2003/07/10

FELDMAN OWNS ROUND TWO

Michelle Feldman

As the reigning Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year, Michelle Feldman wanted to make a statement in the last tournament of the spring/summer swing. The 2003 ESPY nominee for "Best Bowler" did just that on Friday by taking over the tournament lead at the Dallas Open. Competing at the Don Carter All-Star West Lanes, Feldman averaged 226.50 with a 4,077 pinfall to hold a 96-pin lead over Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif.

"I haven't been completely satisfied with the way I've bowled this year," said Feldman, who ranks sixth in the PWBA's competition points rankings. "I had a chance to win in Rockford and came up short and I made the TV finals at the U.S. Open but like anybody out here, you compete in these events to win and that hasn't happen for me yet in 2003."

An 11-time national titlest, Feldman punched out a 696 series (225-228-243) in her first three games of the round to take control of the leaderboard. The right-hander has chalked up 13 of 16 games with a score of 205 or better.

A seven-time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American, Barrette stayed among the top four for the second straight day with a 221.16 and 3,981. The 2002 Bowling Writers Association Bowler of the Year experienced the ups and downs of a nine-game block with four scores of 225 or higher and five of 195 or lower.

Bowler of the Decades for the 1990s Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., moved up from 14th to third with 220.38 and 3,967. Macpherson co-leads the PWBA in championship round appearances this season with four in the last seven events. Macpherson started the session with a 726 series (239-243-244).

One of the tour's hottest bowlers of late, Dede Davidson bumped up to fourth with 220.16 and 3,963. A winner two weeks ago at the Greater Harrisburg Open and a third place finish last week at the Greater Memphis Open, Davidson averaged 229.2 in her last five games highlighted by a pair of 233s and a 259.

Tied for fifth are Kendra Gaines, Orlando, Fla., and Australian Carol Gianotti-Block with 218.72 and 3,937. Gianotti-Block made the biggest jump on the standings sheet climbing from 24th.

2003 U.S. Open Kelly Kulick, Union, New Jersey was the final athlete to make the top 24 cut with 208.55 and 3,754 while former TEAM USA member Lisa Bishop was the last cash with 207.61 and 3,737. Two-time defending champion and N. Richland Hills resident Carolyn Dorin-Ballard is 11th with 215.11 and 3,872.

In addition to Dorin-Ballard, other state-wide based competitors that are among the top 24 include West Texas A&M alumnus Karen Stoud, Victoria, (13th, 213.88 and 3,850), Rachel Perez, San Marcos (15th, 213.05 and 3,835), Lynda Barnes, Flower Mound, (16th, 212.77 and 3,830), current West Texas A&M bowler Tina Stickney, Frisco, (21st, 211.11 and 3,800) and Shana Ray, Corpus Christi (22nd, 209.77 and 3,776)

2003/07/09

HARDEMAN ROCKS LEADERBOARD

　

Laura Hardeman

If you asked Laura Hardeman, Chula Vista, Calif., controlling the leaderboard at the Dallas Open seemed unlikely, if not a long-shot. However, after nine games at the Don Carter All-Star West Lanes, the 10-year Professional Women's Bowling Association regional member owns the top spot among the 54-woman field with a 233.77 average and a 2,104 pinfall.

"This is so cool," said the southern Californian. "The last five weeks I've been very close to making the top 24 cut, but to be in this position is a big surprise."

A one-time regional champion and first-year PWBA national tour member, Hardeman torched the lanes with four scores of 257 or higher. The 1997 California State Queens champion had an unofficial series of 791 (267-257-267) in games three thru five.

"Basically my plan all day was to bowl clean games. What I've learned out here is that spare shooting is critical. That's been my weakness in the last few weeks and one of the reasons why I haven't been able to make cuts."

