2001/05/31

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Final】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, capped a week in which she led the $50,000 Albuquerque Open wire to wire by trampling Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., 248-184, in the championship match at Silva Lanes.

　Dorin-Ballard stayed true to her weeklong strategy of keeping the ball in the pocket and carded eight strikes on the way to her second victory of the year. Bishop, who had easily turned aside Cara Honeychurch of Australia in the semifinal match, 246-182, lost her footing against Dorin-Ballard and managed only two strikes during the title game.

　Honeychurch earned the right to go against Bishop by dismissing Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., and Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., in the opening shootout match, 216-180-153.

　Dorin-Ballard's performance did not betray the nervousness she said she felt during the match. "I get nervous every time I bowl on TV," she confessed. "I spoke with [PWBA champions] Aleta Sill and Dana Miller-Mackie, who have something like 50-plus titles between them; they told me they always got nervous on TV, too.

　"When Lisa gave me an early opening by missing a spare in the second frame, I really wanted to get ahead and make her come after me. Last year on TV, I think I waited too long to make my move. This year, I'm trying to keep a steady pace and be aggressive from start to finish."

　Dorin-Ballard earned $9,000 for her 12th career victory.

2001/05/30

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Round 6】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, goes into Thursday's championship round of the $50,000 Albuquerque Open one game away from capturing her second title of the year.

　Dorin-Ballard emerged from match play Wednesday night with a 183-pin lead over Belleville, Michiganﾕs Lisa Bishop to take the No. 1 spot for Thursday night's TV stepladder finals. Dorin-Ballard posted a final match play record of 15-9-0 and accumulated 9,901 pins during the week while averaging 225.02. Bishop, a former Team USA member, pushed her way from third to second in the final eight games to finish with a 16-7-1 record and 9,718 total pins.

　Dorin-Ballard reflected on the fact that she won the WIBC Queens Championship from the top-seeded position, but lost the two subsequent tournaments starting lower on the stepladder. "I think there is always an advantage to having a game bowled on the TV pair [before rolling for the championship]," Dorin-Ballard said. "But there is also an advantage to being the tournament leader because you just have to bowl one game to win. I feel pretty good about how I'm bowling, so I'm happy to be the leader this time."

　Joining Dorin-Ballard in the TV finals for the third time this year is Cara Honeychurch of Australia. The 2000 PWBA Rookie of the Year manufactured a 16-8-0 match play record with 9,664 total pins. She is followed by the 2000 PWBA Player of the Year, Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., at 9,576 pins and a 14-10-0 record. Rounding out the top five is Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., at 9,550 pins and a 10-13-1 match play record. Johnson, like Dorin-Ballard, is seeking her second title of the year.

　The five finalists vie for the 2001 Albuquerque Open title and $9,000 first prize check Thursday night, beginning at 7 p.m. at Silva Lanes. Honeychurch, Macpherson and Johnson will be pitted against each other in the opening one-game shootout match, in which the highest scorer moves on to the semifinal game. The shootout winner takes on Bishop, and the winner of that match faces off against Dorin-Ballard in the championship bout.

　Travelodge will reward any finalist who rolls a perfect game in the TV stepladder with a $50,000 bonus.

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Round 5】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, regained her eagle eye and sharp form Wednesday morning to put 226 pins between herself and her nearest competitor, Cara Honeychurch of Australia, after the second round of match play in the $50,000 Albuquerque Open at Silva Lanes.

　Dorin-Ballard, who saw her lead shrink to 32 pins at the conclusion of Tuesday nightﾕ' competition, won seven of eight matches and tossed a high game of 278 to increase her total pinfall to 8,102 and better her match play record to 11-5-0. She is out-averaging Honeychurch by more than seven pins a game, 228.58 to 221.05, as she marches toward the top-seed position for Thursday nightﾕs stepladder finals.

　 "Really, I'm not even thinking ahead to being top seed, or even the TV show itself," Dorin-Ballard said. "I'm just thinking about winning each match as it comes, so that I can get myself in position to be on the show."

　"I think that in past years, I might have hurt myself by looking ahead too much. I'm taking things one day at a time now, trying to live and compete in the moment. Once you start looking ahead too much, you start falling behind."

　Honeychurch consolidated her second-place position by improving her match play record to 12-4-0 and total pins to 7,876. Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., is in third with 7,791 pins and a 10-5-1 match play record. Defending champion Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., is holding off Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., for fourth place with 7,654 pins and an 11-5-0 record. Macpherson currently has 7,619 pins and a 9-7-0 match play record.

