Kulick tackles tough lane condition to lead PWBA Detroit Open

CANTON, Mich. - Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, earned top qualifier honors on the toughest lane conditions of the season Friday at the 2015 Professional Women's Bowling Association Detroit Open.

Kulick finished qualifying with 2,586 (215.5 average) to top the field of 120 of the best female bowlers in the world at Super Bowl on the 35-foot nearly flat lane condition.

The top 16 players in the qualifying standings Friday advanced to Saturday's round-robin match play, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Central. The event concludes with the stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m. Central on Saturday. All rounds are being broadcast live on Xtra Frame.

"I got off to a really poor start but then I found something and got matched up," Kulick said. "When the scores are this low, spares are really the key to extending play. When you go nine-spare that is a good frame on a pattern like this."

T'Nia Falbo of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, led most of the day but Kulick topped her in the final game. Falbo finished second with 2,564, while Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, was third with 2,464. Heather Melvin of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, took fourth with 2,448, and Lindsay Boomershine of Perry, Utah, was fifth at 2,443.

Summer Jasmin of Beckley, West Virginia, earned the final spot in match play, qualifying in 16th place with 2,324 (193.67 average).

The remaining players will bowl 16 games of match play Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Central. Match play will conclude with a position round to finalize the top four for the stepladder finals.

For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com. To subscribe to watch the action on Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.TV.