2001/07/26

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Final】

　Cara Honeychurch came within a 10-pin of perfection on her way to a 279-208 victory over fellow Australian Carol Gianotti-Block Thursday night in the championship match of the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　No. 2 seed Honeychurch survived her semifinal match with Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 257-245, to move into the title bout against defending champion Gianotti-Block. A seven-strike string in the match against Kulick was an indicator of things to come for Honeychurch, as she opened with a double, left the 10-pin in the third frame, and then struck out the rest of the way to eliminate all hope for Gianotti-Block.

　"What can I say; how can you beat something like that?" marveled Gianotti-Block, who rolled the tournament's only perfect game earlier in the week. "Cara bowled extremely well and made great shots. I made a poor shot midway through the game [leaving the 1-2-4-7 which she failed to convert], and that took away any chance I might have had."

　"You need a lot of luck to roll a 300 game. I think I didn't come off that shot in the third frame as crisply as I did the other ones, and that's why I left the 10-pin," Honeychurch said. "I'm pleased all the rest of the pins fell down often enough for me to win."
Honeychurch dedicated her victory to her great-grandmother, whom she learned had died earlier in the week.

　Honeychurch took an $11,000 first prize back home to Australia, while Gianotti-Block settled for $5,500. Kulick, who defeated Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., and Dede Davidson, Las Vegas,in the opening shootout, 226-194-182, won $3,800 for third place. Macpherson was rewarded with $3,000 for fourth, and Davidson earned $2,500 for fifth place.

2001/07/25

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Round 6】

　Carol Gianotti-Block of Australia positioned herself to defend her title by taking the top-seeded position for Thursday night's TV finals of the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　Gianotti-Block withstood a charge by sister Aussie Cara Honeychurch in the final round of match play Wednesday night, holding Honeychurch at bay by 39 pins after 42 games of competition. Gianotti-Block completed match play with 9,448 pins and a 17-5-2 record. Honeychurch, who defeated Gianotti-Block in the final position-round game by six pins, came into the clubhouse with 9,409 pins and an 18-6-0 record, the best in the 24-woman field.

　"Winning matches is what kept me in first place," Gianotti-Block confessed. "I didn't think I had a very good ball reaction tonight; the lanes didn't open up for me the way they did Tuesday. But it's just great to be in a position to defend my title. It's been a long and tiring swing, and I couldn't be happier about ending it this way."

　Joining Gianotti-Block and Honeychurch in Thursday's championship round are Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.; Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev.; and Dede Davidson, Las Vegas. Kulick, who is seeking her first pro title, finished with a 13-11-0 record and 9,330 pins. Macpherson, seeking her first victory in 2001, completed the preliminaries with 9,316 pins and a 14-9-1 record, while Davidson, also looking for Title No. 1 this year, checked in with 9,234 pins and a 14-8-2 record.

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Round 5】

　Australian stars Carol Gianotti-Block and Cara Honeychurch are 1-2 after 34 games following Wednesday morningﾕs action at the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　Gianotti-Block, who grabbed the lead Tuesday night after rolling a 300 game, posted a 1,737-pin set for Wednesday morning's eight games of match play to roll to a 103-pin lead over Honeychurch, who won seven of eight matches and turned in a 1,776 series. The defending champion currently owns an 11-3-2 match play record with 7,671 total pins, while Honeychurch has a 12-4-0 record and 7,568 pins. Gianotti-Block is averaging 215.02 thus far.

　"I was a little nervous before the morning block started, but then, I'm always nervous beforehand," Gianotti-Block admitted. "But the lanes settled down quickly and were good to me again. I'm playing in a very comfortable area, around the 15th board, and if the condition starts breaking down Wednesday night, forcing me to move farther inside, I will like it even better.

　"I didn't realize until we had finished play that Cara and I were first and second. She is having a great year, and I'm trying to get a great one started this week!"

　Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., overcame a slow start Wednesday morning to hold onto third place. She has an 8-8-0 record and 7,408 pins. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, seeking her sixth title of the year, improved her Tuesday standing by three places and is in fourth place with 7,393 pins and a 10-6-0 record. Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., remains in fifth spot with 7,374 total pins and an 8-8-0 record.

　Indianapolis' Brenda Norman moved up one position and is in 21st place with 6,863 pins and a 7-9-0 match play record.

2001/07/24

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Round 4】

　 Defending champion Carol Gianotti-Block closed the first round of match play at the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open with a perfect game to surge into the lead Tuesday night at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　Gianotti-Block polished off her preceding game of 250 with seven strikes before stringing 12 more on lanes 9 and 10 for the 18th 300 game of her career. Her eight-game block of 1,836 pins--which included games of 255, 246 and 247 in addition to 250 and 300--moved her past Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., by 83 pins. The Australian star and 1998 PWBA Player of the Year has a total pinfall of 5,754 after 26 games, with a 6-2-0 match play record. Kulickﾕs 5-3-0 match play record brought her total pinfall to 5,671.

　"I had nice ball reaction tonight, especially on the pair where I rolled the 300 game," Gianotti-Block said. "I was way inside, around board 20, playing down and in because the lanes started hooking very early tonight. It's an area where I'm really comfortable, and it felt great to be able to get up for the 12th ball in the last game and throw a good shot.

　"I've bowled really well the last five or six weeks, and last week I just missed making the cut. After qualifying [fifth] in the morning squad, I just felt a lot looser coming into the evening's action."

