U.S. Women's Open Timeline

1971 – After qualifying for the inaugural Women’s U.S. Open as an amateur, blond southpaw Paula Sperber of Miami turned pro and won her first title in a Kansas City thriller, nipping June Lllewellyn of Pompano Beach, Fla., 5,660-5650, in a total pinfall contest. The 20-year-old Sperber, who later married bowling legend Don Carter, earned $4,000.

1972 – By a matter of months, 20-year-old amateur Lorrie Koch of Carpentersville, Ill., became the youngest Open champion when she shocked Mary Baker of Central Islip, N.Y., 5,272-5,189 for the title in Denver. “Koch” is better known today as Lorrie Nichols, a 15-time professional titlist whose initial victory blossomed into induction into the WIBC and Women’s Professional Bowling Halls of Fame.

1973 – In a battle of legendary left-handers, Millie Ignizio of Rochester, N.Y., cruised to a 5,553-5,294 victory over Patty Costello of New Carrollton, Md., in Garden City, N.Y.

1974 – Irving, Texas, was the site of another battle of legends with San Francisco area roots. Pat Costello of Union City nipped Betty Morris of Stockton 219-216 in the first stepladder final in Women’s U.S. Open history.

1975 – Paula Sperber Carter of Miami became the Women’s Open’s first double winner, topping 1972 winner Lorrie Koch-Nichols of Algonquin, Ill. 6,500-6,352 in Toledo, Ohio.

1976 – Patty Costello of Scranton, Pa., who was to become the first woman bowler in history to win 25 career titles, earned one of the most important in Tulsa, Okla., edging Betty Morris in a newly-expanded format, 11,341-11,281.

1977 – After two runner-up finishes, Betty Morris proved the third time was a charm, defeating Virginia Norton of Southgate, Calif. 10,511-10,358 in Milwaukee, Wis.

1978 – The amazing “Mighty Mite,” 5-foot-2 Donna Adamek of Monrovia, Calif., began her march to four consecutive Woman Bowler of the Year titles with a 236-202 title match victory over Vesma Grinfelds of San Francisco in Miami, Fla.

1979 – Long-shot Diana Silva of Albuquerque, N.M., pulled one of the biggest surprises in Women’s Open history, nipping Hall of Famer Bev Ortner of Tucson, Ariz. 11,775-11,718 in Phoenix for her first and only pro title.

1980 – Pat Costello of Union City, Calif., joined Paula Sperber Carter as the Open’s second two-time champion, turning back Japanese superstar Shinobu Saitoh, 223-199, in Rockford, Ill.

1981 – Donna Adamek became double winner No. 3 with a 201-190 victory over Nikki Gianulias of Vallejo, Calif., in Rockford, Ill.

1982 – The winningest woman bowler in Japanese bowling history, Shinobu Saitoh became the first and only international player to remove the U.S. Open trophy from American soil when she held off the relentless pursuit of Robin Romeo of Beverly Hills, Calif., to win the final total pinfall Open in history 12,184-12,028 in Hendersonville, Tenn.

1983 – Dana Miller of Albuquerque, N.M., won a showdown between powerful left-handers, routing Aleta Sill of Dearborn, Mich. 247-200 in St. Louis.

1984 – Showing little respect for her “boss” and employer, Karen Ellingsworth of Des Plaines, Ill., upset pro shop owner and 1971 Open champion Lorrie Nichols of Algonquin, Ill. 236-217 in St. Louis. It was Ellingsworth’s first pro triumph.

1985 – Veteran contender Pat Mercatanti of Yardley, Pa., the daughter of USBC Hall of Famer Vince Lucci, shook off her “almost” mantle in Topeka, Kan., upsetting Nikki Gianulias of Vallejo, Calif. 214-178 for her first pro title.

1986 – Walnut Creek, Calif., high school student Wendy Macpherson pulled off what is arguably the biggest upset in Open history. The youngest Open champion ever (at age 18) and the first amateur winner since Lorrie Koch 14 years earlier, Macpherson defeated Cheryl Daniels, Patty Ann, Pat Costello, and top qualifier Lisa Wagner of Palmetto, Fla, 265-179 for the title in Topeka, Kan.

1987 – In the richest Women’s Open in history, Carol Norman of Ardmore, Okla., shocked top qualifier Cindy Coburn of Buffalo, N.Y. 206-179 winning a record $40,000 share of the $200,000 Seagram’s Coolers U.S. Open prize fund in Mentor, Ohio.

1988 – Lisa Wagner of Palmetto, Fla., the unanimous Woman Bowler of the 1980’s, landed her most prestigious title and largest paycheck when she defeated Lorries Nichols 226-218 in the second Seagram’s Coolers U.S. Open in Winston-Salem, N.C. Wagner converted her $40,000 first prize into the first $100,000 earnings year in women’s bowling history.

