2002/09/28

　　【JPBA】　ジャパンオープン　【準決勝】

　　【JPBA】　ジャパンオープン　【準決勝】

2002/09/27

　　【JPBA】　ジャパンオープン　【予選後半】

2002/09/26

　　【JPBA】　ジャパンオープン　【予選前半】

"I'm shocked," said Dorin-Ballard. "At first I didn't think I had a very good ball reactionﾉthen I thought the lanes were starting to get a little tighter."

"In the first frame I came very close to splitting the 7-10. In the second I high-flushed and in the third I rolled the bucket. At that point I said to myself I better take advantage of what's happening."

Although Dorin-Ballard had some near disasters in the opening frames, the Player of the Year managed to strike in the first five putting the pressure on Gaines to play catch-up.

Gaines, who entered the finals as the No. 4 seed, looked like the player to beat heading into the title bout. The former TEAM USA member defeated Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ and Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev. 223-184-170 in the opening shootout and then won a close decision with Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY 217-211.

"Carolyn had a great look today," said Gaines. "In the semi-final match with Liz I felt my reaction getting a little weaker. If I could change anything about the finals, I wish after I saw my first few shots hit the pocket light, I would of moved right. Still, 255 is pretty tough to beat."

In spite of watching Dorin-Ballard record a five-bagger, Gaines delighted the crowd on hand at the Country Club Lanes West with a spare-shooting clinic. After picking up the 2-4-5-8 split in the first, she converted the 2-4-10. In the fourth, she marked after leaving the 1-2-4-10 on her first toss.

Dorin-Ballard completed the match with 10 strikes . Her 255 tied Michelle Feldman's effort at the Louisville Open as the highest score recorded for a TV finals.

Gaines earned $4,800 for her second place finish. Johnson took home $3,000 while Macpherson and Kulick cashed for $2,500 and $2,200 respectively.

2002/09/25

　　【PWBA】　Burlington Open　【Round 4】

"The lanes played differently for me today," said Dorin-Ballard. "I played further right than I had all week and didn't have to get too deep."

Dorin-Ballard is making her seventh championship round appearance. Including this event, it is the 82nd consecutive tournament where she has cashed.

The tournament leader after rounds two and three, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY, fell back one spot to the No. 2. Johnson, who went 8-4-0 on the day, closed the prelims with a 17-7-0 record to go along with a 212.80 average and a 9,448 pinfall.

"I was a little disappointed to not qualify first," stated Johnson. "I had a good lead but Carolyn was awesome today. The goal every week is to make the show so I am very pleased with a how I bowled."

Bowler of the Decade for the 1990s, Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev. grabbed the third slot with tallies of 15-8-1, 208.42 and 9,219.

Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla. charged into the fourth position by averaging 227.66 and going 10-1-1. Gaines entered the session in 10th, 269-pins out the top five. For the tournament, she finished with totals of 14-8-2, 206.95 and 9,142. The former TEAM USA member has finished in the top 15 in the last 11 PWBA events.

Rookie of the Year Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ held on to the fifth spot with a 7-5-0 effort. Kulick closed the week 14-10-0 along with a 207.16 clip and a 9,121 sum.

2002/09/24

　　【PWBA】　Burlington Open　【Round 3】

"I was a little nervous when I got started with a 188, but I calmed down in the second and third matches and from there was able to settle into the same kind of rhythm I was in yesterday."

Johnson followed her opening score with victories over Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas (241-200) and Michelle Feldman (247-199). Of her nine wins, six came against opponents in the tournaments top 10.

"On this kind of oil pattern it's so easy to have a bad game. Making good shots and picking up spares is going to be the difference in almost every match," said Johnson.

Trailing Johnson and in second place is Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. Barrette posted the top match play record of the round with a 10-2-0. The five time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American is averaging 204.93 and 6,448. Barrette leads the PWBA with three titles this season -- the most recent coming last week at the Three Rivers Open.

"Today I was trying not to overpower the lanes and let the ball do more of the work," said Barrette. "Winning matches is always important, but in low scoring tournaments it's crucial."

Entering this week Barrette's career earnings stood at $993,318. A victory in Burlington would help her become the fourth PWBA'er ever to surpass the million-dollar mark.

Dorin-Ballard sits in the third position with 205.60 and 6,438. The reigning PWBA Player of the Year went 9-3-0 on the day. Dorin-Ballard leads Kelly Kulick (206 and 6,390) by 48-pins.

Kulick, who went 7-5-0, started the session with six consecutive victories before losing 206-197 to Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich.