　Daly City, Calif.'s Kim Terrell is in third place with a 7-1-0 match play record and 5,595 pins, while another Australian, Cara Honeychurch, is in fourth with a 5-3-0 record and 5,582 pins. Early leader Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., holds fifth position with 5,548 total pins after struggling to a 2-6-0 match play record.

　Brenda Norman of Indianapolis, the only area bowler to make the cut to the top 24, is in 22nd position with 5,217 pins and a 3-5-0 match play record.

　　【JPBA】　六甲クイーンズオープン　【ＴＶ決勝】

　　【JPBA】　六甲クイーンズオープン　【ラウンドロビン】

　　【JPBA】　六甲クイーンズオープン　【準決勝】

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Round 3】

　 Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., relied on a 1,340 set in Wednesday morning's final six games of qualifying to move into the lead at the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　Gaines, seeking her second career pro title, eclipsed Monday's leader, Anne Marie Duggan of Edmond, Okla., by eight pins after the first 18 games, 3,858 to 3,851. Gainesﾕ 214.33 tournament average was supplemented by an opening three-game set Wednesday morning of 731.

　"It has been a long swing, and, unlike players such as Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Cara Honeychurch, who have not only bowled in every round and on most TV shows, but also have many media-related obligations, I've had the advantage of getting days off," said Gaines, explaining her success late into the Spring/Summer tour. "I've made it a priority to 'veg out' to give my body and mind time to recoup from the strain of being on the road for 12 weeks. I think that's why I'm able to maintain my intensity and focus now at the end of the swing, when so many other players are having trouble."

　Former U.S. national amateur champion Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., finished with 3,797 pins and a 210.94 average Wednesday morning to move into third place. Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., is in fourth place with 3,757 pins and a 208.72 average, while defending champion Carol Gianotti-Block of Australia holds fifth position with 3,738 pins and a 207.66 average.

2001/07/23

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Round 2】

　 Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., expanded her lead over the rest of the field at the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open to 85 pins in Monday night's session at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　Duggan fashioned a 1,328-pin series for the second block of six qualifying games to bring her total pinfall to 2,618 pins. A closing 275 game raised her tournament average thus far to 218.16, compared to second-place Marianne DiRupo's 211.08 mark. DiRupo, who highlighted her 1,339 series with a 276 game, finished Mondayﾕs action with 2,533 total pins.

　"The lanes definitely opened up on the second squad," Duggan said. "I started out targeting a mark between the dowel board markers and the arrows to stay slow, but I found as the night went on that I could target a little farther down the lane and throw the ball a little harder."

　Duggan also relied on a ball change, switching from the pearlized particle ball she used Monday morning to a solid resin ball. "I felt I needed to have the ball get through the front of the lane a little better with a little smoother arc as it moved toward the pins, so thatﾕs why I made the switch."

　In third place with 2,523 pins and a 210.25 average is Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich. Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., is in fourth with 2,518 pins and a 209.83 average, while Rachel Perez, San Marcos, Texas, rocketed from 20th to fifth place with 2,491 total pins and a 207.58 average.

　Brenda Norman of Indianapolis, who finished second two weeks ago in the $50,000 PWBA Sport Bowling Challenge, is the top area bowler. Norman is sitting in 11th place with 2,442 pins and a 203.50 average.

　　【JPBA】　六甲クイーンズオープン　【予選】

　　【PWBA】　Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open　【Round 1】

　 Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., is the leader after the first six games of the $60,000 Clabber Girl Greater Terre Haute Open at Terre Haute Bowling Center.

　Duggan survived a closing game of 150 to maintain an eight-pin lead over Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., who tossed a round-high 278 game early in the block. Duggan has 1,290 pins for a 215.00 average, while Barrette holds second place with 1,282 pins and a 213.66 average.

　Duggan attributed her lead to her ability to keep her footwork slow all morning long. "That's hard for me to do - I like to get to the line more quickly - but when you have a longer oil pattern, such as we're looking at in this tournament, you need to give the ball more time to react. It's not something I'm very good at, but I intend to practice to get better at it over our schedule break in August. I think we're going to be seeing more of this condition in future tournaments."

　Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., moved into third place on the strength of her final morning game of 262, accumulating 1,261 pins for a 210.16 average. Fourth place currently belongs to Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich., with 1,247 pins and a 207.83 average. Cara Honeychurch of Australia rounds out the top five with 1,246 pins and a 207.66 average.

2001/07/19

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Final】

　 Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., captured her first title of 2001 and first victory since 1999 by defeating top-seeded Cara Honeychurch of Australia, 204-177, in the championship match of the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　Fifth-seeded Barrette got to the title match the hard way, defeating Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., and Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., in the opening shootout match, 236-204-189, then Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of N. Richland Hills, Texas, in the semifinal game, 219-209. The victory over Honeychurch, worth $11,000, was Barrette's 22nd career championship.

　"I couldn't believe how nervous I was, not scared-nervous, but just nervous, because I hadn't been in this position for a while," said Barrette, who finished second in the last two Lady Ebonite tournaments. "I was extremely fortunate tonight, getting really good breaks on my strike balls in the seventh and eighth frames of the final match."

　Barrette had been using two different strike balls, one on Lane 17 and one on Lane 18, during the first two matches, but she decided to use the more aggressive of the two on both lanes after the fourth frame of her match with Honeychurch. "I felt the other ball, the one I was using on the left lane, just wasn't finishing the way I wanted it to, so I made a decision and it was the right one.