2001/05/29

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Round 4】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, continues to lead after 26 games of the $50,000 Albuquerque Open at Silva Lanes, but her 141-pin lead was chipped down to 32 pins thanks to a determined effort by Cara Honeychurch of Australia.

　Honeychurch, who has ousted Dorin-Ballard from the TV finals the past two weeks, won six of eight matches and pushed her total pinfall to 5,948 with an eight-game set of 1,897 pins Tuesday night. Dorin-Ballard, on the other hand, posted a 4-4-0 record with a 1,778 series for a grand total of 5,980 pins.

　"I believe that you can never have enough pins, but I lost a couple of games by one or two pins tonight and missed getting the bonus pins [awarded for winning a match]," Dorin-Ballard reflected. She said that she planned to refer back to her "diary" for Wednesday's competition. "Since we began bowling on the Sport Bowling condition, I've been writing notes after each round, recording the equipment I use, how the lanes break down each round, and so forth. It really helps me, and Iﾕll refer to that tomorrow to get back on track."

　Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., is in third place with a 5-2-1 record and 5,864 pins. Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., holds fourth place with 5,835 pins and an identical 5-2-1 record. Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., rounds out the top five with 5,773 pins and a 4-4-0 record.

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Round 3】

　It was a case of third verse, same as the first as leader Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, continues to set the pace at the $50,000 Albuquerque Open, underway at Silva Lanes.

　Dorin-Ballard, who grabbed the lead after six games and has refused to relinquish it, underwrote her Tuesday morning efforts with a 278 game to increase her total pinfall to 4,082. She is averaging 226.77 for the first 18 games and holds a 141-pin lead over Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., who has 3,941 pins.

　Despite the 278 game, Dorin-Ballard said that the lanes were much tougher Tuesday morning, and that mental discipline was needed to keep on course. "Conditions each week have gotten tougher from day to day, so making spares becomes more important than ever, as does staying in the pocket. Itﾕs important to realize that a 190 game on a tough condition is as good as a 250 game the day before, and that you donﾕt get down on yourself for not scoring as high."

　Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., is currently in third place with 3,900 pins and a 216.66 average. Barrette is looking to defend the title she won in Albuquerque 11 years ago the last time a PWBA tournament was held in the city and make it three Albuquerque victories in a row. (Barrette also won the only other women's professional bowling tournament held in Albuquerque, in 1989).

　Kelly Kulick, Union City, N.J., is in fourth place with 3,887 pins, while Cara Honeychurch, Australia, sits in fifth with 3,871 pins.

2001/05/28

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Round 2】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, maintained her lead over the rest of the field during Monday night's qualifying round at the $50,000 Albuquerque Open, underway at Silva Lanes.

　Dorin-Ballard, seeking her second title of the 2001 PWBA Spring/Summer Tour, tallied only 1,275 pins in the second qualifying block yet managed to keep nearest competitor Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., at bay by 76 pins, 2,742-2,666.

　"Tonight was a night when I was happy to play it safe," Dorin-Ballard said. "I started out with two games in the 190s, playing between the 5and 10 boards on the lane, but then found I had to jump inside very quickly. The lanes were a little 'fishy' tonight, and there wasn't a lot of consistency from one pair to the next. So I was content just to keep the ball in the pocket and not go looking for really big scores."

　Following Macpherson in third is Cara Honeychurch, Australia, with 2,572 pins. Kelly Kulick, Union City, N.J., sits in fourth with 2,540 pins; and Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., is fifth with 2,531 pins.

　Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., pulled herself from 14th to 8th place on the strength of her 280 game, which was high for the round.

　Local amateur Patti Austin, Rio Rancho, N.M., slipped from fifth to 23rd after 12 games, with a total of 2,403 pins and a 200.25 average. Dana Miller-Mackie, Albuquerque, N.M., is in 26th place, nine pins away from making the cut to the top 24 as the field moves into the final qualifying round at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

　　【PWBA】　Albuquerque Open　【Round 1】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., averaged 246.16 for the first six games of qualifying Monday morning to kick off the $50,000 Albuquerque Open at Silva Lanes.

　Dorin-Ballard posted nothing lower than a 217 game while lapping the field on her way to a six-game total pinfall of 1,477. She holds an 85-pin lead over Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., and a 150-pin lead over Tiffany Stanbrough, Okalahoma City, as the action moves into the second round Monday night.