2002 PWBA Player of the Year Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y. sits three pins off the top spot with 233.44 and 2,101. Feldman averaged 240.37 in eight of nine games but a 181 in game eight knocked her average down seven pins. Feldman is seeking her first title of 2003. The 11-time champion has appeared in two TV finals this year with her best finish coming at the Pepsi Greater Rockford Classic where she placed second.

Defending champion and N. Richland Hills, Texas resident Carolyn Dorin-Ballard got off to a strong start with 230.88 and 2,078. The six-time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American ranks third and is 14-pins ahead of 2002 Bowler of the Year Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. Dorin-Ballard is attempting to win the Dallas event for the third consecutive year.

Barrette, who has 26 national titles to her credit, owns fourth place with 229.33 and 2,064 while Kim Adler, Cocoa, Fla. is fifth with 224.33 and 2,019.

Area competitors among the tournament's top 24 include West Texas A&M alumnus Karen Stroud, Victoria, Texas (12th, 219.11 and 1,972), Rachel Perez, San Marcos, Texas (17th, 213.22 and 1,919), Lynda Barnes, Flower Mound, Texas (211.66 and 1,905), Shana Ray, Corpus Christi, Texas (22nd, 209.44 and 1,885) and Tina Stickney, Frisco, Texas (T24th, 206.11 and 1,855), who just completed her freshman year at West Texas A&M.

2003/07/06

THE RIGHT STUFF

　

Tennelle Milligan

It didn't matter that she was the lone right-hander in Sunday's TV finals. It didn't matter that it had been over a year since she had competed in the championship round and almost two and a half years since she won her last title. Tennelle Milligan, Yorba Linda, Calif., proved she had the right stuff as she defeated Australian Cara Honeychurch 205-203 in the finals of the Greater Memphis Open, hosted by the Winchester Bowl. The victory was the third championship of her career, earning her a first place check worth $15,000.

"I'm in shock right now," said Milligan. "I want to cry, scream... I'm on cloud nine."

Milligan's title match performance was filled with the kind of drama and suspense that perfectly defines what is so great about professional bowling. Her title chances came down to one shot in the 10th frame. An eight-count for a tie, nine to win. Milligan struck, and in one single moment reminded the ESPN viewing audience and the capacity crowd on hand what the thrill of victory truly means.

"When I was on the approach for the last shot, I told myself to get it off my hand and in the right spot," she said. "I wanted to go after it and not be thinking after the match 'what if.'"

Milligan's bout with Honeychurch started with fantastic action. The Aussie, who entered the finals as the No. 1 seed, placed an X in two of her first three frames, sandwiched by a spare. Following a spare in the first, Milligan dazzled the audience in the second frame by picking up the 4-9 split.

Both players miscued in the fourth with opens. Honeychurch marked in the fifth but opened again in the sixth when she failed to convert the 4-6-10. Milligan responded to her misfire by stringing together three strikes from the fifth to the seventh.

Honeychurch later stated, "My score today was not indicative of how I threw the ball. I made 10 good shots, which in most cases should be good enough to win, but I just didn't' get the results I was looking for."

A runner-up last week at the Greater Harrisburg Open, Honeychurch challenged the champ to the bitter end by putting a four-bagger together starting in the seventh. In spite of the mishaps in the middle frames, the left-hander's strike, spare 10th put the pressure back on Milligan.

With the championship at stake, Milligan struck in the ninth and then spared on her first two shots in the 10th helping peak the drama that ensued on the next ball.

"Coming down to the last shot of a match is what is truly great about head to head competition," said Milligan. "When I got into the title match I kept telling myself, 'I have a chance.' Even when I pulled ahead with the three consecutive strikes, I knew Cara would come back. She's a fighter and if I had relaxed for even one shot, she'd be right there to capitalize on it."

The champions' road to the finals was hardly a smooth ride. Milligan entered Sunday's event as the tournament's No. 5 seed after compiling a 210.30 average, an 8,892 pinfall and a 16-8-0 match play record thru the 40-game preliminaries.

