Former Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour bowler Liz Johnson made history for the second time when she qualified for the final spot in this week's PBA Banquet Open in Michigan. Johnson fired a 237 in her final game to pick up the fourth and final spot.
Johnson qualified as an amateur in 2004, then decided to join the PBA. She rolled a 237 in her final game to clinch the 64th and final spot, one pin ahead of Chris Hayden. Jeff Carter was first, followed by ESPN color commentator Randy Pedersen and Mike Mineman.
Johnson was a member of the LPBT, but the organization folded. There is currently no women's professional bowling league. She was also a former member of Team USA.
The PBA on ESPN is currently averaging 836,278 households during this current season. True or false? Answer at the end of the column.
Points:Patrick Allen, 210,207Earnings:Patrick Allen, $221,240Average:Chris Barnes, 226.77Match Play strike percentage leader:Chris Barnes, 66.77 percentSpare percentage leader:Walter Ray Williams Jr., 88.65 percent
Fans tuning in to the PBA telecast will also get a sneak peak at a documentary being released by Magnolia Pictures that chronicles the PBA tour from its glory days in the 1950s to its near extinction in 1997. It also tells how the current ownership, three former Microsoft executives, bought the PBA and how they have modernized the tour.The story will document the trials and tribulations of Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes and Wayne Webb. The movie will also give viewers a glimpse behind the scenes of the life of CEO Steve Miller, highlighting intense player meetings and interesting thoughts and conversations on the tour's business situation at the time. Official release dates have yet to be announced.
If you are a right-hander and are leaving the four-pin quite a bit, here is a tip that might help you carry the pesky pin.Simply move your feet one board to the left on the approach and maintain the same strike target out on the lane. This might produce the desired result, but if you leave a ten-pin after that move, another adjustment could be necessary.If you leave the ten-pin, try keeping your setup and mark the same, but look at a spot a little closer to the foul line. This will get your ball into an earlier roll, thus changing your entry angle into the pocket and, hopefully, carry the ten-pin.
A salute goes to Bill "Buffy" Cress for rolling a 300 game in the Imperial League at Sherwood Lanes Monday night. Cress rolled the perfecto in the first game of the night, and started with a double in the second, which is 14 strikes in-a-row.
Automotive League:Kevin Richardson, 279, (760), Rick McKain, 239, (696), Brian Marcellus, 278, (693)Buckhorn:Adam Ishman, 257, (702), Sean Lutz, 277 gameUniverse League:High game and triple: Bonnie Sarver, 198, (558)Jolly Girls:High game and triple: Donna Evans, 225, (622).
True.