Arizona bowler honors grandmother at WC
May 08, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - Many bowlers at the USBC Women's Championships use the tournament as an opportunity to not only compete on the grandest stage in women's bowling, but also as a chance to reunite with friends and family from across the country.
Barb Mazur of Glendale, Ariz., had that very same intention as she looked forward to having her grandmother, Barbara Bowerman of Kalamazoo, Mich., cheer her on from the stands at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.
Unfortunately, Bowerman, 82, passed away just days before Mazur was scheduled to hit the tournament lanes. She was looking forward to seeing her granddaughter make her second Women's Championships appearance.
"She used to come to the bowling alley and watch me bowl," Mazur said. "Both her and my mom bowled, so it's a family sport. She was so excited to come to this tournament."
Despite the shock of losing a loved one, the 38-year-old right-hander was determined to make it to El Paso and brought a framed photo of Bowerman to honor her memory. The photo also was a reminder that Bowerman would always root for her, whether it was on the lanes or in any other endeavor.
"This tournament was the last thing on my mind, but I knew I had to go," said Mazur, who bowls regularly at Brunswick Zone Glendale. "I asked my family if I could take the picture along. I knew she would still be with me, but everyone thought it would be a great idea to bring the picture, too."
Mazur's favorite bowling memories of her grandmother include a 1966 news article about her performance while subbing at a tournament in Okinawa, Japan. Approximately four years ago, Bowerman joined her family in a trip to the lanes, and showed her resilience, despite a sub-par performance on the lanes.
"She kept throwing it in the gutter, and my cousin asked her if she wanted them to put the bumpers up," Mazur said. "She said, 'No. If I can't bowl, I'm not going to do it.'"
Mazur finished her 2010 event short of a goal Bowerman had set for her- a 600 series, but she still put together her best tournament performance with handicap scores of 542 in singles, and matching 523 sets in team and doubles for a 1,588 all-events total in the Ruby Division.
Mazur entered the event with a 160 average, giving her an additional 20 pins of handicap per game. The Ruby Division is made up of bowlers with averages between 150 and 179, with handicap based on 100 percent of 180.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Barb Mazur of Glendale, Ariz., had that very same intention as she looked forward to having her grandmother, Barbara Bowerman of Kalamazoo, Mich., cheer her on from the stands at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.
Unfortunately, Bowerman, 82, passed away just days before Mazur was scheduled to hit the tournament lanes. She was looking forward to seeing her granddaughter make her second Women's Championships appearance.
"She used to come to the bowling alley and watch me bowl," Mazur said. "Both her and my mom bowled, so it's a family sport. She was so excited to come to this tournament."
Despite the shock of losing a loved one, the 38-year-old right-hander was determined to make it to El Paso and brought a framed photo of Bowerman to honor her memory. The photo also was a reminder that Bowerman would always root for her, whether it was on the lanes or in any other endeavor.
"This tournament was the last thing on my mind, but I knew I had to go," said Mazur, who bowls regularly at Brunswick Zone Glendale. "I asked my family if I could take the picture along. I knew she would still be with me, but everyone thought it would be a great idea to bring the picture, too."
Mazur's favorite bowling memories of her grandmother include a 1966 news article about her performance while subbing at a tournament in Okinawa, Japan. Approximately four years ago, Bowerman joined her family in a trip to the lanes, and showed her resilience, despite a sub-par performance on the lanes.
"She kept throwing it in the gutter, and my cousin asked her if she wanted them to put the bumpers up," Mazur said. "She said, 'No. If I can't bowl, I'm not going to do it.'"
Mazur finished her 2010 event short of a goal Bowerman had set for her- a 600 series, but she still put together her best tournament performance with handicap scores of 542 in singles, and matching 523 sets in team and doubles for a 1,588 all-events total in the Ruby Division.
Mazur entered the event with a 160 average, giving her an additional 20 pins of handicap per game. The Ruby Division is made up of bowlers with averages between 150 and 179, with handicap based on 100 percent of 180.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.