Bowler of the Decade for the 1990s Wendy Macpherson holds the final championship round spot with totals of 204.13 and 6,364. Macpherson went 8-4-0.

With 12 more head to head games in round four and 360 potential bonus pins available, at least 10 players that trail Macpherson have a shot at making the stepladder finals on Thursday.

2002/09/23

　　【PWBA】　Burlington Open　【Round 2】

"The lanes have been tough the last two days so it's really important to make good shots," said Johnson. "A 240 or 250 this week is like a 300. So far most of my low games have been around 190."

In today's round Johnson led the field with a 212.33 average and a 1,911 pinfall. Her 264 in game six was the second highest tally of the day. Thus far the former U.S. National Amateur Champion has tallied 12 of 18 games with a 200 or better.

"I was playing the gutter for about a game," said Johnson. "I started to notice my best shot was playing boards seven or eight. I was too far out playing six and if I played nine I would Brooklyn."

Recognized as the Bowler of the Decade for the 1990s, Macpherson put together a solid round closing with a 672 series (227-222-226). Her totals of 206.38 and 3,715 put her 19-pins ahead of Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ.

"By the end of the first round I started to get a handle on how I could hit the pocket with this pattern. Today I made a few adjustments but mostly I carried over what I learned yesterday."

Kulick, who last season was the PWBA Rookie of the Year, finished with 205.33 and 3,696. Kulick's best games came toward the middle of the round when she put scores of 200-247-243.

Player of the Year Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas fell back three spots to fourth with 204.05 and 3,673 while Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, Nev. is fifth with 203.61 and 3,665.

Top game of the round came from Karen Stroud, Victoria, Texas who tossed a 266. Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif. leaped from 26th to a tie for 10th with 197.44 and 3,554.

Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, Okla. was the last to cash at 25th with 187.27 and 3,371. Tammy Turner, Ogden, Utah was the final cut in the top 24 with 187.55 and 3,376.

2002/09/22

　　【PWBA】　Burlington Open　【Round 1】

"They were tough today," Dorin-Ballard said about the lanes. "I changed balls about the third or fourth game and didn't switch the rest of the day."

"I moved a little deeper and started to get a better reaction, but on a day like today you have to hope for a few doubles and make your spares. My big games pretty much carried my round."

Dorin-Ballard started the nine game session off with a 168 but quickly recovered with a 203 and a 257. The 18-time champion best series came when she strung together scores of 256-204-213. She was the only competitor in the field to post two scores of 256 or better.

"I had a lot shots that hit the pocket light," said Gaines, who finished with 208 and 1,872.

"The oil pattern started to open up as the round progressed. The lanes were hooking a lot more in the front and were much tighter in the back. I ended up changing balls and throwing a straighter shot."

Gaines notched the top series of the field with a 696 (246-234-216) in her first three games. The former TEAM USA member has her sites set on making her second consecutive stepladder finals. This season she is tied with Dorin-Ballard and Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. for the third most televised finals appearances with six.

Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, Nev. sits in the third slot with 207 and 1,863. Davidson has been making her way back into the tour's top 25 in the last four PWBA stops. The lefthander was forced to miss six tournaments earlier in the year due to a back injury she suffered at the St. Clair Classic.

East coasters Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, NY and Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ rounded out the top five as the pair tied for fourth with 204.44 and 1,840.

Area competitors including Lacey O'Neil (25th- 183.55 and 1,652, 205 - Raleigh), Nina Cline (31st - 175 and 1,575 - Cary) finished the day in contention to make the top 24 cut.

2002/09/19

　　【PWBA】　Three Rivers Open　【Final】

"I feels great to be bowling this well after 16 years on tour," said Barrette. "So many athletes start to struggle late in their careers. It's very satisfying to still be able to compete among some of the best bowlers in the world."

Barrette entered the finals as the tournament's No. 1 seed after finishing the 42-game preliminaries of the with a 18-6-0 match play record, a 9,617 pinfall and a 216.11 average. Her win earned her a first place check for $9,000 and gives her a career total of $993,318.

With seven events still on the PWBA schedule, Barrette should become the fourth PWBA'er ever to surpass a million dollars in earnings this year.

"Aleta Sill, Wendy Macpherson and Tish Johnson are three of the best bowlers in the history of our sport. To be mentioned in the same conversation as them is very flattering."