　"I was nervous Wednesday night, when the entire bowling center fell silent in my 10th frame when I needed to strike to get into the finals; but I think I was even more nervous in the TV finals. As an Ebonite staff member, I always want to do well in our sponsored tournaments."

　Honeychurch, who fell victim to errant shots in the fifth and sixth frames that resulted in opens, was consoled with $6,000 for second place. Dorin-Ballard, who finished third for the second week in a row, took home $4,700, while Gaines settled for $3,700 and fourth place.

　Tish Johnson's fifth-place finish netted her $3,000, breaking the million-dollar barrier for her in career earnings. Along with $1,100 she earned in TV incentives Thursday night, Johnson's life-long earnings now stand at $1,003,065.

2001/07/18

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Round 6】

　 For the second consecutive week, Australia's Cara Honeychurch and Texas' Carolyn Dorin-Ballard are 1-2 going into the TV finals, this time for the championship of the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　Honeychurch finished Wednesday's action with a 17-6-1 match play record, 9,800 total pins, and a tournament average of 220.83, more than 10 pins better than Dorin-Ballardﾕs 210.57 mark. Dorin-Ballard posted the best match play record, however, winning 20 of 24 matches to garner 9,444 total pins.

　"I bowled well this week and it's been rewarding to see results come from that," Honeychurch said. "I got to play my 'A' game for the first time this season, between the 12 and 15 boards, where I'm really most comfortable. I like to keep it in that area and play a fairly direct line, with an even arc, and thatﾕs what carried for me this week."

　Commenting on the fact that Dorin-Ballard was second seed for the Sport Bowling Challenge, which Honeychurch won last week, as well as for this week's finals of the Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, Honeychurch said that as far as she's concerned, there's no omen in the finish order at all. "You must forget about leading the tournament, and everything you've done during the week, because all of that was just a chance to make the show. Now I have to throw a good game against whomever advances to the title match, whether it's Carolyn or any of the other finalists."

　Taking down third place is Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., with an 18-6-0 record and 9,137 pins. Northridge, Calif.'s Tish Johnson, guaranteeing herself a television appearance as she goes over the million-dollar mark in career earnings, closed with a 16-8-0 record and 9,055 pins to claim fourth position.

　Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., held off Las Vegas' Dede Davidson to take the fifth and final TV spot. Barrette's 11-13-0 record and 9,105 total pins gave her a 25-pin margin of error over Davidson, who rolled a 248 game in the position round and forced Barrette to double in the 10th.

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Round 5】

　 Australia's Cara Honeychurch began to run away and hide from the rest of the field Wednesday morning during the second round of match play at the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, underway at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　The 2000 PWBA Rookie of the Year moved out to a 318-pin lead over second-place Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., by improving her match play record to 11-4-1 and total pinfall to 7,791. Honeychurch is averaging 219.00, compared to Johnsonﾕs 210.08.

　"I drilled a new ball following Tuesday night's round, the same type of particle ball as I used Tuesday but with a different drilling and more top weight," Honeychurch said. "I wanted it to go a little longer through the head of the lane, but keep the same arc pattern, and it did exactly what I wanted it to do. Even better, it had great pin carry. I probably bowled as well Wednesday morning as I have all week, but I had much better carry for this round."

　Johnson, who is bowling in her 205th consecutive pro tournament and will become the third career millionaire in women's pro bowling at the conclusion of this week's tournament, has an 11-5-0 match play record and 7,473 pins. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, is third with 7,419 pins and a 13-3-0 record. Dorin-Ballard is seeking her sixth victory in 11 events this year.

　Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., holds fourth position with 7,395 pins and a 12-4-0 record, while Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, and Kim Adler, Cocoa, Fla., are tied for fifth with 7,365 pins. Stanbrough owns an 8-8-0 record, while Adler's is 12-4-0.

2001/07/17

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Round 4】

　 Australia's Cara Honeychurch increased her lead to 93 pins Tuesday evening following the first round of match play at the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, underway at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　"I was the Queen of the Two-Ohs tonight," Honeychurch said, referring to her five games in the low 200s. Honeychurch, who is averaging 214.34 for the tournament thus far, won five of eight matches to boost her total pinfall to 5,723. Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., is in second place with 5,630 pins, thanks to her 6-2-0 record and a closing game of 240.

　Honeychurch relied on two balls to carry her through Tuesday's action, a "particle" ball with a more aggressively hooking outer cover, and one with a weaker shell coupled with a more aggressive drilling pattern. "I hadn't used a particle ball at all this spring until today. Last week I used the weaker ball very effectively in the evening, and that worked again Tuesday night. I still believe that the best strategy for me is to take the lane out of play as much as possible, and play as direct a shot as you can, from a variety of angles."

　Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, made it a top-three finish for left-handers Tuesday night, placing third with a 5-3-0 match play record and 5,604 pins. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, climbed as high as second but slumped toward the end to finish fourth, with a near-perfect 7-1-0 record and 5,582 pins. Kim Adler, Cocoa, Fla., who won the 1999 Lady Ebonite title, sits in fifth with 5,562 pins and a 6-2-0 match play record.

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Round 3】

　 Australia's Cara Honeychurch, fresh off a victory in last week's PWBA $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge, emerged as tournament leader following the first 18 games of qualifying at the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, underway at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　Honeychurch carved out an 11-pin lead over Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, on the strength of a six-game series of 1,275 pins. The Aussie star, going for her third victory in 2001, is averaging 213.83 for the tournament thus far, compared to Stanbrough's 213.22.