　"What can I say? I had a really great shot out there this morning," Dorin-Ballard grinned. "I liked what I saw in the official practice session yesterday, but my ball reaction wasn't quite what I wanted. So I drilled a couple of balls this morning based on what I saw yesterday, and everything fell into place.

　"I had great pin carry all morning. When you combine a great shot with great carry, it's an unbeatable combination."

　Dorin-Ballar'ﾕs sister, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi of Linden, N.J., rolled a near-perfect 297game right out of the starting blocks in Monday morning's session, leaving the 2-4-8 combination standing on her final ball. She currently stands in seventh position, 204 pins behind her sister, with 1,273 pins.

　Last week's Miller High Life Open champion, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., is holding down fourth place with 1,285 pins, while local amateur Patti Austin, Rio Rancho, N.M., pleased the hometown fans with her series of 1,279 pins, good for fifth place.

2001/05/27

　　【JPBA】　キリンカップ　【ＴＶ決勝】

　　【JPBA】　キリンカップ　【ラウンドロビン】

2001/05/26

　　【JPBA】　キリンカップ　【準決勝】

　　【JPBA】　キリンカップ　【予選】

2001/05/24

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Final】

　Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., nailed down her second consecutive championship in Omaha by dismissing Australia's Cara Honeychurch, 257-224, in the title match of the $100,000 Miller High Life Open.

　Feldman found the pocket on eight of 11 attempts, catching a six-bagger from the fourth through ninth frames. Honeychurch, who blistered Kelly Kulick, Union City, N.J., and Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., in the opening shootout match, 245-210-187, and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, in the semifinal game, 234-186, was victimized by a few bad breaks and lost momentum in the final game.

　"I got to play my 'A' game again today," Feldman smiled. "Cara was definitely lined up going into our match, and I knew I had to come out strong."

　Feldman admitted she was a little nervous about a repetition of last year's warm-up session, when she stuck on the approach and fell, injuring the thumb on her bowling hand. "I checked my sliding shoe three or four times before every shot. It was definitely in the back of my mind. I'm glad that the only thing I duplicated this year was winning the title."

　Feldman took home a $15,000 check for her seventh career victory and the championﾕs trophy, a Waterford crystal bowl. Honeychurch was rewarded for her second consecutive runner-up finish with $7,500.

2001/05/23

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Round 6】

　Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., dialed into her comfort zone at Maplewood Lanes Wednesday night and installed herself as the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals of the $100,000 Miller High Life Open.

　Feldman, who is gunning for her second consecutive victory in Omaha and seventh career title, parlayed the 15-pin lead she carried over from Wednesday morningﾕs action into a 130-pin margin over the rest of the field on the strength of 9,634 total pins. She compiled a 17-7-0 match play record for the tournament while averaging 217.23.

　"When I get a lane condition that allows me to create area between the third arrow and the gutter, and swing the ball, I can play my 'A' game," Feldman said. "That's what happened tonight. Although the lanes tend to be tighter for the TV finals, I'm hopeful that by the time we're ready for my match, the lanes will have broken down to allow me to do it again." Feldman hopes to become the second woman to win in Omaha twice, joining Succasunna, N.J.'s Marianne DiRupo in that category.

　In the No. 2 position is Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, who finished match play with a 12-12-0 record and 9,504 pins. Dorin-Ballard is appearing in her third consecutive stepladder finals and seeking her second title of the year. She won the 2001 WIBC Queens Championship earlier this month.

　Following Dorin-Ballard and rounding out the top five are rookie Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., with a 12-12-0 match play record and 9,487 total pins; Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., with a 13-11-0 record and 9,432 pins; and Cara Honeychurch, Australia, with 15-9-0 record and 9,409 pins. Honeychurch fended off late challenges by Lisa Bishop and Wendy Macpherson to snare the fifth and final spot in the TV finals.

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Round 5】

　Michelle Feldman, looking for her second consecutive title in Omaha, slugged her way from fifth place into first Tuesday morning at the $100,000 Miller High Life Open at Maplewood Lanes.

　Feldman took turns occupying first place with Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Wendy Macpherson during an eight-game block that saw bowlers bounce around in the standings like so many Lotto balls. The Skaneateles, N.Y., right-hander emerged as the current leader by virtue of an 11-5-0 match play record and 7,679 total pinfall, 15 pins better than that posted by Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas. Dorin-Ballard, who is seeking her second victory in 2001, boosted her match play record to 8-8-0.

