Dorin-Ballard wins Women’s Series Showdown

LAKE WALES, Fla. - Carolyn Dorin-Ballard was almost a "10" in recording one of the most unusual victories in her hall of fame bowling career at Kegel Training Center.

Dorin-Ballard, one of the most successful women bowlers in history, rolled a television record 20 consecutive strikes, including nine in a row in the title match, to win the inaugural PBA Women's Series Showdown presented by the United States Bowling Congress, which aired on ESPN Sunday.

In an event that employed the Johnny Petraglia Scoring System for the first time on national television, the Keller, Texas, resident posted a near-perfect score of 11 in the title match to nip Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, by a single point and rising star Stefanie Nation of Arlington, Texas, by two points.

Under the Petraglia system, players receive one point for each ball thrown in each frame and the lowest score wins. A perfect game - 10 strikes - is a score of 10. And that's what Dorin-Ballard almost had, except for the 10 pin she left and converted in her 10th frame. Woessner nearly matched her, rolling eight strikes along with a pair of spares in the third and fourth frames for a score of 12. Nation threw seven strikes and converted three spares for her score of 13.

"I'm still in shock," Dorin-Ballard said. "I was lucky to get into the championship round."

Dorin-Ballard, who collected a $25,000 first prize, also threw nine strikes in the championship round wild card match, but she wound up in a 12-12 tie with Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., because she missed a single pin spare conversion attempt in the second frame. Needing a third shot to make the 6 pin in that frame, Dorin-Ballard's score of three for that frame kept Macpherson in the match. Dorin-Ballard then had to throw another three strikes in a row to nip Macpherson by a single pin to win a three-ball roll-off to get into the title match.

"Any time you bowl Wendy Macpherson, you have to bowl your best game," Dorin-Ballard said. "All of these ladies know how to strike. I knew I had to keep striking to have a chance."

It was a unique event for the six top performers in the PBA Women's Series presented by USBC champions during the 2008-09 season, and it gave the women an opportunity to showcase their bowling skills in an usual bowling environment.

"I am glad the women are back on television," Dorlin-Ballard said. "This series of events is a step in the right direction for the future of women's professional bowling. With the help of the PBA, USBC, Brunswick, Dexter, Turbo and Kegel, it's just a matter of time before other sponsors come forward and see the value of the women's tour."

PBA WOMEN'S SERIES SHOWDOWN
PRESENTED BY THE UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS
Kegel Training Center, Lake Wales, Fla.

Final Standings

1. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, $25,000
2. Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, $12,000
3. Stefanie Nation, Arlington, Texas, $5,000
4. Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., $3,000
5. Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., $3,000
6. Michele Feldman, Auburn, N.Y., $2,000

Championship
(Petraglia Scoring System based on one point for each ball thrown in each of 10 frames; low score wins)

Dorin-Ballard 11, Woessner 12, Nation 13

Wild Card Round
(lowest score advanced to Championship Round)

Match One - Woessner 12, Macpherson 15, Dorin-Ballard 17
Match Two - Nation 12, Bellinder 15, Feldman 18 (Feldman eliminated)