EAGAN, Minn. – Brittany Smith of Van Meter, Iowa, took home the 2023 PWBA Twin Cities Regional title with a 196-183 victory over Tamera Stanton of Baltimore at Cedarvale Lanes in Eagan, Minnesota, on Sunday.

Smith led all bowlers during qualifying, rolling an eight-game block of 1,846 thanks to games of 244, 200, 210, 234, 246, 222, 223 and 267.  

That effort was made more impressive by the fact that Sunday’s challenging 39-foot oil pattern only allowed eight players to average over 200 for the eight-game qualifying block.

Smith, meanwhile, finished qualifying with an average just under 231 and a low game of 200 to lead the field by more than 150 pins and easily capture the top seed for the stepladder finals.

Joining Smith in the stepladder were Stanton, Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania, and Summer Jasmin of Beckley, West Virginia.

Despite the low scoring pace during qualifying, the stepladder’s first match between Jasmin and Runk was a high-scoring affair that Jasmin won by a final score of 248-226.

Runk took $550 for finishing fourth.

The win allowed Jasmin to advance to the semifinals to face Stanton.

Scores were lower during that match as Stanton took advantage of an open frame in the 10th by Jasmin to win 210-191. The victory moved Stanton to the title bout while forcing Jasmin to settle for third place and $650.

The final match was a grind as splits and poor pin carry kept both Stanton and Smith from gaining any momentum.

It didn’t take long for the aforementioned splits to occur as Stanton left a 7-10 in the first frame, and Smith left one of her own shortly thereafter in the fifth.

The left lane was the main obstacle for the competitors, showing signs of transition that kept both bowlers guessing; nevertheless, by the fifth frame, Smith held a 12 pin lead.

Stanton tried to cut into the advantage by throwing the match’s only double in frames six and seven.

Undaunted, Smith stayed focused on her game and what the lanes were doing, and that’s when she made the adjustment that would ultimately lead her to the winner’s circle.

“By that time, there was a big puddle in the middle of the left lane, and I tried to get around it, which caused the ball to read early,” Smith said. “I moved back right to go through the puddle. It took four frames to figure it out, but it was the right move.”

Although the move was a good one, Smith chopped a 3-6 conversion attempt to give Stanton an opportunity to take control of the match.

She couldn’t quite capitalize on the opening, however, going light in both the eighth and ninth frames, leaving the 2 pin and 2-8 combination.

Stanton successfully converted both spares, which meant she could still force Smith to double by striking out in the 10th frame.

She collected the first strike, but her second delivery left the 10 pin, which she spared to end with a final score of 183.

That meant that Smith only needed a strike and eight pins to seal the victory.

Smith did not one but two better by striking on all three shots to shoot 196 and take home the win.

“There’s really no words for it; it’s like getting the monkey off your back after being back in competition for only a little bit now,” said Smith, who had taken a three-year hiatus from bowling to focus on starting a family with her wife, Sarah. “It means a lot to have my family here with me; my kids are everything to me.”

Her grandfather is another big supporter of hers.

“He never misses a tournament, big or small, but he’s visiting family in Texas right now, so, of course, the one he misses, I win,” Smith joked.

Smith took home $1,600, the trophy, and an automatic berth in the match-play portion of the PWBA Regional Showdown, which will happen Dec. 7-9 at Aloma Bowl in Winter Park, Florida.

Stanton took home $800 for finishing second. 

With her Regional Showdown berth locked up now, Smith has her sights set on making a run at the title as the winner of the Regional Showdown will have all of their entry fees covered for 2024 PWBA National Tour stops.

The next PWBA Regional stop will be the PWBA Northern Colorado Regional on Nov. 11 at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colorado.