　"This condition is very unlike the other Sport Bowling conditions we've seen this year," Honeychurch said. "There are great differences from pair to pair, and from one end of the center to the other. There's also no room to play on the gutter. I've been very successful from that angle previously, but right now I'm playing an inside line around board 15 or so.

　"I think that when a bowler encounters a condition like this, which has so many looks to it, that it's important to approach each game as a new round. Just because you did well with a certain ball in one game is no indication you'll have the same success when you move to the next pair. You cannot afford to have any pre-conceived notions, and you have to be prepared to make a change very quickly if that's indicated. You must completely rethink every game, because there's no room or time to 'muck around' with what worked a few frames ago."

　Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., stands 10 pins behind her touring roommate Stanbrough, in third place with 3,828 pins and a 212.66 average. Monday night's leader, Leanne Barrette of Pleasanton, Calif., is in fourth with 3,810 pins and a 211.66 average.

　Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., competing in her 205th consecutive tournament, is in fifth place with 3,752 pins and a 208.44 average. Johnson needs just $1,035 in winnings this week to become the third woman pro bowler to earn $1 million in her career. Having survived the cut to the top 24 for the match play phase of the tournament that begins Tuesday night, with 24th place paying $1,450, Johnson seems a sure bet to reach the milestone this week. "I'll finish match play even if I break a leg," she laughed.

2001/07/16

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Round 2】

　Pleasanton, Calif.'s Leanne Barrette, seeking her third Lady Ebonite crown, assumed the lead after 12 games at the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, underway at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　Barrette highlighted her Monday evening six-game set of 1,343 with a 268 game to increase her average to 216.41 and total pinfall to 2,597. She is ahead of early leader Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, by 10 pins. Stanbroughﾕs 2,587 total gives her a 215.58 average through the first 12 games.

　"I would say that this is one of the more difficult shots we've had all year," said Barrette, who won the Lady Ebonite in 1989 and 1991. "I think of a true Sport Bowling condition as something similar to" what is put down at the World Team Challenge events, where you have an extreme out-of-bounds area on the gutters. We haven't had that so far, because the gutter shot has been playable. Tonight, the gutter shot wasn't there, so everyone had to play farther inside than we've been seeing. Lately we've found that the middle of the lane hooked too much; but tonight, the middle seemed much more playable than the gutter."

　Two-time 2001 champion Cara Honeychurch of Australia is in third with 2,574 pins and a 214.50 average. Robin Mossontte, Newhall, Calif., is holding fourth position with 2,528 pins and a 210.66 average, while Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., rounds out the top five with 2,522 pins and a 210.16 average.

　　【PWBA】　Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic　【Round 1】

　 Tiffany Stanbrough of Oklahoma City is the surprise leader after the first six games of the $75,000 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic, underway at Collins Bowling Center Eastland.

　Stanbrough, who has made it to match play just four of 10 times this spring, barreled her way to the top with a Monday morninground of 1,397 pins for a 232.83 average. She has a 40-pin cushion between herself and her tour roommate, Marianne DiRupo of Succasunna, N.J., who fired a 1,357 series for a 226.16 average.

　"I definitely surprised myself this morning," said Stanbrough, whose lowest game was 212. "I've been struggling. I have a lot of revolutions on my ball when I release it, and it seems that on the Sport Bowling conditions we've had, less is more. I've been watching [last week's champion] Cara Honeychurch a lot and trying to pick up some tips from her, because we're both left-handed. She's been bowling well, and she concentrates on being accurate and keeping the ball in play, without a lot of revs. So I've been trying to slow my footwork down and be more deliberate, and that's hard for me."

　DiRupo closed the Monday morning session with a 279 game to move into second place past Robin Mossontte, Newhall, Calif., who checked in with 1,315 pins and a 219.16 average. In fourth is Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, with 1,295 pins and a 215.83 average. Alayne Blomenberg, Cranston, R.I., is in fifth with 1,277 pins and a 212.83 average.

　Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., who starred for Morehead State Universityﾕs college bowling team while a student there, is the top "local" bowler. Kulick sits in sixth place, with 1,274 pins and a 212.33 average.

2001/07/15

　　【JPBA】　女子ランキング更新

　　

2001/07/14

　　【JPBA】　BIGBOX東大和CUP　【ＴＶ決勝】

　　【JPBA】　BIGBOX東大和CUP　【ラウンドロビン】

　　【JPBA】　BIGBOX東大和CUP　【準決勝】

2001/07/13

　　【JPBA】　BIGBOX東大和CUP　【予選】

2001/07/12

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Final】

　 Cara Honeychurch of Australia picked up her second title of 2001 and fifth in her career by defeating Brenda Norman, Indianapolis, 206-189, for the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge championship.

　Honeychurch overcame a missed 3-9 spare conversion in her third frame and recorded two doubles en route to the $9,000 first prize. Norman, who defeated Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of N. Richland Hills, Texas, in the semifinal game, 240-236, was railroaded by the 7-10 split in the seventh frame and a missed spare in the eighth. She had led the match prior to leaving the 7-10 split.

　Honeychurch, who's been battling an infection the past four weeks, said that the victory turned the week around for her. "In addition to the infection, our rental car was broken into last week, and then the rental company decided to repossess it. So we've had to depend a lot on the kindness of the PWBA family the past few days to get around from one place to another.