1989 – Robin Romeo of Van Nuys, Calif., out-dueled Michelle Mullen of Matteson, Ill., 187-163 in the Seagram’s Coolers U.S. Open in Addison, Ill. Romeo’s $40,000 payday led to a women’s record $113,750 in earnings and Bowler of the Year honors.

1990 – Albuquerque’s Dana Miller-Mackie joined the elite ranks of two-time Open champions in Dearborn Heights, Mich., nipping Tish Johnson of Northridge, Calif., in the closest title match in Women’s U.S. Open History, 190-189.

1991 – Anne Marie Duggan of Edmond, Okla., earned her “green jacket” with a 196-185 triumph over Leanne Barrette of Oklahoma City in Fountain Valley, Calif.

1992 – Tish Johnson avenged her 1990 title match loss, nipping Aleta Sill of Dearborn, Mich. 216-213 in Fountain Valley, Calif.

1993 – Dede Davidson of San Jose, Calif., ended Dana Miller-Mackie’s bid to become the first three-time Open Champion in Garland, Texas 213-194.

1994 – Twice an Open bridesmaid, Aleta Sill of Dearborn, Mich.., defeated Carolyn Dorin of Richardson, Texas, 279-259; Marianne DiRupo of Succasunna, N.J., and top qualifier Anne Marie Duggan of Edmond, Okla., 290-170, in Wichita, Kan., to win the elusive Open title and complete her quest for the women’s tour’s “Triple Crown.” Sill had won a pair of WIBC Queens and Sam’s Town invitational titles.

1995 – Another life-long dream came true when Detroit’s Cheryl Daniels stopped Tish Johnson of Northridge, Calif., 235-180 in Blaine, Minn., to become the Open’s first African-American champion.

1996 – Rookie Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, N.Y., won her first professional title by defeating top qualifier Marianne DiRupo of Succasunna, N.J., 265-236 in the title match of the 1996 U.S. Open. Johnson, a former two-time U.S. Amateur Champion, tied Wendy Macpherson’s 1986 record for highest score in the title match. The Indianapolis event was the first combined Men’s/Women’s U.S. Open in history and the first “arena” final for the women.

1998 – All-time women’s money winner Aleta Sill of Dearborn, Mich., made history by becoming the first bowler, male or female, ever to capture the Triple Crown twice in a career by beating Tammy Turner of West Palm Beach, Fla., 276-151 in the finals of the 1998 Open at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. Her 276 broke the previous record of 265 for highest score in the title match held by Wendy Macpherson (1986) and Liz Johnson (1996). Sill, who also won the Open in 1994 to go along with her two WIBC Queens (1983, 1985) and Sam’s Town Invitational (1984, 1986) championships, defeated Succasunna, N.J., native Marianne DiRupo, 242-208 in the semifinals.

1999 – Kim Adler of Las Vegas earned her third major title by defeating Lynda Barnes 235-191. Winning the $35,000 first prize, it was also Adlers 11th career professional title.

2000 – In the expansive atmosphere of the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Tennelle Grijalva of Orange, Calif., defeated Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. 239-155. to take home the $35,000 first prize.

2001 – Kim Terrell of Antioch, Calif. won her first major title and eighth overall professional win by defeating Wendy Macpherson 234-220. The 2001 U.S. Open featured a record $300,000 prize fund with Terrell taking home the record $55,000 first prize.

2003 – Kelly Kulick defeated PWBA stars Leanne Barrette, Wendy Macpherson, Michelle Feldman and finally Carolyn Dorin-Ballard 261-195 at Sunnybrooke Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich., to win her first professional title and the $30,000 first prize.

2007 – In the U.S. Women's Open's return for the first time in four years, Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y. defeated Shannon O'Keefe or Rochester, N.Y. 248-215 in the championship match at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., to win the $25,000 first prize. The event was telecast over four weeks by ESPN. In the quarterfinals of the event, O'Keefe rolled a historic 299 game.

BPAA All-Star Champions
(Renamed U.S. Open in 1971)

1949 – Marion Ladewig
1950 – Marion Ladewig
1951 – Marion Ladewig
1952 – Marion Ladewig
1953 – Marion Ladewig
1954 – Marion Ladewig
1955 – Sylvia Martin
1956 – Marion Ladewig
1957 – No event
1958 – Merle Matthews
1959 – Marion Ladewig
1960 – Sylvia Martin
1961 – Phyllis Notaro
1962 – Shirley Garms
1963 – Marion Ladewig
1964 – LaVerne Carter
1965 – Ann Slattery
1966 – Joy Abel
1967 – Gloria Simon
1968 – Dorothy Fothergill
1969 – Dorothy Fothergill
1970 – Mary Baker
2007 – Liz Johnson Cheektowaga, N.Y.

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