Posted: January-24-2010 at 11:47am | IP Logged	Tweet

I just watched one of the most exciting PBA tournament final rounds I have ever seen, as Kelly Kulick became the first female to ever win a PBA tournament, winning the Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.

Posted: January-24-2010 at 3:38pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., became the first woman to win a PBA Tour title on Sunday when she defeated Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, to win the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas.

She beat No. 3 qualifier Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., to advance to the final, where she beat Barnes, the 2007-08 PBA player of the year, 265-195. The previous high finish for a woman in a PBA Tour event was second by Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in the 2005 Banquet Open.

"It's been a dream of mine to win a PBA Tour event but I couldn't have imagined it would have come in the Tournament of Champions," said Kulick, of the tournament which is one of the PBA Tour's four major events. "It may have looked easy but my legs were like jelly -- it got to a point where I couldn't feel them. Believe me I was nervous and I was just letting adrenalin take over."

Kulick, 32, earned $40,000 for her victory and a two-year exemption for the tour. She had earned an exemption for the 2006-07 season, the first woman to do so.

Kulick was able to compete in the Tournament of Champions because she won the PBA Women's World Championship, the first PBA women's major tournament.

"I believe this can only mean bigger and better things for the sport," she said. "If in any way this can be a boost for women sports and bowling, I'm willing to do my part.

"I feel like I'm on a magic carpet ride right now and I want to keep riding it higher and higher."

Barnes was competing for his second Tournament of Champions win.

"When it comes down to one game, a combination of factors have to come together and they just didn't for me," Barnes said, "but Kelly bowled great and she met every challenge."

(from espn.com 01/24/10)

Posted: January-26-2010 at 11:13pm | IP Logged	Tweet

You know, I flipped by the bowling on TV ... but I didn't stay on the channel watching it. I was watching different ballgames.

I didn't realize until reading above there's also a professional bowling tour for women. Since she's earned a two-year exemption on the men's PBA Tour, I wonder if she'll mainly compete with the men now? I don't know for certain, but I'd assume there's more lucrative purses on PBA Tour than women's tour.

Back in the fall, while watching ESPN SportsCenter, I saw a feature on this professional bowler who throws the ball two-handed. Man, he gets some serious momentum behind the ball.