Barnes wins Bowling’s Clash of Champions

Barnes wins Bowling's Clash of Champions


When she won the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Queens on April 30, Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, proved she was one of the best female bowlers in the world. Now, she can argue she's one of the best bowlers regardless of gender.

Barnes defeated four-time Denny's PBA Tour titlist Sean Rash of Wichita, Kan., 258-237 to win Bowling's Clash of Champions, a USBC event, in front of more than 1,500 fans at Kansas City Municipal Auditorium.

The inaugural event, which aired on CBS Sports, marked the return of bowling to network television for the first time in nearly a decade and was conducted in conjunction the USBC Convention in Kansas City, Mo. The Clash featured a field of 16 champions of USBC events and the U.S.Open competing for a $100,000 prize fund.

"It was an awesome crowd with fantastic energy," said Barnes, who received $50,000 for the victory. "You could tell it was filled with people who love bowling, and I just fed off that. It was a lot of fun."

Barnes, whose husband Chris is the reigning PBA Player of the Year, stepped up and threw three strikes in the final frame, just like she did in winning the USBC Queens, and forced Rash to throw two strikes and get nine to take the title. Rash made a solid first shot but the head pin flew across the deck and missed the 10 pin, giving Barnes her second major victory in less than two weeks.

"I just wanted to step up and make good shots, just like I do every time on the approach," said
Barnes, who earned her spot in the Clash by winning the U.S. Amateur title in 2007. "I really thought Sean was going to strike out and win the title."

In Denny's PBA Tour events, Rash has a perfect 7-0 record on television and won the 2007 USBC Masters, but he couldn't continue his undefeated streak against Barnes.



"She is one of the best bowlers ever, male or female," said Rash, who got $25,000 for second. "Not only did she bowl great against me, but she also bowled very well in the semifinals and in the shootout round as well."