In the title bout Barrette recorded seven strikes and four spares. DiRupo, who earlier in the evening dispatched defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, NY 202-186 in semis, never managed to get her game going in the finals. After failing to pick up the 6-10 spare in the third frame, DiRupo couldn't convert on a 3-6-10 split in the fourth. Although she would mark in all of the ensuing frames, she never threatened Barrette's lead.

After winning the Louisville Open to end the summer/spring swing, Feldman kicked started the fall off by winning the Sport Bowling Champions Challenge last week. Earlier in the evening it looked as though the native New Yorker was going to take home another trophy after she defeated Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla. and Rachel Perez, San Marcos, Texas 212-200-179 in the opening shootout.

For her efforts DiRupo, who was making her third championship round appearance, earned $4,800. Feldman took home $3,000 while Gaines and Perez made $2,500 and $2,200 respectively.

2002/09/18

　　【PWBA】　Three Rivers Open　【Round 6】

"This is a great way to start off the fall swing," said the 25-time champion. "I had good ball reaction from my Pearl Vortex II tonight and hopefully I can get the same kind of results tomorrow."

Barrette, who ranks first in averages on the Professional Women's Bowling Association tour with a 217.26 clip is making her sixth championship round appearance. The two-time PWBA Player of the Year is tied for third all-time in career titles with Patty Costello.

Taking the No. 2 seed was Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, NJ. A winner this year at the Miller High Life National Players Championship, DiRupo ended the prelims with a 16-8-0 record, a 9,523 pinfall and a 215.30 average. The New Jersey native is making her third TV finals appearance in the last four tournaments.

Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla. was the third qualifier with 17-7-0, 9,415 and 212.02. Gaines also has one title this year (PWBA Women's Collegiate Doubles Challenge) and has finished no lower than 15th in 12 events.

Defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, NY claimed the fourth seed with 14-10-0, a 9,413 pinfall and 214.11. Like Barrette, Feldman has two national titles this season. Thursday's TV finals will be her PWBA-leading seventh time in 2002. Feldman is coming off a victory at the Sport Bowling Champions Challenge.

Claiming the final spot and the No. 5 seed was Rachel Perez, San Marcos with tallies of 17-7-0, 9,339 and 210.21. Perez has finished in the top ten in her last two events. Her TV appearance will be the second of her eight-year career. The last time she completed before a nationally televised audience was at the Southern Texas Open in 1995 where she finished second.

2002/09/17

　　【PWBA】　Three Rivers Open　【Round 4】

"My timing was not quite right today," said Barrette. "I was very lucky that the scores against me were pretty low because I still managed to win five matches."

The PWBA leader in overall match play records with a 135-93-4 mark (.581 win pct.), Barrette went 5-3-0 (Ed. note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds) in the morning session helping her to a 7,677 pinfall and a 215.20 average. Of her five wins, four were decided by less than five pins.

Duggan, who on Tuesday night went 6-1-1, gutted thru a 4-4-0 session to total 7,631 and 215.17. The five-time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American posted victories over three players in the top 10 including a 246-221 win over Barrette.

Rachel Perez, San Marcos, Texas, moved up two spots to third place with a 6-2 round. Perez ended the morning with a 712 series (267-235-210) including victories over Duggan (267-202) and Barrette (235-194). Her sums of 7,517 and 213.14 place her 31-pins ahead of Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, NJ.

DiRupo stayed among the to five for the fifth straight round with 7,517 and 213.14 while Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla. was fifth with 7,502 and 211.82.

Hot on the heels of Gaines and in position to steal the final TV spot, Tammy Turner, Ogden, Utah (6th - 7,490, 211.47), defending champion Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, NY (7th - 7,461, 212.38) and Kelly Kulick, Union, NJ (8th - 7,408, 209.05) all are within 94-pins of making the championship round.

Kulick registered the top eight-game series of the day with a 1,734 and Turner notched the highest score of the tournament with a 287 in her second game.

　　【PWBA】　Three Rivers Open　【Round 3】

"I didn't bowl as well as I did last night because I didn't carry as well," said the five-time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American. "This is house is tough for even the best bowlers because the ball reaction seems to change more than usually from day to day."

Duggan, who posted her best scores in the first game of rounds one and two (280 and 277), did it again in round three by opening the morning session with a 248. In spite of two scores of 189 she finished the six-game block averaging 208.83. Entering the first of three match play rounds tonight, Duggan holds a 88-77-3 (.523 win pct.) overall record this season ranking 10th on the Professional Women's Bowling Association tour.

"Match play is whole new phase of the tournament," she said. "With 30 bonus pins for every win, anybody can make a move in the standings."