　"The lanes were pretty nice today; I thought they were the way I found them the first day of qualifying," said Feldman. "I used the same ball as I did Monday, was able to play in the same part of the lane, and scored the same. "It seems that the bowlers are always bunched together pretty closely at this tournament, so I'm coming back tonight ready for a real dogfight."

　Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., who led the 24-player field at the conclusion of Tuesday's competition, sits in third place with 7,802 pins and, like Dorin-Ballard, an 8-8-0 record. Cara Honeychurch, Australia, is in fourth with a 10-6-0 record and 7,578 total pins. Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., cooled in the latter four games to close at 9-6-1 with 7,568 pins, just four pins ahead of rookie Kelly Kulick, Union City, N.Y., who has 7,564 pins and a 7-9-0 record.

2001/05/22

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Round 4】

　Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., is the newest leader at the $100,000 Miller High Life Open, thanks to the near-perfect 298 game she fired during the first eight games of match play at Maplewood Lanes.

　Barrette, who won the 1997 edition of the Open, accumulated 1,916 pins Tuesday night on her way to a 5-3-0 match play record. She is averaging 219.42 for the tournament.

　"For me, it was a matter of finding an area of consistency today, and I was lucky to do that early," Barrette said. "This morning, I tried four different balls in my first two games before finding one that I was comfortable with and could predict its reaction. I was able to use that ball the rest of the day, just moving left as the night went on and the lanes broke down, to keep the ball in the pocket with good roll."

　Trailing Barrette by nine pins is Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas. Dorin-Ballard is averaging slightly higher than Barrette, 220.23-219.42, but her 4-4-0 match record earned her fewer bonus pins, resulting in the nine-pin deficit in total pinfall.

　The 1995 Open champion, Wendy Macpherson, made a dramatic climb from 17th position to third in the evening session, fashioning a 6-2-0 record and totaling 5,781 pins. Following her is Cara Honeychurch of Australia, at 4-4-0 and 5,739 pins, and defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., with an identical 4-4-0 record and 5,725 pins.

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Round 3】

　Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., opened the final six-game qualifying block Wednesday morning with a perfect game and switched into cruise control afterward to take the lead at the $100,000 Miller High Life Open, underway at Maplewood Lanes.

　DiRupo, who won the Omaha stop on the PWBA Tour in 1994 and 1998, fired a 1,422 set to boost her total pinfall to 4,072 and her average to 226.22. She is leading Cara Honeychurch, Australia, by 111 pins, despite Honeychurch's consistent performance. The international star rolled a 1,302-pin block Tuesday morning, highlighted by a 272 game, and is averaging 220.05.

　"Opening up with a 300 game is a sure way to get a nice, free armswing," DiRupo laughed. "Truthfully, though, I seem to always do well here at Maplewood Lanes, because the lane surface lets the ball hook a lot. I used a brand-new ball this morning that I drilled up just for that type of reaction. This is a condition that I can get very comfortable with, very quickly."

　Not so fortunate was defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., Feldman tumbled from first to eighth with a sub-par 1,175-pin total, including two games in the 150s. She is averaging 213.83, with a total of 3,849 pins.

　Rounding out the top five behind Honeychurch are the 1997 Omaha champion, Leanne Barrette of Pleasanton, Calif., with 3,939 pins and a 218.83 average; Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 3,932 pins and a 218.44 average; and Carol Gianotti-Block, Australia, with 3,884 pins and a 215.77 average.

2001/05/21

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Round 2】

　Defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., holds a slim lead over Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Calif., at the conclusion of the first day of competition at the $100,000 Miller High Life Open, underway at Maplewood Lanes.

　Feldman's torrid morning pace cooled in the evening block, when she rolled a six-game set of 1,245 pins. She currently stands at 2,674 total pins. Dorin-Ballard, on the other hand, nearly duplicated her morning effort of 1,335 with a 1,334-pin total tonight to finish at 2,669 pins. The two are averaging 222.83 and 222.42, respectively.

　"The lanes in this center have a characteristic of breaking down a lot as the day progresses, no matter what type of oil pattern is laid down on them," Feldman said. "Being able to recognize that gives players who have been here before a big advantage in planning their equipment choices."

　"What is great about bowling on the Sport Bowling condition, which is what we have here, is that you are rewarded for bowling well. You can shoot a 250 game on a good pair and not fall off the pace by 10 or 20 pins. Instead, you help set the pace," Dorin-Ballard observed.

　Cara Honeychurch of Australia, with a total pinfall of 2,659 and 221.58 average, is 10 pins behind Dorin-Ballard. Rounding out the top five are Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., with 2,651 pins and a 220.92 average, and two-time Omaha champion Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., with 2.650 pins and a 220.83 average.

