4-3 (168-182, 182-257, 201-200, 211-269, 234-207, 236-215, 195-177).
#3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., def. #6 Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., 4-3 (205-190, 167-216, 186-188, 170-201, 233-193, 211-203, 235-190).
#1 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, def. #8 Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan., 4-2 (199-224, 226-190, 214-194, 182-233, 255-198, 256-200).