2003/05/31

　

中沢　奨

　

　　【JPBA】　KIRIN CUP OPEN　【予選】

　　【PWBA】　Women's US Open Bowling Championship　【Round 7】

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2003/05/30

Eagle Soars to Victory

Dale Eagle

Dale Eagle might have bowled the best tournament of his life in the 2003 American Bowling Congress Senior Masters.

The 57-year-old Professional Bowlers Association veteran not only pounded the undefeated tournament leader into submission twice, but he dug his talons into three other victims en route to winning the title, the $20,000 first prize and a trophy featuring a soaring eagle.

"I really, really wanted that eagle," Eagle said. "You have no idea how much I wanted to win the Senior Masters."

That feat came at the expense of 2001 Senior Masters champion Bob Glass of Lawrence, Kan., who emerged as the final unbeaten contestant. In the decisive double-elimination finale, Eagle hammered Glass in their opening contest, 718-550, and handed Glass his second loss, 707-654, minutes later.

"This one is for the Vietnam vets and the guys fighting in Iraq," the Eagle said with tears in his eyes. Eagle was a Marine who served in Vietnam in 1967.

He also praised Glass. "Anyone who leads the tournament should win the tournament," Eagle said. "It just doesn't always work out that way."

"I tried to play the lanes the way Dale was playing them in the second match, Glass said, but I just couldn't do it as well as he did."

If it was Glass tournament during the previous two days of match play, it was all Eagle when it counted. After being knocked into the losers bracket on Thursday by Bob Handley of Winter Park, Fla., Eagle soared back into contention. Included were heroics in all three of the matches that got him into his showdown with Glass.

In his first match Friday, Eagle ended Pete Coutures bid for back-to-back Senior Masters titles (as well as Coutures dream of becoming the first three-time Senior Masters winner) with a 290 final game capping a 721-616 victory. Next he eliminated Bobby Knipple of Long Beach, Calif., 667-608, breaking open a three-pin match with a 238 final game. He earned his shot at the title by rallying from a 42-pin deficit to avenge his previous loss to Handley, 628-621. After two sub-200 games against Handley, Eagle won the last game, 237-188, to complete his comeback.

"I lost my carry that last game," Handley said. "I thought I bowled good enough for 200, 210, but I didn't expect Dale would bowl a 230, either. Oh, well. Those things happen."

The losers' bracket match of the day, however, was between Knipple, who won his only PBA title in 1973, and Laub, who took a 42-pin lead into the final game. Knipple erased his deficit with a string of seven strikes heading into the final frame. With a double, he would have locked the match, but he left and converted the 3-9-10 split to give Laub an opening. Needing a mark and count to win, Laub left a pocket 7-10 split on his first shot in the 10th frame, handing Knipple a 638-626 victory.

The title was Eagle's first on the PBA Senior Tour since 2001 and his third Senior Tour major. The 1999 Senior Bowler of the Year had previously won PBA Senior Championships in 1996 and 2001. The win also helped make up for Eagles loss to Darrell Storkson of Everett, Wash., in the 1999 ABC Senior Masters.

　

FELDMAN REGAINS LEAD

Michelle Feldman

Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., reclaimed the tournament lead at the 2003 U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes. The reigning Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year went 6-2 in Friday evening's match play round (Ed. note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds) to help increase her tournament average to 225.39 and her pinfall to 11,089. Her overall match play record stands at 9-7-0.

"The open is such a tough week because you bowl 56 total games so everybody goes thru ups and downs," Feldman said. "In the morning when I got done I was in fifth and now I'm the leader. The key is to not lose your focus because ultimately you can't win the tournament if you don't make the show so you have to be able to endure the bad rounds and not get too excited about the good rounds."

The tournament leader after 32 games, Feldman posted four victories over top 10 opponents including: 246-158 vs. Leanne Barrette, 225-147 vs. Lisa Bishop, 227-221 vs. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and 234-195 vs. Maxine Nable.