　　【PWBA】　Miller High Life Open　【Round 1】

　Defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., thundered to the early lead after six games in the $100,000 Miller High Life Open, underway at Maplewood Lanes.

　Feldman, who captured her fifth career title here last year, opened the tournament with a 265 game and went on to compile a six-game set of 1,429 pins, for an average of 238.17. She is leading her nearest rival, Karen Stroud, Victoria, Texas, by 77 pins.

　Feldman said her performance on the Sport Bowling condition last week at the St. Clair Classic spurred her to make some changes for the Omaha tournament, which has the same lane condition. "I bowled poorly last week, but I practiced a lot afterward on different hand positions and releases. I wanted to get more roll on the ball as it comes off my hand to straighten out the big hook I usually have.

　"Plus, I won here last year and I'm so comfortable bowling in front of the people who support us in Omaha."

　In third place is Cara Honeychurch of Australia, at 1,340 pins and a 223.33 average. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, follows Honeychurch with 1,335 pins and a 222.50 average. In fifth is the 1998 PWBA Player of the Year Carol Gianotti-Block, also of Australia, with 1,326 pins and a 221.00 average.

2001/05/17

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Final】

　Top-seeded Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., entered the winner's circle for the first time since 1999 by thwarting Australia's Cara Honeychurch in the championship match of the St. Clair Classic, 268-179.

　Johnson won $9,000 and a crystal trophy, but her take-home pay could have been much higher. She strung seven strikes together midway through the title bout and only two 10-pin leaves stopped her bid for a televised 300 game and a $50,000 bonus from Travelodge.

　"I'm actually relieved that it's over. It's been a tough week," Johnson said afterward. "When you're bowling on the Sport Bowling condition that we had this week, you can't predict what you'll encounter from lane to lane. I was fortunate in making a good choice of equipment tonight that allowed me to stay in my comfort zone on the lane."

　In the opening three-person shootout match, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard defeated Kendra Gaines and Dede Davidson, 199-183-167, earning the right to take on second-seeded Honeychurch. Dorin-Ballard's bid for a second consecutive title stopped there, however, as Honeychurch won with a commanding 245-188 decision.

2001/05/16

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Round 6】

　Former U.S. National Amateur Champion Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., has to win just one more game to capture the 2001 PWBA St. Clair Classic Thursday.
　Johnson, in her fifth year as a professional bowler, moved from fourth to first in the concluding round of match play tonight, finishing with a 16-8-0 record for 24 games. She bypassed previous leaders Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Dede Davidson, and Cara Honeychurch by averaging 211.52 and compiling a 42-game pinfall total of 9364.
　"I got a couple of good breaks tonight, and that did it for me," Johnson said. "I think the key was something I discovered in the morning block, when I was playing a gutter shot and everyone else was trying to play an inside line. This evening, I found the gutter shot wasn't working, but that everyone was trying to play it. So I decided to move in a little and play the line that they weren't, and it worked."

　Australian star Honeychurch, who also concluded match play with a 16-8-0 record, averaged 211.19 to drop into second place. Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., posted a 14-10- record and 210.43 average to secure third place.

　Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., moved past Las Vegas Davidson in the final position-round match to take over fourth place. Gaines, who owns one PWBA national title, averaged 207.05 while fashioning a 15-9-0 record in match play. Davidson, who owns the only perfect game rolled in the tournament thus far, averaged 207.86, but her 13-11-0 record generated only 9,120 pins, 26 behind Gaines, to place her fifth.

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Round 5】

　Australia's Cara Honeychurch holds a slim 15-pin lead over Carolyn-Dorin-Ballard, 7,490-7,475, after the second round of match play at the St. Clair Classic, underway at St. Clair Bowl.

　Honeychurch boosted her match play record to 11-5-0 by winning five of her eight pairings today. Although she is averaging 210.59 for the entire tournament, Honeychurch averaged only 199.5 this morning. "I thought it was really tough out there this morning," she said. "Unless you executed perfectly, you didn't get a good result. But as long as you make good shots and pick up your spares, you can do all right. You don't need 240 or better to win a match; you can do that with a 200 or 210 right now."

Dorin-Ballard is actually averaging higher than Honeychurch for the tournament thus far, 211.03 to 210.59, but she has one fewer victory in match play, where bowlers are awarded 30 bonus pins for each victory. In third place after 34 games is Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., with 7,395 pins and an 11-5-0 record. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., holds fourth with 7,392 pins and a 10-6-0 record, while yesterday's leader, Dede Davidson of Las Vegas, is in fifth with 7,343 pins and an 8-8-0 record.

