TEAM MALAYSIA EARNS TOP TWO SEEDS FOR TV AT 2017 PWBA WICHITA OPEN
WICHITA, Kan. – Last season, members of Team Malaysia combined to make three television appearances in four events on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour.
In their first event of 2017, Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane and Siti Rahman captured the top two seeds for the TV finals of the PWBA Wichita Open.
Sin will be the top seed, Rahman will be No. 2, and they will be joined on the show by No. 3 Liz Johnson of Deerfield, Illinois, and amateur Juliana Franco of Colombia in the fourth position.
The stepladder finals of the PWBA Wichita Open will be taped for broadcast June 25 at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley, one of four telecasts at the Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship, the second major of the season, and will air Tuesday, July 4, at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network.
Sin and Rahman earned their spots on the show by leading their respective match-play groups Saturday at Northrock Lanes, with total pinfall, including bonus pins, determining the top seed. Johnson and Franco each rolled through their group stepladders to advance, with seeding based on their averages for the event.
Sin dominated Saturday, averaging more than 232, which included her six-game performances in the cashers’ round (1,375) and match play (1,411). The 25-year-old right-hander will make her third TV appearance since joining the PWBA Tour in 2016.
Despite the success in 2016, Sin entered her first event of 2017 with a simple mindset.
“Based on past experiences at PWBA events, I kept it cool,” said Sin, who finished second at the 2016 PWBA Greater Detroit Open and fifth at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens. “I’m here to enjoy my game without any pressure. Last year, I was trying to adapt to the format as well. This year, I’m not thinking about scores. So, if I hit my target, everything will be fine. Those are my simple keys.”
Rahman was the tournament leader after qualifying Friday and battled with Sin for the overall lead throughout Saturday. She is looking forward to having a successful 2017 PWBA Tour season.
“For me, it’s important because it’s my second year here,” said Rahman, who rolled a 297 game during qualifying. “It’s my dream. I expect more than last year and have made some changes in my game. It’s quite prestigious to be here competing with professionals on the PWBA Tour. We also are hosting the Southeast Asian Games this year, and our coach is trying to prepare us.”
Sin and Rahman join teammate Syaidataul Hamidi as Malaysian players who have made championship-round appearances at the PWBA Wichita Open. Hamidi rolled a 300 game en route to her first TV finals appearance at the 2016 event.
Johnson, the reigning two-time PWBA Player of the Year and runner-up at the 2017 USBC Queens, qualified for her fourth consecutive championship-round appearance and continues to make a case for a third consecutive player of the year award. She defeated Clara Guerrero of Colombia, 237-236, to win the Group B stepladder Saturday in an instant classic.
Through seven frames, both players combined for 12 strikes, with Johnson holding a one-pin lead. Guerrero finished the match first and struck on her fill ball to finish with 236. Johnson converted the 10 pin to start her final frame and needed 8 pins on the final shot to win by a pin. Johnson left a 4-10 split, but it was enough to advance.
It was the second time this season Johnson denied Guerrero a spot on TV, having previously defeated the long-time member of Team Colombia in the Group B stepladder final at the PWBA Fountain Valley Open, 258-226.
Guerrero defeated Jen Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, in the semifinal match Saturday, 237-188, to advance to the final against Johnson.
Franco, competing as an amateur, will make her PWBA TV debut after a successful run at the recent Queens, where she qualified for match play.
She defeated Shannon O’Keefe of O’Fallon, Illinois, 234-165, in the Group A stepladder final Saturday, after O’Keefe advanced to the final with a 225-189 win over Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio.
Competition this week at the PWBA Wichita Open included two six-game qualifying blocks Friday to determine the 32 players for Saturday’s cashers’ round.
An additional six-game block Saturday morning narrowed the field from the 32 cashers to 12 players for round-robin match play.
The 2017 PWBA Tour season continues next week with the Pepsi PWBA Lincoln Open at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Go to PWBA.com for more information about the PWBA Tour. Qualifying and match-play rounds of PWBA Tour events are broadcast on Xtra Frame, the exclusive online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association.
About the PWBA
The Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) originally was formed in 1960. The PWBA Tour has events throughout the country, offering high-level competition and top prize money for women bowlers. The PWBA is supported by the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) and the United States Bowling Congress (USBC)
PWBA WICHITA OPEN
At Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.
