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Is the Force with you?
Kulick Makes History
HAMMOND, Ind. - June 4, 2006
For the first time in PBA history, a woman will bowl full time on the Tour.
Kelly Kulick averaged 224.04 in 45 games over five days to finish sixth in the 2006 Denny’s PBA Tour Trials Sunday at Stardust Bowl I to earn one of 10 exemptions for the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour season.
The PBA opened its membership to women in April 2004 after the Professional Women’s Bowlers Association (PWBA) folded. Kulick was the 2001 PWBA Rookie of the Year and won the 2003 Women’s U.S. Open before the league folded.
In 2004-05, the Denny’s PBA Tour went to an all-exempt field with 58 bowlers earning full-time exemptions for each season. While two women – Liz Johnson and Cathy Dorin-Lizzi – have qualified for single Tour events through weekly Tour Qualifying Rounds, no woman had ever earned a full-season exemption.
“To be the first woman is huge… words can’t even describe the feeling,” said Kulick. “I feel confident I can be a good enough competitor to stay out on Tour. My next goal is to make a television show and become the first woman to win a PBA Tour title.”
Kulick came into Sunday eighth overall with the final day taking place on the Tour’s highest-scoring oil pattern. Each of the five days featured one of the PBA’s five different oil patterns.
The 29-year-old from Union, N.J. averaged 232.89 over the final nine games – including a 300 in game four – to finish sixth with a 10,082 45-game pinfall.
Leading the field was Mark Scroggins (Amarillo, Texas), whose twin brother Mike is also exempt on Tour. Scroggins finished with 10,301.
Michael Haugen Jr. (Las Vegas), a 10-year Tour veteran, finished second with 10,279.
Making his way back on Tour after a two-year hiatus was 12-time Tour titlist Del Ballard Jr. (North Richland Hills, Texas), who finish 10th with 10,009. Needing a 186 in his final game to qualify, Ballard shot a 219 to earn the final spot.
Jim Pratt (Glendale, Ariz.) finished third with 10,189, Chris Hayden (Orlando, Fla.) finished fourth with 10,188, while David Tessman (Tampa, Fla.) rounded out the top five with 10,109.
The 2003 PBA Rookie of the Year Chris Johnson (Garland, Texas) made his way back on Tour, finishing seventh with 10,065. Also qualifying were Patrick Girard (Jonquiere, Quebec) and Ritchie Wolfe (Vienna, Va.).
1 Mark Scroggins Amarillo, Texas B 45 10301 +1301 228.91
2 Michael Haugen Jr Las Vegas B 45 10279 +1279 228.42
3 Jim Pratt Glendale, Ariz. B 45 10189 +1189 226.42
4 Chris Hayden Orlando, Fla. B 45 10188 +1188 226.40
5 David Tessman Tampa, Fla. B 45 10109 +1109 224.64
6 Kelly Kulick Union, N.J. B 45 10082 +1082 224.04
7 Chris Johnson Garland, Texas B 45 10065 +1065 223.67
8 Patrick Girard Canada B 45 10035 +1035 223.00
9 Richard Wolfe Vienna, Va. B 45 10019 +1019 222.64
10 Del Ballard Jr N. Richland Hills, Texas B 45 10009 +1009 222.42
Info www.pba.com
Frosty
HAMMOND, Ind. - June 4, 2006
For the first time in PBA history, a woman will bowl full time on the Tour.
Kelly Kulick averaged 224.04 in 45 games over five days to finish sixth in the 2006 Denny’s PBA Tour Trials Sunday at Stardust Bowl I to earn one of 10 exemptions for the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour season.
The PBA opened its membership to women in April 2004 after the Professional Women’s Bowlers Association (PWBA) folded. Kulick was the 2001 PWBA Rookie of the Year and won the 2003 Women’s U.S. Open before the league folded.
In 2004-05, the Denny’s PBA Tour went to an all-exempt field with 58 bowlers earning full-time exemptions for each season. While two women – Liz Johnson and Cathy Dorin-Lizzi – have qualified for single Tour events through weekly Tour Qualifying Rounds, no woman had ever earned a full-season exemption.
“To be the first woman is huge… words can’t even describe the feeling,” said Kulick. “I feel confident I can be a good enough competitor to stay out on Tour. My next goal is to make a television show and become the first woman to win a PBA Tour title.”
Kulick came into Sunday eighth overall with the final day taking place on the Tour’s highest-scoring oil pattern. Each of the five days featured one of the PBA’s five different oil patterns.
The 29-year-old from Union, N.J. averaged 232.89 over the final nine games – including a 300 in game four – to finish sixth with a 10,082 45-game pinfall.
Leading the field was Mark Scroggins (Amarillo, Texas), whose twin brother Mike is also exempt on Tour. Scroggins finished with 10,301.
Michael Haugen Jr. (Las Vegas), a 10-year Tour veteran, finished second with 10,279.
Making his way back on Tour after a two-year hiatus was 12-time Tour titlist Del Ballard Jr. (North Richland Hills, Texas), who finish 10th with 10,009. Needing a 186 in his final game to qualify, Ballard shot a 219 to earn the final spot.
Jim Pratt (Glendale, Ariz.) finished third with 10,189, Chris Hayden (Orlando, Fla.) finished fourth with 10,188, while David Tessman (Tampa, Fla.) rounded out the top five with 10,109.
The 2003 PBA Rookie of the Year Chris Johnson (Garland, Texas) made his way back on Tour, finishing seventh with 10,065. Also qualifying were Patrick Girard (Jonquiere, Quebec) and Ritchie Wolfe (Vienna, Va.).
1 Mark Scroggins Amarillo, Texas B 45 10301 +1301 228.91
2 Michael Haugen Jr Las Vegas B 45 10279 +1279 228.42
3 Jim Pratt Glendale, Ariz. B 45 10189 +1189 226.42
4 Chris Hayden Orlando, Fla. B 45 10188 +1188 226.40
5 David Tessman Tampa, Fla. B 45 10109 +1109 224.64
6 Kelly Kulick Union, N.J. B 45 10082 +1082 224.04
7 Chris Johnson Garland, Texas B 45 10065 +1065 223.67
8 Patrick Girard Canada B 45 10035 +1035 223.00
9 Richard Wolfe Vienna, Va. B 45 10019 +1019 222.64
10 Del Ballard Jr N. Richland Hills, Texas B 45 10009 +1009 222.42
Info www.pba.com
Frosty