Trailing Duggan with a 3,935 pinfall and a 218.61 clip, DiRupo is attempting to qualify for her third consecutive TV finals. The New Jersey native recently snapped a four-year title drought when she claimed the second major of the season by winning the Miller High Life National Players Championship.

Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. maintained her position in the third slot with 3,888 and 216. Barrette was one of five players featured on the front page of the today's sports section in USA Today as the next PWBA'er taking aim at surpassing a million dollars in earnings. The 25-time champion had earned $978,918 entering this week.

Reigning Player of the Year Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas made the biggest jump in the standings moving from 16th to fourth with 3,856 and 214.22. A winner at the 2000 and 1997 Three Rivers Open, Dorin-Ballard notched the highest six-game tally of the morning with 1,358 and 226.33.

Karen Stroud, Victoria, Texas completes the top five with 3,833 and 212.94. Jackie Snyder, Cooksville, Ill. was the last cut in the top 24 with 3,564 and 198 while Michelle Arrington, Philadelphia, Pa. was the last to cash in 25th with 3,536 and 196.44. Jackie Mitskavich, Dubois, Pa. was the only area competitor to make the cut in 21st with 3,648 and 202.66.

2002/09/16

　　【PWBA】　Three Rivers Open　【Round 2】

"The last few months I've been working a lot on not lifting up as much on at the end of my arm swing and instead coming thru it smoother," said Duggan. "The biggest difference, which I'm finally starting to see in my game, is that I have less grab and more stroke on my release."

Duggan, who started off round one with a 280, kicked off round two with a 277. The 20-year pro completed the evening with a 737 series (244-267-226). The 15-time titlest has recorded 11 of 12 games with a score of 200 or better.

Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, NJ trails Duggan by 85-pin with totals of 2,692 and 224.33. A winner at the Miller High Life National Players Championship in July, DiRupo is attempting to qualify for her third consecutive TV finals.

Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. moved from seventh to third during the evening session with 2,626 and 218.33. Currently ranked first on the tour in averages with a 217.32 clip, Barrette is closing in on becoming with fourth-ever PWBA member to exceed a million dollars in earnings. The 25-time champion had earned $978,918 entering this week.

Rounding out the top five, Shana Ray, Corpus Christi, Texas closed out the night in fourth with 2,621 and 218.41 while Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich. slipped back one spot to fifth with 2,618 and 218.16.

Area competitors including Jackie Mitskavich (17th - 2,475, 206.25), Michelle Arrington (25th- 2,379, 198.25 - Philadelphia), Stephany Lang (34th - 2,246, 187.16 - Glenshaw) and Denise Komenda (37th - 2,033, 169.41) all finished the day in contention to make the top 24 cut.

　　【PWBA】　Three Rivers Open　【Round 1】

"I spent a lot of time during the break working on slowing down my ball speed," said the 10-time titlest. "This morning I played a little bit inside the track and let the ball do more work."

Johnson opened her round with a 715 series (243-278-194) and managed just one open frame throughout the session. The former member of TEAM USA finished third in the 2001 Three Rivers event after losing 244-183 to Tammy Turner, Ogden, Utah in the semi-finals.

Australia Carol Gianotti-Block ranks second on the standings sheet with totals of 1,361 and 226.83. The 15-year pro returned to the Professional Women's Bowling Association tour this week after suffering a medial meniscus tear in her left knee during the Greater Syracuse Classic in late June.

"I was very excited and anxious to bowl today," said the Aussie. "This week will be a good test for me to see how close I am to a full recovery. It was great to be out there bowling again."

Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Oklahoma completed the morning in the third slot with a 1,358 and 226.33 while Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich. (1,351, 225.16) and Karen Stroud, Victoria, Texas (1,322, 220.33) trailed in fourth and fifth. Duggan registered the top score of the morning by tossing a 280 in her first game.

Area competitors including Michelle Arrington (12th- 1,230, 205 - Philadelphia), Jackie Mitskavich (21st - 1,192, 198.66), Stephany Lang (31st - 1,120, 186.66 - Glenshaw) and Denise Komenda (37th - 1,010, 168.33) all finished the day in contention to make the top 24 cut.

2002/09/15

　　【JPBA】　JLBC大津プリンスカップ　【ＴＶ決勝】

　　【JPBA】　JLBC大津プリンスカップ　【準決勝】

2002/09/14

　　【JPBA】　JLBC大津プリンスカップ　【予選】

2002/09/08

　　【JPBA】　Japan Cup 2002　【Final】