Saturday’s results
MATCH PLAY- GROUP A
1, Siti Rahman, Malaysia, 2-4-0, 5,257
2, Juliana Franco (a), Colombia, 6-0-0, 5,162
3, Shannon O’Keefe, O’Fallon, Ill., 5-1-0, 5,142
4, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 2-4-0, 5,056
5, Amanda Greene, Romney, W.Va., 2-4-0, 4,938
6, Brittany Smith, Johnston, Iowa, 1-5-0, 4,889
MATCH PLAY – GROUP B
1, Sin Li Jane, Malaysia, 4-1-1, 5,504
2, Liz Johnson, Deerfield, Ill., 3-2-1, 5,153
3, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 4-2-0, 5,077
4, Jen Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 3-3-0, 5,046
5, Maria Jose Rodriguez, Colombia, 3-3-0, 4,958
6, Verity Crawley, England, 0-6-0, 4,932
Group A Stepladder
Semifinal – O’Keefe def. Pluhowsky, 225-189 (Pluhowsky finishes tied for seventh, earns $1,900).
Final – Franco def. O’Keefe, 234-165 (Franco earns No. 4 seed for stepladder based on average; O’Keefe finishes tied for fifth, earns $2,100).
Group B Stepladder
Semifinal – Guerrero def. Higgins, 237-188 (Higgins finishes tied for seventh, earns $1,900).
Final – Johnson def. Guerrero, 237-236 (Johnson earns No. 3 seed for stepladder based on average; Guerrero finishes tied for fifth, earns $2,100).
TELEVISED STEPLADDER FINALS
(Will be taped June 25 and will air July 4 on CBS Sports Network)
Match No. 1: (4) Franco vs. (3) Johnson
Match No. 2: (2) Rahman vs. Match No. 1 winner
Final: (1) Sin vs. Match No. 2 winner
CASHERS’ ROUND (18-game totals; top 12 advance)
1, Siti Rahman, Malaysia, 3,965. 2, Sin Li Jane, Malaysia, 3,958. 3, Juliana Franco (a), Colombia, 3,773. 4, Verity Crawley, England, 3,765. 5, Shannon O’Keefe, O’Fallon, Ill., 3,732. 6, Liz Johnson, Deerfield, Ill., 3,698.
7, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 3,697. 8, Jen Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 3,696. 9, Amanda Greene, Romney, W.Va., 3,691. 10, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 3,675. 11, Brittany Smith, Johnston, Iowa, 3,674. 12, Maria Jose Rodriguez, Colombia, 3,660.
DID NOT ADVANCE
13, Nachimi Itakura, Japan, 3,649, $1,200. 14, Daria Pajak, Poland, 3,648, $1,200. 15, Brandi Branka, Fairview Heights, Ill., 3,633, $1,300. 16, Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, 3,624, $1,200. 17, Josie Earnest-Barnes, Nashville, Tenn., 3,623, $1,200. 18, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 3,612, $1,200.
19, Thashaina Seraus (a), Aruba, 3,599, $1,200. 20, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 3,597, $1,200. 21, Sandra Gongora, Mexico, 3,594, $1,200. 22, Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia, 3,591, $1,200. 23(tie), Hollyann Johansen (a), Wichita, Kan., and Sabrena Divis, Gillette, Wyo., 3,577, $1,200.
25, Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 3,573, $1,200. 26, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,568, $1,200. 27, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 3,566, $1,200. 28, Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 3,565, $1,200. 29, Syaidatul Hamidi, Malaysia, 3,548, $1,200. 30, Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 3,524, $1,200.
31, Kristina Rosberg, Ord, Neb., 3,492, $1,200. 32, Daria Kovalova, Wichita, Kan., 3,459, $1,200.
Friday’s results
QUALIFYING (12-game totals; top 32 advance)
1, Siti Rahman, Malaysia, 2,665. 2, Sin Li Jane, Malaysia, 2,583. 3, Juliana Franco (a), Colombia, 2,558. 4, Liz Johnson, Deerfield, Ill., 2,503. 5, Amanda Greene, Romney, W.Va., 2,501. 6, Verity Crawley, England, 2,488.
7, Sabrena Divis, Gillette, Wyo., 2,478. 8, Jen Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 2,468. 9, Nachimi Itakura, Japan, 2,461. 10(tie), Josie Earnest-Barnes, Nashville, Tenn., and Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 2,460. 12, Hollyann Johansen (a), Wichita, Kan., 2,455.
13, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 2,443. 14, Shannon O’Keefe, O’Fallon, Ill., 2,441. 15, Kristina Rosberg, Ord, Neb., 2,440. 16, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 2,422. 17, Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia, 2,419. 18, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 2,417.
19, Maria Jose Rodriguez, Colombia, 2,411. 20, Brittany Smith, Johnston, Iowa, 2,403. 21(tie), Clara Guerrero, Colombia, Daria Pajak, Poland, and Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 2,388. 24, Thashaina Seraus (a), Aruba, 2,384.