　Davidson fired the first 300 game of the tournament in this morning's round---her 32nd career perfect game-- but four games below 170 dropped her in the overall standings.

2001/05/15

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Round 4】

　Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, is the new tournament leader after the first round of match play at the St. Clair Classic.

　Davidson, who completed the Triple Crown of women's bowling last year with her victory in the Sam's Town Invitational, is averaging 215.08 for the first 26 games of competition and leading nearest challenger Cara Honeychurch of Australia by 28 pins. Davidson fashioned a 6-2-0 win-loss-tie record in the opening round of match play and admitted that she is much better focused than she was at the WIBC Queens Championship a week ago.

　"My timing last week was horrible, and I wasn't at all pleased with the way I bowled," said Davidson, whose high game this evening was 266. "We had that six-month break in the tournament schedule from last November to now, and I wasn't ready mentally. After last week, I told myself that things were going to be different this week."

　Honeychurch also compiled a 6-2-0 match play record with a total of 5744 pins and is averaging 214.0. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., who was the top qualifier, slipped to third place with a 5-3-0 match play record and total pinfall of 5690. Trailing Dorin-Ballard are Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., with 5647 pins and a 6-2-0 record, and Dorin-Ballard's sister, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi of Linden, N.J. Dorin-Lizzi posted a 5-3-0 match play record and has a pinfall total of 5605.

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Round 3】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard leads a field of 24 players into head-to-head match play at the St. Clair Classic, averaging 215.22 for the 18-game qualifying phase that concluded this morning.

　However, her 140-pin lead over the rest of the field at the beginning of Tuesday's action was narrowed to 60 pins, thanks to a determined effort by Australian star Cara Honeychurch, who moved up from fifth place to second.

　"I feel darn lucky to be [in first place] right now," said Dorin-Ballard, whose 18-game pinfall total is 3,874. "The lanes were breaking down differently today, and it really affected how and where you played from one pair of lanes to the next. The players also brought in some new equipment to use today, which made a big difference in how the oil pattern on the lanes changed during this morning's block."

　Dede Davidson of Las Vegas, who enters match play with a total of 3,790 pins, follows Honeychurch, who has an 18-game total of 3,814. Another Australian, Maxine Nable, is tied for fourth with Tiffany Stanbrough of Oklahoma City, at 3,749 pins.

2001/05/14

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Round 2】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., is the new leader after 12 games of qualifying at the St. Clair Classic, underway at St. Clair Bowl.

　Dorin-Ballard is seeking her second title in seven days, having captured the 2001 WIBC Queens Championship May 11 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She bypassed first-round leader Leanne Barrette of Pleasanton, Calif., by pounding out a 1398 series this evening to total 2699 pins for 12 games and move from fourth into first place.

　"We're bowling on the Sport Bowling condition this week, and it's a little different from a typical league condition," Dorin-Ballard said. "I think it allows for more players to do well using different angles of attack, as long as they make their spares and make good shots. When the scores are lower, you can shoot a 180 or 190 and still be in the hunt."

　In second place is Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., with 2559 pins, 140 pins behind Dorin-Ballard. Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., sits in third with 2556 pins, while Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, is fourth with 2552 pins. Australiaﾕs Cara Honeychurch rounds out the top five at 2544 pins.

　Early leader Barrette tumbled into seventh place after 12 games, 186 pins off Dorin-Ballard's pace.

　　【PWBA】　St. Clair Classic　【Round 1】

　Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., slipped into the early lead after the first round of qualifying at the St. Clair Classic, underway at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill. Barrette churned out a six-game series of 1,324 pins to inch ahead of Allyson Allmang, Boynton Beach, Fla., by just nine pins going into this eveningﾕs action.

　Barrette, whose scores ranged between 194 and 257, attributed her good start to an intensive practice regiment during the past six months. "I practiced more than I usually do during a break, and experimented with a lot of hand releases to try to increase my versatility," she said. "I'm eager to be back out here competing after such a long layoff, and I'm very happy to be off to such a good start." She is currently averaging 220.67.

　Rounding out the top five are Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, with 1,310 pins; her sister, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., 1301 pins; and defending St. Clair Classic champion Kim Adler, Cocoa, Fla., 1,276.