　"I've gotten tremendous help this week and all swing from [Ebonite's] Del Ballard Jr., not only with bowling equipment but with my mental game. Because he's a bowler, he knows how things can affect your concentration and he's helped me to stay focused despite all the distractions. My husband, Jim, also was a tremendous help tonight. After the first couple of shots during the championship match, he told me to roll the ball and be sure with my shots. That was key for me tonight."

　Norman, whose second-place finish was her highest ever on the PWBA tour, was pleased with her performance against 2001's top two performers. "I knew I had to make good shots to defeat Carolyn, because she's so determined when she's competing. But Cara is just as determined, so I don't think I Iet up at all after the match with Carolyn. I'm very pleased with how I bowled."
Norman took home $4,800 for finishing second, while Dorin-Ballard, who was denied a record fourth consecutive pro title, won $3,000. Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J., and Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif., who finished fourth and fifth after falling to Norman in the opening round shootout, 225-178-172, took home $2,500 and $2,200, respectively.

2001/07/11

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Round 6】

　 First-round leader Cara Honeychurch of Australia foiled the sister act of Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Cathy Dorin-Lizzi by slipping past both to take the top seed position for Thursday's TV finals of the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge at Shore Lanes.

　Honeychurch made up a 97-pin deficit during Thursday evening's round of match play and then defeated Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, in the position-round match, 212-204, to regain the lead after a tumultuous seven days. "I've been battling an infection for about four weeks now, and last week on the way here from Virginia, our car was broken into and my medicine stolen," Honeychurch said. "Then, of course, there's all the stress that comes with insurance when something like that happens. So I really can't believe I'm sitting here as the leader right now, given what a week it's been.

　"During the afternoon break, thinking I didn't have much of a chance at making the top five tonight, I told myself just to throw the best shot I could and give myself every chance possible. I experimented with some ball drillings, too, and decided to use a weaker ball that had a more aggressive grip drilling. I think that's what made the difference."

　Honeychurch finished match play with a 14-10-0 record and 9,560 total pins, averaging 217.61 for 42 games. Dorin-Ballard took down 9,538 pins on her way to a 15-8-1 record. Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J., settled for a 12-12-0 record and 9,472 pins to claim third place, while Brenda Norman, Indianapolis, held onto fourth with 9,464 pins and a 13-10-1 record.

　Kim Terrell's closing 247 game leapfrogged her over Belleville, Mich."s Lisa Bishop into fifth place and the final position for the TV finals. The Daly City, Calif., resident checked in with 9,403 pins and a 14-9-1 record, just five pins ahead of Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., who punched a near-perfect 297 game in the position round to finish with 9,398 pins. Bishop finished seventh, 21 pins behind Macpherson with a total of 9,377.

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Round 5】

　 Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J., traded places with older sister and frontrunner Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, to regain the lead Wednesday morning in the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge, underway at Shore Lanes.

　Dorin-Lizzi overcame a 21-pin deficit following Tuesday night's match play round to thwart Dorin-Ballard's efforts by a slim eight-pin margin, 7,727 pins to 7,719. Dorin-Lizzi accumulated 1,738 pins and won five of eight matches Wednesday morning to improve her match play record to 9-7-0. While Dorin-Ballard has the better record thus far, 12-3-1, she managed only a 1,694 set Wednesday morning, permitting her younger sister to bypass her.

　The sisters' emotional closeness, and the looming likelihood that both may advance to Thursday's championship round, begs comparison with tennis' Williams sisters, and their on- and off-court rivalries. "We're competitors, sure, and I guarantee you that if we meet in the TV finals, there will be no 'tanking' by either or us," laughed Dorin-Ballard. "I hate to lose; as an opponent and professional athlete, aren't you supposed to want to win? I want to see my sister reap the benefits of all her hard work, but when it comes to a match, she's another opponent."

　"Carolyn is having a fantastic career - 15 career titles - and she's in a position where she can say, 'I want to see it happen for others, too,' " said Dorin-Lizzi, who owns one pro title. "But my focus has to be so different. I have watched everyone win multiple titles while I have been struggling. I know how hard I have worked, and maybe this is my week. I've got to take advantage of it when it comes along. If push comes to shove, she will have to be beaten for me to win. The day I can't feel that way anymore is the day I should go elsewhere."

　Continuing to move up in the standings, Brenda Norman improved her position by one Wednesday morning. She is in third with a 10-6-0 record and 7,675 pins after scoring 1,772 pins in her block. Cara Honeychurch of Australia is fourth with 7,630 pins and a 9-7-0 record, while Belleville, Mich.ﾕs Lisa Bishop completes the top five with 7,580 pins and a 7-8-1 record.

2001/07/10

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Round 4】

　Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, snatched the lead away from sister Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J., in the final game Tuesday night at the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge, underway at Shore Lanes.

　Dorin-Ballard, who won seven of eight matches Tuesday with a series of 1,775 pins, moved into first with a 26-game total of 5,860 pins and a 217.30 average. Qualifying leader Dorin-Lizzi managed only a 4-4-0 record and 1,705 eight-game set to finish the night with 5,839 pins and a 219.96 average.

　"The lanes were difficult for me Monday morning, and I was concerned with not digging myself into a big hole," Dorin-Ballard said. "They got a little easier Monday night, and I was able to get into the top 10. Most important, I got a different look; I saw that the players who were scoring better than I was were playing more to the right. I moved farther right on the approach Tuesday morning, and then back to the left a little Tuesday night. I slowed up a little and got the ball more to the right after moving left, and I got better carry.