25, Sandra Gongora, Mexico, 2,383. 26(tie), Brandi Branka, Fairview Heights, Ill., and Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, 2,382. 28, Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 2,381. 29, Daria Kovalova, Wichita, Kan., 2,380. 30, Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 2,374.
31, Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 2,373. 32, Syaidatul Hamidi, Malaysia, 2,369.
DID NOT ADVANCE
33, Ashly Galante, Palm Harbor, Fla., 2,361, $1,200. 34, Robyn Renslow, Brentwood, Calif., 2,353, $1,200. 35, Sydney Brummett (a), Fort Wayne, Ind., 2,351. 36, Summer Jasmin, Beckley, W.Va., 2,350.
37(tie), Stephanie Martins, Brazil, and Erin McCarthy, Omaha, Neb., 2,343. 39, April Ellis, Jackson, Tenn., 2,342. 40, Bryanna Cot‚, Red Rock, Ariz., 2,340. 41, Sandra Andersson, Sweden, 2,336. 42, Jennifer Russo (a), Monmouth Junction, N.J., 2,335.
43, Ashley Rucker, Bartlesville, Okla., 2,320. 44, Amy Bruce (a), Wichita, Kan., 2,315. 45(tie), Mariana Ayala, Euless, Texas, and Kaidee Sutphin, Mount Dora, Fla., 2,313. 47, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 2,312. 48, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 2,310.
49, Rocio Restrepo, Louisville, Ohio, 2,308. 50, Ashlyn Herzberg (a), Wichita, Kan., 2,305. 51, Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 2,303. 52, Kirsten Peterson (a), Newton, Kan., 2,294. 53, Emily Eckhoff (a), Denver, 2,291. 54, Linda Walbaum, Brighton, Colo., 2,289.
55, Olivia Sandham (a), St. Joseph, Mo., 2,281. 56, Leanne Hulsenberg, Pleasant View, Utah, 2,279. 57, Laura Plazas (a), Bel Aire, Kan., 2,273. 58, Jodi Gawlik, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,272. 59, Katie Ann Sopp, White Bear Lake, Minn., 2,259. 60, Ingellimar Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,256.
61(tie), Felicia Wong, Canada, and Dena Buxton, Australia, 2,249. 63, Holly Harris (a), Wichita, Kan., 2,244. 64, Mayumi Naitoh, Japan, 2,241. 65, Chika Terashita, Japan, 2,240. 66, Jessica Lesagonicz, Atlanta, 2,235.
67, Grace Hall, Oklahoma City, 2,224. 68, Karen Marcano, Venezuela, 2,212. 69, Sarah Muench, Johnston, Iowa, 2,211. 70, Kimi Davidson, Irving, Texas, 2,205. 71(tie), Ashley Purkey, Godfrey, Ill., and Kayla Pashina, Minnetonka, Minn., 2,200.
73, Samantha Kelly, Waukesha, Wis., 2,198. 74, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 2,197. 75, Giselle Poss, Montgomery, Ill., 2,181. 76, Megan Kelly, Dayton, Ohio, 2,180. 77, Johanna Puentes (a), Colombia, 2,176. 78, Melanie Crawford (a), Allen, Texas, 2,170.
79, Brandi Calderon, Tempe, Ariz., 2,163. 80(tie), Nina Flack, Sweden, and Katie Garcia (a), Wichita, Kan., 2,161. 82(tie), Cassandra Leuthold, Lincoln, Neb., and Gabby Mayfield, Lake Isabella, Calif., 2,159. 84, Kayla Bandy, Salisbury, Md., 2,157.
85, Victoria Johansson (a), Sweden, 2,156. 86, Isabella Correa (a), Austin, Texas, 2,151. 87, Allie Ijams, Wichita, Kan., 2,134. 88(tie), Debbie Ayers, La Mesa, Calif., and Anggie Ramirez Perea, Austin, Texas, 2,132. 90, Tiffany Morris, Bel Aire, Kan., 2,105.
91, Kaitlyn Commane, Melbourne, 2,101. 92, Jerracah Heibel, Indianapolis, 2,085. 93, Brandi Stephens, Stillwater, Okla., 2,084. 94, Jessica Peters, Toms River, N.J., 2,080. 95, Nichole DePaul-Miller, Baytown, Texas, 2,073. 96, Tara Quinlan (a), Streamwood, Ill., 2,054.
97, Chelsie Bahr (a), Topeka, Kan., 2,052. 98, Megan Szczepanski (a), Lockport, Ill., 2,045. 99, Jessica Quebedeaux, Lafayette, La., 2,044. 100, Elise Bolton, Merritt Island, Fla., 1,972. 101, Jamie Martin, Omaha, Neb., 2,099 (WD).