In her first match of the stepladder finals, Milligan faced off with Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, Okla. Stanbrough, who this season leads the Professional Women's Bowling Association in titles with two, trailed the champion from outset after missing a seven-pin in the opening frame. Although the champ would help the lefty make up some of the deficit when she failed to mark in the eighth, Stanbrough never found the right line in the ninth or 10th as Milligan went on to win 212-182.

In match No. 2 Milligan took on 25-time titlest and seven-time Women's International Bowling Congress Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif. Competing in her pro bowling record 243rd consecutive tournament, Johnson dug herself into a deep hole by opening in the third and fourth frames while Milligan stayed clean throughout. The 23-year pro pushed Milligan to the end of the tilt, trailing by only six pins in the ninth frame. Choosing to finish the match, Johnson's sweat, lefthanded back swing allowed her to strike in the ninth and on the first ball of the 10th, however a nine-count and a missed four-pin gave her a 183 tally. Working on a spare in the ninth, Milligan picked up the 3-6 in the 10th, and then dropped nine sticks to advance with a 189.

Facing Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, in the semis, Milligan got out the gates in much grander fashion than her two previous matches. The so-Cal girl spared in the first and then chalked up five straight strikes going into the seventh. A winner last week at the Greater Harrisburg Open, Davidson, like Stanbrough, missed a seven-pin in the first frame. The lefty would end up chasing Milligan the rest of the match. Although Milligan did leave the seventh open, she dispatched last weekﾕs winner by a 222-203 margin.

"What some people don't realize is that even though I bowled four matches they go by so fast. You don't even realize that's it's been an hour and a half." said Milligan. "This is a great win for me. I got off to such a good start in my career winning twice in my rookie year. To go for so long in between TV finals appearances, I really started to doubt myself and whether or not I could do it again."

Perhaps it was fate, but for those who watched, Milligan's victory seemed more like the embodiment of hard work and a will to win. Many of the fans on hand didn't even realize that the champion needed a 214-213 decision over Carol Gianotti-Block, Australia in the 40th preliminary game on Saturday to earn a spot on the TV show.

For Cara Honeychurch, the Aussie will finish second two weeks in a row having earned the No. 1 seed in both tournaments. Honeychurch took home $8,000 for her efforts while Davidson claimed $6,000 and Johnson and Stanbrough cashed for $5,000 and $4,000 respectively.

2003/07/05

HONEYCHURCH GRABS THE No. 1 SEED FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK

Cara Honeychurch

For the second consecutive tournament Australian Cara Honeychurch earned the No. 1 seeded position heading into Sunday's live TV finals on ESPN at Noon (Central). The lefthander closed out the 40-game preliminaries of the Greater Harrisburg Open at Winchester Bowl with a 217.50 average, a 9,270 pinfall and an impressive 19-5-0 match play record (Ed. note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds).

"I said it last week. All earning the No. 1 seed does is put you in position to win a title," stated Honeychurch. "Last week I was the top seed and came in second. The TV finals is like a whole new tournament. Everything you do during the week means nothing."

The Aussie has been one of the Professional Women's Bowling Association's top players this season placing at in the top 10 in five of seven events. The southpaw nearly withdrew on Thursday with back problems, but following some treatment and a few Advil, she managed to continue.

Speaking of back problems, the No. 2 seed belongs to Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, who finished with 215.40, 9,126 and 17-7-0. Davidson missed 11 tournaments in 2002 due to a back injury. The fellow lefty has returned to championship form this year including a victory last week at the Greater Harrisburg Open. Coincidentally, Davidsonﾕs win at the GHO came against Honeychurch in a 185-184 thriller that came down to the final shot of the match.

"It would be really weird to face Cara for the second week in a row in the finals," said Davidson. "She's such a sweet person, it's hard to think revenge is even part of her vocabulary, but, I'm sure if I win in the semis, it probably will be on her mind."