　"I try not to think about who I'm taking the lead away from. I'm so proud of Cathy and if I can't be the leader, I hope it will be her."

　Australia's Cara Honeychurch remains in the top five, claiming third place with 5,809 pins and a 6-2-0 match play record. Brenda Norman of Indianapolis moved from 20th place to fourth after finishing her last three games with an 837 series; she has a 5-3-0 match play record and 5,733 pins after 26 games. Rounding out the top five is Jennifer Swanson, Shelton, Conn., with 5,751 pins and a 4-4-0 record.

　Lisa Bishop of Belleville, Mich., remains the top player from the Detroit area; the four-time pro titlist is in eight place with 5,674 pins after a frustrating round in which she lost six of eight matches.

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Round 3】

　 Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J., is the qualifying leader going into match play at the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge, underway at Shore Lanes.

　Dorin-Lizzi ranged between 191 and 225 in her Tuesday morning block to enhance her 18-game total by 1,246 pins. With a total of 4,104 pins, she holds a 75-pin edge over Michelle Mullen, Dearborn, Mich. Mullen, who has rolled the tournamentﾕs only 300 game thus far, has 3,939 pins.

　"It was a 'grind-out' kind of round this morning," said Dorin-Lizzi, who is averaging 223.0 thus far. "I found the middle of the lane a little tighter today, so there wasn't as much room to recover if you sent the ball a little wide. It was also a little warmer in the building today, and that might have affected the lane oil a bit, too."

　Dorin-Lizzi attributed much of her good fortune to the change she made in May from a five-step to four-step delivery, enhanced by the switch this week to a different type of wrist device. "Without a doubt, the two changes complement one another," she said, "but I shouldn't discount the heads-up penny I found Saturday night, either. I think maybe that's giving me the good luck I needed to get everything to come together. I'm enjoying this; it's so nice to look behind me for a change, rather than up at everyone else."

　Holding third place is Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., with 3,922 pins and a 217.88 average. Belleville, Mich.'s Lisa Bishop follows in fourth, with 3,914 pins and a 217.44 average, while Cara Honeychurch of Australia is in fifth with 3,911 pins and a 217.27 average.

　Other area players among the top 24 include Cheryl Daniels of West Bloomfield, Mich., in ninth with 2,855 pins, and Aleta Sill, Dearborn, who stands 12th with 3,728 pins.

2001/07/09

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Round 2】

　 Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J., pounded out a steady stream of strikes and spares Monday night to move into the lead at the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge, underway at Shore Lanes.

　While Dorin-Lizzi's six-game production of 1,417pins was overshadowed slightly by the perfect game rolled by Michelle Mullen, Dearborn, Mich., Monday night, it was more than enough to assure her a 53-pin lead over second-place Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., 2,768 pins to 2,715. Macphersonﾕs lowest game of the night in her 1,447 set was 205.

　"Tonight everything fell into place for me - the lane condition, my timing, the moves I made - everything. I feel so good about this round," said Dorin-Lizzi, who is averaging 230.66. She attributed much of her consistency to a change she made in wrist devices. "I switched to one that restricts the wrist movement a little more. I don't feel I had to force the ball through the shot as much with the new one. I don't drop the ball as much, either. So I was much more confident of my ability to repeat a shot over and over, and on the Sport Bowling condition, that confidence and consistency allows you to trust yourself, which allows you to be aggressive. Everyone who is doing well on this pattern displays those qualities, and I did today, too."

　Macpherson, who moved up from 10th place after the first round, leads third-place Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., by seven pins following Bishop's closing game of 287. Mullen's opening 300 masterpiece solidified her fourth-place position with 2,683 pins and a 223.58 average. Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., dropped from second after the early round but remains in the top five with 2,633 pins and a 219.41 average.

　　【PWBA】　Sport Bowling Challenge　【Round 1】

　 Cara Honeychurch of Australia, seeking her second victory in 2001, is the leader after six games of qualifying at the $50,000 Sport Bowling Challenge, underway at Shore Lanes.

　Honeychurch, who finished fifth last week after rolling a 147 game in the finals of the Southern Virginia Open, made a ball change after her first five frames Monday morning "and never looked back," knocking down 1,372 pins for a 228.66 average.
"I had been using an older model ball during the tournament last week," Honeychurch related. "It got me to the finals, but because it was no longer registered for TV, I needed to use a different one on the show and just never got comfortable with it. Between that, and being ill for the past couple of weeks, I just had a very rough time of it.
"This week's Sport Bowling condition is probably the most difficult one I've encountered this swing, and it feels really good to be in a decent position to get back to the TV show again."

　Close behind Honeychurch with 1,351 pins and a 225.16 average is Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Linden, N.J. Dorin-Lizzi punctuated her effort with a 278 game, sharing high single-game honors for the round with Kathy Tribbey, Newberg, Ohio.

　Third place currently belongs to Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., with 1,344pins and a 224.0 average, while Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Michelle Mullen, Dearborn, Mich., are tied for fifth with 1,323 pins. Johnson and Mullen are averaging 220.50 apiece.

　Belleville, Mich.'s Lisa Bishop is the other local bowler in the top 10, with 1,315 pins and a 219.16 average.

2001/07/05

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Final】

　 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, became one of four women to win three consecutive pro bowling titles when she dethroned defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., in Fridayﾕ's championship match of the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open, 226-195.