"Match play is about controlling your game as much as it is about scoring," she said. "Sometimes the person you're up against doesn't like the pair and it makes it easier on you because they don't bowl as well. Other times you have to bowl a higher score to get a win. The key is to never let yourself fall out of contention in any match no matter how far behind you might think you are."

Just two pins behind Feldman is Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J. The three-time member of TEAM USA has totals of 225.04 and 11,087. The New Jersey native followed up her morning record of 3-5-0 with a 6-1-1 outing. Kulick is seeking her first pro title of her three-year career. The 26-year old has appeared in the last two U.S. Open championship rounds finishing fifth (2001) and second (2000) respectively.

Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, dropped back to third with 223.18 and 11,013. Dorin-Ballard went 4-4-0 making her overall record 10-6-0.

1998 PWBA Player of the Year Carol Gianotti-Block, Australia stayed in the top four for the third straight day with 222.45, 10,918 and 8-8-0 while 2002 Bowling Writers of American Bowler of the Year Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif., climbed into the fifth position with 221.08, 10,912 and 10-6-0.

　

　　【PWBA】　Women's US Open Bowling Championship　【Round 5】

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2003/05/29

FELDMAN TAKES OVER

Michelle Feldman

After 32 games, the reigning Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year took over the tournament lead at the 2003 U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes. Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y. produced another stellar display of bowling in round four to finish with a tournament average of 230.78 and a 7,385 pinfall.

"I hit great pairs all day," said Feldman. "My ball reaction was solid the whole round and I didn't have to adjust much except for my last game."

A three-time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American, Feldman got out the gates Thursday with a 740 series (236-225-279). The New York native recorded five of eight scores above 225 with a low game of 202. For the tournament Feldman has only shot under 200 twice.

One pin off the lead is 2001 PWBA Rookie of the Year Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J. The tournament leader after Wednesday's third round, Kulick is averaging 230.75 and 7,384. The third-year pro has appeared in the championship round in the last two U.S. Opens with a fifth place in 2001 and a second in 2000.

Perennial superstar Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, charged into the third slot with 227.93 and 7,294. The 2001 Bowling Writers Association of America Bowler of the Year managed to move up five spots in the standings in spite of recording scores of 194 and 181 during her eight-game block.

Australian Carol Gianotti-Block trails Dorin-Ballard by 26 pins with 227.12 and 7,268 while Detroit native Cheryl Daniels is fifth with 226.78 and 7,257.

Defending U.S. Open champion Kim Terrell, Antioch, Calif., just missed the top 24 cut with 218.18 and 6,972. Terrell's totals put her in the alternate position (25th place).

In addition to the Daniels, Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., (13th, 222.09 and 7,107) was the only other area bowler to advance to the match play rounds.

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2003/05/28

KULICK MAKES HER RUN

Kelly Kulick

Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J. averaged 246.87 in round three to vault into the tournament lead at the 2003 U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes. The third-year pro has an overall average of 237.62 and a 5,703 pinfall to lead Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio by 125 pins.

"This has got to be one of the highest scoring U.S. Opens ever," said Kulick. "I really think this event is going to be a carry down contest. It obvious everyone can get to the pocket."

The Professional Women's Bowling Association Rookie of the Year in 2001, Kulick is seeking her first national title. The former TEAM USA member has been a part of 14 televised finals in her career with four runner-ups. Kulick has made the championship round in the last two U.S. Opens with a fifth place in 2001 and a second in 2000.

"I worked very hard in the off season because I knew we were only going to have 13 events this year. What can I say, I want to win. I want to get over hump and get a title."

Often seen as a color analyst for the PWBA broadcasts on ESPN, Dorin-Lizzi burned up the lanes in the evening session to chalk up the highest eight-game block of the day with a 1,981 (247.62). The 11-year pro has tournament totals of 232.37 and 5,577.