Competing in her pro bowling record 243rd consecutive tournament, 23-year veteran Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., wrapped up the No. 3 seed with 215.42, 9,007 and 13-11-0. Like the two frontrunners, Johnson will also be making her second consecutive TV finals appearance. In Harrisburg, Johnson placed fourth. The 25-time champion and seven-time Womenﾕs International Bowling Congress All-American will be appearing in the championship round for the 99th time of her career.

Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, Okla., secured the No. 4 spot with 211.67, 8,947 and 16-8-0. Stanbrough leads the PWBA in titles this season with two. Including the tail end of the 2002 PWBA campaign, the fifth-year pro has won four of the last nine PWBA events.

Tennelle Milligan, Yorba Linda, Calif., claimed the No. 5 position with 210.30, 8,892 and 16-8-0. Milligan needed a 214-213 win over sixth place Carol Gianotti-Block, Australian in the 40th prelim game to earn the final berth.

2003/07/04

AUSTRALIAN FIREWORKS ON THE FOURTH

Cara Honeychurch

At the end of the second qualifying round on Thursday, Australian Cara Honeychurch spoke to Professional Women's Bowling Association Tournament Director Fran Deken to discuss the possibility of withdrawing from the Greater Memphis Open, hosted at the Winchester Bowl. The lefthander's decision to stay in the event is something the rest of the tournament field is still regretting.

In spite of being slowed by back pain between her shoulder blades, Honeychurch overcame the soreness on Friday to take over the tournament lead with a 217.90 average, a 7,393 pinfall and an impressive 14-2-0 match play record (Ed. note - players earn 30 bonus pins for each match won during match play rounds).

"My back was really bothering me on Thursday night. It hurt to breath both standing and laying down. I went to Fran and told her I would do the best I could but I might have to withdraw," said Honeychurch.

"I think because I've had to throw the ball harder than I usually do in the last few weeks, it's caused some unnecessary stress. I went to the Chiropractor and got an adjustment, stretched in the morning before match play rounds started and took some Advil. After the first couple of games, it seemed to loosen up a bit and didnﾕt bother me as much."

Following an 8-0-0 third round record on Friday morning, the southpaw went 6-2-0 in the evening session. The eight-time national champion averaged 225.75 during the fourth round.

"I played the same parts of the lanes in both rounds (Friday)," she said. "In the morning I was using more aggressive equipment but during the night session I changed to some weaker products that ended up reacting better so the ball was sharper thru the head pins."

A runner up last week at the Greater Harrisburg Open, Honeychurch has the chance to earn the No. 1 seeded position for the TV finals for the second consecutive week. The Aussie has been one of the tour's top performers this season finishing in the top 10 in four of the last six tournaments.

Competing in her pro bowling record 243rd consecutive tournament, 23-year veteran Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., ranks second with 215.53, 7,197 and 10-6-0. The seven-time Women's International Bowling Congress All-American went 6-2-0 in round four highlighted by three games with a score of 240 or higher.

Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, Okla., who leads the PWBA in titles this year with two, is third with 212.59, 7,163 and 12-4-0. One of the rising stars on the pro circuit, Stanbrough went 7-1-0 on the night with four victories over opponents in the tournament's top 10.

Carol Gianotti-Block, Australian is fourth with 210.31, 7,030 and 10-6-0 while Dede Davidson rounds out the top five with 209.93, 7,018 and 10-6-0. Davidson earned her ninth career national title last week when she beat Honeychurch 185-184 in the finals of the GHO.

Memphis native and 12-time city champion Pam Vickery ranks 15th with 196.53, 6,619 and 11-5-0. Vickery's daughter, Deborah Warner, Memphis, Tenn., is 24th with 193.25, 6,244 and 2-14-0.

　

　　【PWBA】　Greater Memphis Open　【Round 3】

2003/07/03

JOHNSON HOLDS LEAD AFTER 16

Tish Johnson

Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., continued her ongoing pursuit for athletic glory by maintaining her lead at the Greater Memphis Open at the Winchester Bowl. The 23-year veteran is averaging 218.81 with a 3,501 pinfall over 16 games to hold an 84-pin margin over Tennelle Milligan, Yorba Linda, Calif.

