O'Keefe Top Qualifier at U.S. Women's Open
August 07, 2009
LAS VEGAS - At the past two major women's championships, Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, has suffered heartbreak, just missing the televised portions of last year's U.S. Women's Open and this year's USBC Queens. She was determined not to experience that feeling again.
O'Keefe was the top qualifier Friday after 40 games with 8,837, an average of 220.93, and leads a field of the top 12 bowlers who advanced to the ESPN-televised rounds at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center.
Advancing to the televised portion of the event represents a victory for O'Keefe. She missed the cut to television at last year's U.S. Women's Open by two pins, and at this year's Queens, she missed a 10 pin in the final frame to lose a match that would have put her on the TV show.
"You have to move on when things happen to you like that," O'Keefe said. "I've worked really hard leading up to this tournament and today was all about shot-making, staying within myself and not worrying about everyone else. The only people I watched bowl all day were the ones on my pair so I would know when I was up."
The top four players after qualifying earned a first-round bye and only need to win three matches on television to win the U.S. Women's Open title. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, finished second, Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., was third and Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, finished fourth.
"It's a huge advantage because I have bowled so great this week every round to have a bye makes me feel like I've been rewarded for all my hard work," O'Keefe said. "I just have to go into the next round with the same mentality I had today."
Other players advancing to television were: No. 5 Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia; No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix; No. 7 Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas; No. 8 Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; No. 9 Missy Bellinder of Fullerton, Calif.; No. 10 Clara Guerrero of Plugerville, Texas; No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas; and No. 12 Diandra Asbaty of Chicago.
Terrell-Kearney had the highest final eight-game block to make it onto the telecast and give herself the chance to defend the U.S. Women's Open title she won in Romeoville, Ill., last year. She also won the title in 2001.
"I knew I would have to play catch up and bowl really well the last block," said Terrell-Kearney, who shot 1,788, an average of 223.5, in Round 5. "At this point, I can't even imagine what it would be like to win three U.S. Women's Open titles. There are a lot of great players to get past, and I'm not thinking about defending at this point, just about winning my matches."
Any competitor who rolls a 300 game on one of the first four TV shows will receive a $25,000 bonus, while a perfect game in the semifinals or championship match (the fifth show), will earn $100,000. The shows will air on five consecutive Sundays at 2 p.m. EDT beginning Sept. 13 on ESPN. The schedule is subject to change.
In addition to the U.S. Women's Open, 43 participants elected to pay a separate entry fee and use their U.S. Women's Open qualifying scores in the PBA Women's Tour Trials. The top 12 players who entered advanced to the PBA Women's Series, which will feature seven events conducted alongside Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events this season.
Terrell-Kearney elected not to enter the PBA Women's Tour Trials while Dorin-Ballard and Johnson secured exemptions onto the PBA Women's Series by virtue of their victories in last season's events. That opened the door for Amanda Fagan of Patchoque, N.Y., Jennifer Petrick of Canton, Ohio, and Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic to make the PBA Women's Series. Other players with exemptions include Jodi Woessner, Wendy Macpherson, Stefanie Nation and Michelle Feldman.
TV PAIRINGS
Show 1
No. 5 Shalin Zulkifli vs. No. 12 Diandra Asbaty
No. 4 Tammy Boomershine vs. Zulkifli/Asbaty winner
Show 2
No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky vs. No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney
No. 3 Kelly Kulick vs. Pluhowsky/Terrell-Kearney winner
Show 3
No. 7 Lynda Barnes vs. No. 10 Clara Guerrero
No. 2 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard vs. Barnes/Guerrero winner
Show 4
No. 8 Liz Johnson vs. No. 9 Missy Bellinder
No. 1 Shannon O'Keefe vs. Johnson/Bellinder winner
Show 5
Semifinals: Show 1 winner vs. Show 4 winner, and Show 2 winner vs. Show 3 winner
Championship: Semifinal winners
O'Keefe was the top qualifier Friday after 40 games with 8,837, an average of 220.93, and leads a field of the top 12 bowlers who advanced to the ESPN-televised rounds at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center.
Advancing to the televised portion of the event represents a victory for O'Keefe. She missed the cut to television at last year's U.S. Women's Open by two pins, and at this year's Queens, she missed a 10 pin in the final frame to lose a match that would have put her on the TV show.
"You have to move on when things happen to you like that," O'Keefe said. "I've worked really hard leading up to this tournament and today was all about shot-making, staying within myself and not worrying about everyone else. The only people I watched bowl all day were the ones on my pair so I would know when I was up."
The top four players after qualifying earned a first-round bye and only need to win three matches on television to win the U.S. Women's Open title. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, finished second, Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., was third and Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, finished fourth.
"It's a huge advantage because I have bowled so great this week every round to have a bye makes me feel like I've been rewarded for all my hard work," O'Keefe said. "I just have to go into the next round with the same mentality I had today."
Other players advancing to television were: No. 5 Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia; No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix; No. 7 Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas; No. 8 Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; No. 9 Missy Bellinder of Fullerton, Calif.; No. 10 Clara Guerrero of Plugerville, Texas; No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas; and No. 12 Diandra Asbaty of Chicago.
Terrell-Kearney had the highest final eight-game block to make it onto the telecast and give herself the chance to defend the U.S. Women's Open title she won in Romeoville, Ill., last year. She also won the title in 2001.
"I knew I would have to play catch up and bowl really well the last block," said Terrell-Kearney, who shot 1,788, an average of 223.5, in Round 5. "At this point, I can't even imagine what it would be like to win three U.S. Women's Open titles. There are a lot of great players to get past, and I'm not thinking about defending at this point, just about winning my matches."
Any competitor who rolls a 300 game on one of the first four TV shows will receive a $25,000 bonus, while a perfect game in the semifinals or championship match (the fifth show), will earn $100,000. The shows will air on five consecutive Sundays at 2 p.m. EDT beginning Sept. 13 on ESPN. The schedule is subject to change.
In addition to the U.S. Women's Open, 43 participants elected to pay a separate entry fee and use their U.S. Women's Open qualifying scores in the PBA Women's Tour Trials. The top 12 players who entered advanced to the PBA Women's Series, which will feature seven events conducted alongside Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour events this season.
Terrell-Kearney elected not to enter the PBA Women's Tour Trials while Dorin-Ballard and Johnson secured exemptions onto the PBA Women's Series by virtue of their victories in last season's events. That opened the door for Amanda Fagan of Patchoque, N.Y., Jennifer Petrick of Canton, Ohio, and Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic to make the PBA Women's Series. Other players with exemptions include Jodi Woessner, Wendy Macpherson, Stefanie Nation and Michelle Feldman.
TV PAIRINGS
Show 1
No. 5 Shalin Zulkifli vs. No. 12 Diandra Asbaty
No. 4 Tammy Boomershine vs. Zulkifli/Asbaty winner
Show 2
No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky vs. No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney
No. 3 Kelly Kulick vs. Pluhowsky/Terrell-Kearney winner
Show 3
No. 7 Lynda Barnes vs. No. 10 Clara Guerrero
No. 2 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard vs. Barnes/Guerrero winner
Show 4
No. 8 Liz Johnson vs. No. 9 Missy Bellinder
No. 1 Shannon O'Keefe vs. Johnson/Bellinder winner
Show 5
Semifinals: Show 1 winner vs. Show 4 winner, and Show 2 winner vs. Show 3 winner
Championship: Semifinal winners