"It's crazy out here with these conditions," said Dorin-Lizzi. "You shoot 381 over par and you'd think I'd be the tournament leader. I can't complain though. I'm in a great position right now but I've been around long enough to know you can't win anything during qualifying."

Maxine Nable, Australia fell back to third place with 232.25 and 5,574. The right-hander chalked up a 236.87 clip during the afternoon with her last four games coming in at 255, 236, 268 and 248.

Trailing Nable by three pins and in fourth place is Detroit native Cheryl Daniels. The tournament leader for the last two rounds, Daniels' overall numbers came in at 232.12 and 5,57. The 10-time titlest was at a 202.28 pace Wednesday before she ripped off a 300 game to help boost her eight-game block average by 12 pins..

"That game I found a pair that was working for me. That game really saved my round."

Four-time Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., completes the top five with 231.29 and 5,551.

In addition to Daniels, area bowlers that are among the top 64 include Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., (16th, 225.08 and 5,402), Nicole Idziak-Owsley, Frasier, Mich., (50th, 209.41 and 5,026), Jennifer Bator, Warren, Mich., (58th, 208 and 4,992), Laura Goldberg, Lansing, Mich., (61st, 207.70, 4,985), Betty Trimper, Redford, Mich., (62nd, 207.62 and 4,983), Michelle Ewald, Clinton, Mich., (T63rd, 207.50 and 4,980) and Tracey Wade, Lansing, Mich. (T63rd, 207.50 and 4,980).

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2003/05/27

DANIELS IN COMMAND

Cheryl Daniels

It's been seven years since Detroit native Cheryl Daniels has taken home championship hardware at a national tournament, however, after 16 games of qualifying at the U.S. Open at Sunnybrook Lanes, the 10-time titlest looks like she's got plenty of skillz left to win a major. Daniels ended Tuesday's action on top of the leaderboard for the second straight day with a 240.93 average and a 3,855 pinfall.

"I was pleased with what I did today," said Daniels. "The back ends of the lanes were a little tighter than yesterday but the track was still moving and there was a little carry down."

A U.S. Open champion in 1995, Daniels kept up her torrid scoring pace by posting a 1,873 pinfall (234.12) in round two. The 2002 Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame inductee notched six games of 235 or higher with a top score of 247.

Trailing Daniels is Australian Carol Gianotti-Block who blasted off a 246.75 clip in games 9-16. The Aussie's effort helped her climb 19 places in the standings. For the tournament, the 1998 Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year has tallies of 238.62 and 3,818. Gianotti-Block closed out the day with a 792 series (235-278-279).

Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., fell back one spot to third with 237.68 and 3,803. Macpherson got the 2003 PWBA season started by winning the Womenﾕs International Bowling Congress Queens tournament last month at the National Bowling Stadium. The Player of the Decade for the 1990s is just 20 pins ahead of reigning Player of the Year Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y.

Feldman began the second session with a 188 and a 183 before catching fire to average 251.66 in her next six games. During that stretch the three-time WIBC All-American had a high of 298 and a low of 214.

Rounding out the top five is Kari Schwager, Lincoln, Nebraska. A bowling star at the University of Nebraska bowler and a former TEAM USA member, Schwager is averaging 233.93 with a 3,743 tally. The right-hander sits just 15 sticks ahead of Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J.

Laura Lee Daniel, Corona, Calif., produced one the dayﾕs top highlights by recording the fourth 300 game of the tournament. In addition to Daniels, area bowlers that are among the top 64 include Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., (14th, 228.12 and 3,640), Tracy Wade, Lansing, Mich., (T37th, 217.43 and 3,479), Michelle Ewald, St. Clair Shores, Mich., (52nd, 212.25 and 3,396), Darlene Dysart, Westland, Mich., (54th, 211.56 and 3,385) and Betty Trimper, Redford, Mich., (62nd, 208.56 and 3,337)

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