"I didn't have as good a round as I did in the morning session," said Johnson. "That's the thing about this game, every pair plays differently plus freshly oil lanes always react differently versus lanes that have eight games of play on them."

Competing in her pro bowling record 243rd consecutive tournament, Johnson got out of the gates with a 246 and a 235. Later in the round the southpaw offset scores of 191, 173 and 177 with tallies of 236, 202 and 233.

"National tournaments are not a sprint. Over 40 games you're going to have ups and downs. The key is to whether the low games and not lose composure at any point."

Milligan, who started round two in 36th, charged up the standings sheet with one of the evenings' most impressive displays. The fourth-year pro averaged 241.37 in the evening stanza to increase her tournament totals to 213.56 and 3,417.

Rachel Perez, San Marcos, Texas, claimed the third spot with 212.87 and 3,406. Perezﾕs session was highlighted by a 268, a 237 and a 228.

Carol Gianotti-Block, Australia stands in fourth with 212.56 and 3,401. The Aussie's round zigzagged all night with scores of 290, 230 and 258 in three of her first four, followed by 181, 178 and 156 in three of her final four.

Kendra Gaines, Orlando, Fla., rounds out the top five with 212.50 and 3,400.

12-time Memphis city champ Pam Vickery, Memphis, Tenn., advanced to the top 24 with 201.12 and 3,218. Vickery is currently in 21st, one spot ahead of her daughter, Deborah Warner, Memphis, Tenn., who finished with 201.06 and 3,217.

Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., was the final cut at 199.50 and 3,192 while Shana Ray, Corpus Christi, Texas will be the last cash in 25th at 199.37 and 3,190.

2003/07/02

JOHNSON IN CONTROL

Tish Johnson

For 23 years Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., has been one of the best bowlers on the Professional Women's Bowling Association tour. After eight games at the Greater Memphis Open at the Winchester Bowl, Johnson was the top dog leading the 47-woman field with a 226 average and a 1,808 pinfall.

"My shot was great today," said Johnson. "I'm going to make a couple adjustments going into tonight's round, but I'm very happy where I'm at."

A winner of 25 career national titles, Johnson dismantled the lane condition by chalking up eight of eight scores with a 204 or better. The lefthander ended the morning session with a 725 series (267-246-212).

"My ball reaction told me where to play all day," said the southpaw. "I was pretty lucky in that I didn't hit a bad pair the whole round."

Sometimes referred to as the Iron Woman of the PWBA, this week Johnson is competing in her 243rd consecutive pro tournament. The lefty broke the pro bowling record, previously held by Harry Sullins (239) when she competed in the Pepsi Greater Rockford Classic in mid-June.

Trailing Johnson by 84 pins is Australian Cara Honeychurch with 215 and 1,724. Honeychurch is coming off a runner-up finish from last weekﾕs Greater Harrisburg Open.

Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City, Okla., who leads the PWBA in titles this season with two, ranks third with 214.25 and 1,714. Stanbrough was in cruise control in the first five games averaging 234.4 but her finishing three games came in at 172, 177 and 193.

Michelle Silver, W. Los Angeles, Calif., sits in fourth with 211.50 and 1,692 while Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., is fifth with 211.37 and 1,691.

Memphis native and 12-time city champ Pam Vickery is 17th with 199.37 and 1,595. Vickery's daughter, Deborah Warner is 10th with 206.37 and 1,651.

Other area bowlers that finished in contention to make the top 24 cut included Cecilia Loscalzo, Harrison, Tenn. (31st, 189.12 and 1,513), Lori Knoll, Brighton, Tenn. (32nd, 188.87, 1,511) and April Ellis, Jackson, Tenn. (38th, 184.25 and 1,474).