2001/05/11

　　【PWBA】　2001 WIBC Queens Tournament　【Final】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., topped off a week of steady and secure shotmaking by outlasting Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., in the championship match of the 2001 WIBC Queens Tournament, 213-197, at Sawgrass Lanes this afternoon.

　Dorin-Ballard trailed Kulick until the ninth frame, when the former TEAM USA player left the 4-6-7 split on her first ball and failed to convert. Dorin-Ballard responded by striking out in her ninth and 10th frames, handing Kulick her second defeat in the double-elimination format.

　"I had to make more aggressive moves today than I had all week," Dorin-Ballard revealed later. "I felt I was making good shots, but I kept coming in a little light, and I was afraid of moving too much, because I saw Kelly's ball starting to hook a lot. But I realized after the sixth frame I had to do something and be more aggressive in making an adjustment"

　Kulick advanced to the title match by forcing Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif., to finish third for the second consecutive Queens tournament with a 256-185 drubbing. Terrell won the right to square off against Kulick by bypassing Australia's Maxine Nable and Robin Crawford in the opening three-way shootout match, 217-200-188, respectively.

　Kulick, who shed her amateur status after competing in the FIQ/WTBA World Bowling Masters tournament in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., in April, was philosophical about her defeat. "I felt I bowled well, and the lane conditions were perfect for me in the first game. But in the second game, I couldn't generate any good pin count on my first ball and the adjustments became a lot harder to
make."

　In addition to the winner's check for $18,000, Dorin-Ballard takes home the traditional Queens jeweled tiara, diamond pendant necklace, trophy and her 11th professional title.

2001/05/10

　　【PWBA】　2001 WIBC Queens Tournament　【Round 5】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., needs just one victory Friday to win the 2001 WIBC Queens Championship.

　Dorin-Ballard, who led the first two qualifying rounds, was the only woman in the 362-player field to complete match play with an unblemished record. Dorin-Ballard won all six of her matches, putting together three-game series ranging from 605 to 692 on her march to the top.

　"I think that, because I really didn't start seriously practicing and competing during our break until March or so, that the long layoff really refreshed me," Dorin-Ballard said of her dominant weeklong performance.

　"I like sitting in the top spot in this tournament because the leader has to be beaten twice. I think it's sometimes a disadvantage to lead the tournament in our regular format, because you only get to bowl one game in the title match. This time, though, being top seed suits me just fine."

　Joining Dorin-Ballard in the top five for the TV finals at Sawgrass Lanes are Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.; Maxine Nable, Australia; Robin Crawford, Hendersonville, Tenn., and Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif., who defeated Lynda Norry of Wichita, Kan., in the final match in the Contender's Bracket.

　Defending Queens champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., was eliminated in the fourth round of the Contender's Bracket by the PWBA 2000 Rookie of the Year, Cara Honeychurch of Australia, 563-559

　The TV shootout finals begin Friday at 2 p.m. Nable, Crawford and Terrell will compete against each other in a single-match shootout game, with the winner taking on No. 2 seeded Kulick. The winner of that match meets Dorin-Ballard and must defeat her twice to win the Queens title, jeweled tiara and $18,000 first-place check.

2001/05/09

　　【PWBA】　2001 WIBC Queens Tournament　【Round 4】

　Defending Queens champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., is among the 32 survivors following the first day of double-elimination match play competition at the 2001 WIBC Queens Championship, underway at Sawgrass Lanes.

　Macpherson, the 2000 PWBA Player of the Year, defeated Tiffany Stanbrough of Oklahoma City, Okla., in her first three-game, total-pinfall match, 631-604, before falling into the second-chance Contender's Bracket at the hands of Jeanne Naccarato, Tacoma, Wash., 604-598. Macpherson then defeated Shelton, Conn.'s Jennifer Swanson, 680-555, to advance to Thursday's competition. She will face Rachel Perez of San Marcos, Tex., in her first match Thursday.

　Former Queens champions Lisa Wagner, Ft. Myers, Fla., and Jan Schmidt, Rochelle, Ill., defeated Pauliina Aalto of Finland, this year's qualifying leader, after Aalto won her opener against Tracey Wade of Lansing, Mich., 617-561. Aalto and several major names in women's bowling, including Aleta Sill of Dearborn, Mich., pro bowling's first woman millionaire in career earnings, have been eliminated from the tournament.

　Still in the Winner's Bracket are Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Tex., who won her first two matches against Sill and Robin Mossontte, Newhall, Calif., and former Queens champions Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., and Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif.

