Pluhowsky leads Scratch AE at 2013 WC
May 28, 2013
By Matt Cannizzaro and Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, has enjoyed continued success at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, but all of her victories on the championship lanes have come in different events.
This time, the 30-year-old left-hander moved into the top spot in Scratch All-Events with a 2,150 total at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on Tuesday night. Elysia Current of Ephrata, Pa., previously held the lead with 2,104.
Some creative scheduling, that also will give Pluhowsky the chance to compete at the nearby USBC Open Championships while in Reno this week, allowed her to bowl all nine games at the USBC Women's Championships in one day. She shot 751 in team, 729 in singles and 670 in doubles.
"We came in not really seeing a whole lot before we bowled," said Pluhowsky, who made her 10th Women's Championships appearance and is third in Scratch Singles and fourth in Diamond All-Events. "Our lane draw worked out, though, and we were on a fresh pair the first time, too. Being left-handed, I was the only one on the pair, so they stayed pretty even. And bowling the six games for doubles and singles on one pair also helped because I knew the transition."
The 13-time Team USA member used what she saw earlier in the day to set up her game plan for her final event. A small move left on the approach and a different ball in her hand had her on the verge of the first 800 series on the Women's Championships lanes since 2011.
"I just took what I learned from doubles and tried a different strategy tonight," said Pluhowsky, who started her team event Tuesday night with games of 257 and 278 before finishing with 216. "I played a little further left with a ball I had switched to in the middle of doubles, and that seemed to work pretty well. I was able to throw that all three games. In the last game, I just made a couple bad shots."
The Diamond Division at the Women's Championships includes bowlers with averages of 180 and above, and handicap is 100 percent of 220. Pluhowsky did not receive any handicap at this this year's event. Christine Gill of Lakewood, Colo., leads Diamond All-Events with 2,324.
Pluhowsky's past success on the lanes at the Women's Championships includes a Scratch Singles title in 2011, a Classic Team win in 2007 and a victory at the USBC Queens in 2006. She finished second to fellow left-hander USBC Hall of Famer Dede Davidson of Buellton, Calif., in Scratch All-Events in 2011.
Her growing list of accomplishments also includes more than 20 medals in international competition, four USBC Team USA Trials titles, three Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series victories, three consecutive USBC North Pointe Junior Gold Championships wins, QubicaAMF World Cup titles in 2002 and 2004, two NCAA team national championships and a USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships win with Nebraska.
She'll now turn her attention to the Open Championships, which is being contested at the nearby National Bowling Stadium. It is the first time both national tournaments are being held in the same host city in the same year, and many women are taking advantage of the opportunity to compete in both events.
Pluhowsky's goals for the Open Championships are similar and simple.
"My goals are to stay clean, make good shots and know what the lanes are doing," said Pluhowsky, who was inducted into the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame in 2012. "I've had some success at the Stadium. I like the Stadium. To do well, you have to stay focused, get lined up as fast as you can and repeat shots."
Presenting sponsors for the 2013 USBC Women's Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, has enjoyed continued success at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, but all of her victories on the championship lanes have come in different events.This time, the 30-year-old left-hander moved into the top spot in Scratch All-Events with a 2,150 total at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on Tuesday night. Elysia Current of Ephrata, Pa., previously held the lead with 2,104.
Some creative scheduling, that also will give Pluhowsky the chance to compete at the nearby USBC Open Championships while in Reno this week, allowed her to bowl all nine games at the USBC Women's Championships in one day. She shot 751 in team, 729 in singles and 670 in doubles.
"We came in not really seeing a whole lot before we bowled," said Pluhowsky, who made her 10th Women's Championships appearance and is third in Scratch Singles and fourth in Diamond All-Events. "Our lane draw worked out, though, and we were on a fresh pair the first time, too. Being left-handed, I was the only one on the pair, so they stayed pretty even. And bowling the six games for doubles and singles on one pair also helped because I knew the transition."
The 13-time Team USA member used what she saw earlier in the day to set up her game plan for her final event. A small move left on the approach and a different ball in her hand had her on the verge of the first 800 series on the Women's Championships lanes since 2011.
"I just took what I learned from doubles and tried a different strategy tonight," said Pluhowsky, who started her team event Tuesday night with games of 257 and 278 before finishing with 216. "I played a little further left with a ball I had switched to in the middle of doubles, and that seemed to work pretty well. I was able to throw that all three games. In the last game, I just made a couple bad shots."
The Diamond Division at the Women's Championships includes bowlers with averages of 180 and above, and handicap is 100 percent of 220. Pluhowsky did not receive any handicap at this this year's event. Christine Gill of Lakewood, Colo., leads Diamond All-Events with 2,324.
Pluhowsky's past success on the lanes at the Women's Championships includes a Scratch Singles title in 2011, a Classic Team win in 2007 and a victory at the USBC Queens in 2006. She finished second to fellow left-hander USBC Hall of Famer Dede Davidson of Buellton, Calif., in Scratch All-Events in 2011.
Her growing list of accomplishments also includes more than 20 medals in international competition, four USBC Team USA Trials titles, three Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series victories, three consecutive USBC North Pointe Junior Gold Championships wins, QubicaAMF World Cup titles in 2002 and 2004, two NCAA team national championships and a USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships win with Nebraska.
She'll now turn her attention to the Open Championships, which is being contested at the nearby National Bowling Stadium. It is the first time both national tournaments are being held in the same host city in the same year, and many women are taking advantage of the opportunity to compete in both events.
Pluhowsky's goals for the Open Championships are similar and simple.
"My goals are to stay clean, make good shots and know what the lanes are doing," said Pluhowsky, who was inducted into the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame in 2012. "I've had some success at the Stadium. I like the Stadium. To do well, you have to stay focused, get lined up as fast as you can and repeat shots."
Presenting sponsors for the 2013 USBC Women's Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.