On May 11th, 2008, in a nationally televised event, Lynda Barnes defeated Sean Rash, 258-237 to win the USBC Clash of the Champions Title. This incredible victory sent shock waves throughout the world of pro bowling. It proved that Lynda was one of the top pro bowlers in the world regardless of gender. It solidified the return of women to pro bowling. And it could very well have sparked a brand new era in professional bowling.
In the fall of 2003, before the season had finished, in a decision that can only be described as demoralizing, John Summer the owner of the PWBA (Pro Women’s Bowlers Association), folded the women’s pro tour due to a lack of funds. Legendary pro women bowlers like Leanne Barrette, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Tish Johnson and Wendy McPherson were left without a professional forum in the United States to show off their bowling skills and compete for prize money.
It is safe to say that from that moment on, the women embarked on a mission to not only get their tour back, but to gain greater popularity and recognition than ever before. It has been a long and arduous road. During the past four and a half years, the women pro bowlers have tried every possible angle, walked through every open door, and taken every opportunity given to them, to try and put themselves back on the map.
After the tour shut down, the women were left with the WIBC (Women’s International Bowling Congress), which had acquired the PWBA (Professional Women’s Bowlers Association) from the PBA, and the amateur circuit. Needless to say, many of the established women bowlers began to pile up tournament wins and various awards in these forums.
In 2004, realizing great women talent was being wasted on the sidelines, the Professional Bowler’s Association agreed to allow women to compete on the men’s tour. This landmark decision gave the women the opportunity they were looking for. It would allow them to once again compete in the national spotlight and at the same time take on the greatest men bowlers in the world.
That year, Liz Johnson took full advantage of the new rule, becoming the first female bowler in history to qualify for the round of sixty-four, in the UniRoyal Tire Classic. One year later, at the 2005 PBA Banquet Open in Grand Rapids, MI she did it again becoming the first women bowler to qualify for the televised finals. She defeated Wes Melott 235 to 228 in the semifinal match, but eventually lost in the finals to Tommy Jones. A few months later she made it a trio of firsts by becoming the first woman to ever win a PBA regional event by winning the East Region Kingpin Lanes Open, defeating Ryan Shafer and Michael Fagan.
During these two years, the faces of women’s bowling began to change with an influx of new and exciting talent. Diandra Asbaty, Joy Esterson, Shannon O’Keefe and Lynda Barnes led the way with each of them piling up wins and top finishes in amateur tournaments. Not only that, Diandra managed to finish 25th in the 2005 PBA Master’s Event and 86th in the Men’s PBA US Open. This shot in the arm of charismatic talent and success helped set the stage for a return of the women’s tour.
In 2006 Kelly Kulick followed the same path as Liz Johnson and kicked the door of opportunity wide open by becoming the first woman in history to qualify for a PBA tour exemption, which allowed her to bowl in all of the men’s PBA events throughout the entire year. This milestone event really gave the women some hope that good things were to come.
Also in 2006, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) took over professional women’s bowling. They immediately made a decision to create the first nationally televised women’s tournament in three years, called the 2006 USBC Women’s Challenge. The competition would take place on one lane set up in the middle of a shopping mall, with a top prize of $25,000. Sixteen of the top women bowlers in the world would compete for this title, with all of the rounds aired on ESPN. The tournament was specifically designed to present women’s bowling again, but yet in a somewhat different light. It did just that, sparking all kinds of interest and inquiries about a revived women’s tour. The Women’s Challenge helped prove that genuine interest in watching woman pro bowlers did exist. What did the trick was an obvious passion and competitive spirit. None of the sixteen women held back as their enthusiasm and raw emotion became infectious, catching the imagination of fans and key onlookers. Australia’s Cara Honeychurch may have won the tournament, but the real winners were the fans and the fraternity of pro women bowlers.