　Dorin-Ballard chalked up her fifth victory in nine tournaments this year, and 15th career win, by clinching a key double midway through her game with top-seeded Macpherson. She closed out with a four-bagger, cutting off Macphersonﾕ' bid to win her first title since last year's Southern Virginia Open. Dorin-Ballard joins Patty Costello, Lisa Wagner and Tish Johnson as the only women to win three times in a row. (Johnson was the most recent, winning her trio in 1990.)

　"I didn't look at the scoreboard during the match, but I knew that she hadn't had a double up to the 10th frame, and I did," Dorin-Ballard said afterward. "I could tell from the crowd that she didn't strike on her first ball in the 10th, which would have given her a double, but I knew that I still had to mark to win.

　"I was going to finish my game with Wendy on the right lane, and I found the right lane was hitting kind of flat by the end of the semifinal match [in which she beat Kendra Gaines, 225-200]. So I was trying to roll the ball a little more in the final game. I thought I would carry better by hitting the pocket light rather than flush. I knew if I could double I would put the pressure on Wendy, and that's something you always want to do.

　"Three in a row! I just never thought this was possible. I don't ever want it to end!"

　It was role-reversal time for Macpherson, who defeated top-seeded Dorin-Ballard last year to win the title at Country Club Lanes. Dorin-Ballard collected a $9,000 paycheck this year, while Macpherson settled for $4,800. Sebring, Fla.'s Gaines, who defeated Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., and Cara Honeychurch of Australia in the opening shootout, 225-191-147, took home $3,000 for finishing third. As the third-seeded bowler in the telecast, Honeychurch could finish no lower than fourth and was rewarded with $2,500. Barrette cashed in at the pay window for $2,200.

2001/07/05

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Round 6】

　 Defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., confounded her opponents Thursday in the final round of match play competition, winning seven of eight matches to capture the top seed for Fridayﾕs TV finals of the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open.

　Macpherson averaged 224.87 Thursday to pull her tournament average up to 215.80 and won-loss-tie record to 16-7-1. She finished match play with a total of 9,559 pins, breezing past Wednesday's leader Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, by 81 pins. Dorin-Ballard faltered in Thursday's round, knocking down only 1,595 pins and winning just three of eight matches to finish at 9,478 pins and 14-10-0.

　"I had some very good days this week, and while I haven't bowled as physically well as I might have liked to so far this year, I don't feel I'm having a bad year at all," said Macpherson, who is making her third TV appearance of the year. "Yesterday [Wednesday] was a rough day, but it was rough for everyone, and I was kind of glad that I could finish match play on another day. I don't know whether that had anything to do with the way I bowled today - the fact that we bowled only eight games Wednesday and eight games today, instead of 16 in one day - but I did mention to Carol [Gianotti-Block] that it was really nice to sleep in this morning, because we only had one afternoon block to bowl!"

　Joining Macpherson and Dorin-Ballard in the championship round are Cara Honeychurch of Australia, with 9,394 pins and a 16-8-0 match play record; Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., with 9,352 pins and an 11-13-0 record, and Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. Barrette fired a 276 game in her final position-round match with Nikki Gianulias, Vallejo, Calif., to go around Gianulias, 9,352-9,232 pins, and finish with a 14-10-0 record.

2001/07/04

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Round 5】

　 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, seeking her third consecutive victory on the 2001 PWBA Spring/Summer Tour, charged into the lead after two rounds of match play at the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open, underway at Country Club Lanes.

　The N. Richland Hills, Texas, resident pounded out a 6-2-0 match play record Wednesday morning to improve her overall record to 11-5-0 and total pins to 7,793. Dorin-Ballard is averaging 219.50 for 34 games, .21 pins ahead of Tuesdayﾕs leader, Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla. Gaines won only three matches Wednesday and has an 8-8-0 record after two match play rounds, with 7,696 total pins.

　"I started out slow with a 162 in the first game; I tried four balls that game, looking for something that would work. I switched to a ball that gave me more even roll in the middle of the game and more recovery in the back end, and I was able to get myself lined up properly after that. I got a chance to move a little left and send the ball out to the right," Dorin-Ballard said.

　 "This is not a shot where you can play straight up the gutter, although you can move left a little, send the ball right to the gutter, and it will hook back. You can also move everything left of the 5 board, including your break point, and that will play, too. I found on some pairs of lanes, everything had to be moved to the left to carry."

　Cara Honeychurch, with 7,655 pins and a 12-4-0 match play record, holds third place, while defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., is in fourth with 7,550 pins and a 9-6-1 record. Nikki Gianulias, Vallejo, Calif., remains among the leaders in fifth position with an 8-7-1 record and 7,538 pins.

2001/07/03

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Round 4】

　 Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., leads the 24-woman field remaining in the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open following the first round of match play Tuesday night.

　Gaines' eight-game block of 1,744 pins and 5-3-0 match play record elevated her total pinfall for 26 games to 5,773, giving her a 222.03 average and 82-pin edge over Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas. Dorin-Ballard improved her qualifying finish by two places as she manufactured an identical 5-3-0 record and downed 1,777 pins Tuesday night for a total pin count of 5,691.

　"The lanes played pretty much as I expected they would Tuesday night," Gaines said. "They started to break down very fast toward the end of the night, so I was glad I had drilled a ball in the afternoon that would get down the lane a lot farther before it started hooking. I used it almost all night."

　"After four years of professional bowling, I'm still finding the biggest adjustment to make is being away from home so much. Being on the road for so long takes a real toll on your brain and your body. It almost makes the adjustments you need to make in your game the easier of the two to take."

　Defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., stayed in the hunt for a top-five position as she also posted a 5-3-0 record for the first eight games of match play. Macphersonﾕs 5,625 pins place her third, 66 pins behind Dorin-Ballard. Nineteen-time PWBA champion Nikki Gianulias, Vallejo, Calif., is in fourth place with a 4-3-1 match play record and 5,721 pins, while Cara Honeychurch of Australia, who won the Greater San Diego Open earlier this year, is one stick behind Gianulias after fashioning a 6-2-0 record for 5,720 pins.

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Round 3】

　 Sebring, Fla.'s Kendra Gaines averaged 243.50 Tuesday morning to move back into the lead at the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open, underway at Country Club Lanes

　Gaines put breathing space between herself and defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., by rolling a six-game set of 1,461 pins, with a closing game of 266. The effort pushed her total pinfall to 4,029 pins, 78 pins better than the 3,951 pins accumulated thus far by Macpherson. The two are averaging 223.83 and 219.50, respectively, for the tournament thus far.

　"I'm seeing a lot more hook in my ball in the back end of the lane with this week's oil pattern; the ball is 'retaining' a lot more energy as it goes down the lane," Gaines analyzed. "During the past few weeks I've had to be slow and precise in my delivery, but the condition this week is playing more to my strengths. I feel I can be more aggressive in my shot choices and will have more room for recovery if I make a mistake.

　"I think that the players who made the cut will find they have to make their on-lane adjustments very quickly in match play, because the lanes will break down fast. I got caught Monday night not moving left on the approach fast enough, so I'll be very aware of that as we go into head-to-head competition. There wonﾕt be time to second-guess yourself; youﾕll have to move as soon as you see even a hint that the lane is changing."

　Macpherson, whose last PWBA tournament title came in the 2000 Southern Virginia Open, leads third-place Cara Honeychurch of Australia by 35 pins at the end of the qualifying rounds. Honeychurch has 3,916 pins and a 217.55 average, and is just two pins ahead of Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas. Dorin-Ballard, at 3,914 pins and a 217.44 average, is seeking her third consecutive pro title this year. Nikki Gianulias, Vallejo, Calif., rounds out the top five with 3,891 pins and a 216.16 average.

2001/07/02

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Round 2】

　 Leanne "Boomer" Barrette of Pleasanton, Calif., moved into the top slot of the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open Tuesday night at Country Club Lanes, following two rounds of qualifying that find the top five players separated by just 20 pins.

　Barrette, seeking her first title since winning the 1999 Greater Atlanta Open, carded an evening round of 1,312 pins to push her 12-game total to 2,581 and average to 215.08. She is two pins ahead of Cara Honeychurch of Australia; the 2000 PWBA Rookie of the Year is averaging 214.91 with 2,579 pins.

　Barrette credited the enthusiastic welcome the PWBA receives every year in Danville with her ability to settle in quickly on the lanes Monday. "It is always nice to have tournaments where the people want you to come back again. The fans in Danville really want us to be here and the crowds always turn out for us."

　Defending Southern Virginia Open champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., pulled to within 11 pins of Barrette by firing a closing game of 244 Monday; she is in third with 2,570 pins and a 214.16 average. Early leader Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., stands two pins behind Macpherson with total pinfall of 2,568 and a 214.00 average. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, moved up one place to fifth with 2,561 pins and a 213.41 average. Dorin-Ballard is attempting to become the first woman to win three consecutive PWBA tournaments since Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., did so in 1990.

　　【PWBA】　Southern Virginia Open　【Round 1】

　 Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla., moved into the early lead after the first round of competition at the $50,000 Southern Virginia Open Monday morning.

　Gaines, who finished fourth last week in the Greater Memphis Open, averaged 222.83 for six games at Country Club Lanes with a total pinfall of 1,337. In second with 1,299 pins and a 216.50 average is former University of Nebraska bowling star Brenda Norman, Indianapolis, Ind.

　Gaines agreed that her game has turned itself around in recent weeks; she has made the last two championship rounds and has been in the TV finals three times in the first eight events on the PWBA Spring/Summer Tour. "It's kind of like being on auto-pilot but still able to make decisions. Last year was ugly. I was trying to change my game, and it was a hit-or-miss proposition; I did either very well or very poorly, and I missed cashing at least five times. I realized I either had to get better or go home, and the thought of a 9-to-5 job didn't sit very well with me. So I worked a lot on technique over the short summer break; over the winter, I experimented with different ball drilling patterns and observed the results on ball roll.

　 "Now I'm finally seeing things as they really happen, and not as I expect them to happen. Bowlers really have to watch and pay attention to ball reaction to improve these days. You can throw a great shot, but if the ball is wrong for the condition, you're not going to get anywhere with it."

　Vallejo, Calif.'s Nikki Gianulias, who last week bowled in her first match play round since injuring her back two years ago, is in third with 1,292 pins and a 215.33 average. Lynda Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas, is in fourth place, averaging 214.83 with 1,289 pins, and defending champion Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., holds fifth place with 1,272 pins and a 212.0 average.

　Audry Mullan, Glen Allen, Va., and Julie Jackson, Rural Hall, N.C., are the top area bowlers in the 50-woman field after six games. Mullan is in 23rd place with 1,195 pins and a 199.16 average, while Jackson sits in 36th place with 1,098 pins and a 183.0 average.