2001/05/08

　　【PWBA】　2001 WIBC Queens Tournament　【Round 3】

　Pauliina Aalto, Kokkola, Finland, is the leading scorer heading into the match play event at the 2001 WIBC Queens. Aalto joins 63 other women, including 2000 WIBC Queens defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., in a day and a half of match play.

　Aalto, a third year member of the Professional Women's Bowling Association, bowled her way into first with a total pinfall of 3,376 after 15 games. She holds several international titles including the 1993 FIQ European Masters champion, 1995 FIQ World Championships team gold and doubles silver medal, and 1996 and 1998 FIQ World Tenpin Team Cup gold medals.

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, North Richland Hills, Tex., who led the field into the final qualifying block this morning, dropped into second place with a 15-game total pinfall of 3,338, 38 pins behind Aalto.

　Dorin-Ballard, a 10-time PWBA pro titlist, has remained among the top five bowlers through all three days of WIBC Queens qualifying. She continues into the match play event with high hopes of making it all the way to the ESPN2 televised finals Friday May 11.

　Rachel Kent, Olathe, Kan., defeated PWBA member Shana Ray, Portland, Texas, in a one-game rolloff, 198-186, for the 63rd and final place among the top 64 women, including 2000 defending WIBC Queens Champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., who made the cut to match play action. The two finished with total pinfall of 2,958 after 15 games.

　　【PWBA】　2001 WIBC Queens Tournament　【Round 2】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, North Richland Hills, Tex., moved back into the lead at the 2001 WIBC Queens Tournament upon completion of the second block of five qualifying games Tuesday.

　Dorin-Ballard, a 10-time pro titlist seeking her first Queens championship, added a 1087 series to the 1258 total she carded Monday to total 2345 pins for her first 10 games. Her current 234.5 average puts her well on pace to break the 227.6 average mark for 15 qualifying games set last year in Reno by Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich. "I thought the lanes today were similar to the way they were when I bowled singles and doubles in the WIBC Tournament," said Dorin-Ballard. "There's no question that bowling in the WIBC a few days ago helped me get comfortable and confident quickly with the lanes today."

　Brenda Norman of Indianapolis, who led the field after the first two squads of qualifying today, is sitting in second place, 71 pins behind Dorin-Ballard, with a 2274 total.

　Lisa Burrough, a professional bowler from Wichita, Kan., shot the second perfect game of the 2001 WIBC Queens tournament this morning, becoming the ninth bowler in the tournament's 40-year history to record a 300 game. Burrough is in 20th place with 2103 pins.

　Deanna Andrews, Pensacola, Fla., defeated Las Vegas' Dede Davidson in a one-game rolloff, 196-182, for the 92nd and final place among the top 25% who made the cut to tomorrow's action. The duo finished their first 10 games with identical totals of 1947.

　Andrews and the other 91 survivors return to Sawgrass Lanes Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. for five more games of qualifying.
The top 63 players following Wednesday morning's competition advance to double-elimination match play Wednesday afternoon along with defending Queens champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., who is seeded into the tournament as match play begins.

2001/05/07

　　【PWBA】　2001 WIBC Queens Tournament　【Round 1】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard averaged 251.6 in her opening five-game block today to launch her campaign for the 2001 WIBC Queens title. Dorin-Ballard's 1258 total included games of 289 and 279 and placed her 52 pins ahead of Kim Adler, Merritt Island, Fla., who carded a 1206 score. Tacoma, Wash.'s Jeanne Naccarato, who finished second in the1991 Queens Tournament, rolled the first 300 of this year's event in her opening game this afternoon. Naccarato currently stands fifth in the field of 362 women attempting to qualify. The top local bowler after the first round of qualifying is Marcia Kamrowski of Boca Raton, Fla. Kamrowski's 1103 series places her in 11th position. All competitors bowl five more games of qualifying Tuesday, beginning at 9 a.m., and the field will be cut to the top 25% following Tuesday night's last squad. The surviving bowlers roll five more games Wednesday morning, after which the field is cut to the top 63 players. Defending Queens champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., will be seeded into the field as the 64th player, and the double-elimination match play phase of the competition begins. The four survivors of the contender's bracket and the lone survivor of the winner's bracket will advance to the TV shootout finals at Sawgrass Lanes Friday, May 11, beginning at 2 p.m. The finals will be broadcast on ESPN2 Monday, May 14, at 7 p.m. with a re-broadcast Thursday, May 17, at 1 p.m. (all times are Eastern Time).