ARLINGTON, Texas - Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, hasn't bowled much since leaving the Professional Women's Bowling Association in 2002, but any insecurities she might have had about the current status of her game were put to rest when she earned a spot in the televised portion of the 2009 U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event.

Boomershine, the 1994 PWBA Rookie of the Year, bowled well throughout qualifying at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nev., and qualified fourth overall after 40 games on five challenging PBA Experience lane conditions.

The 39-year-old right-hander made nearly 30 television appearances during her PWBA career and is excited to be back in the spotlight. She will make her return to the airwaves Sunday when the first of five U.S. Women's Open shows airs on ESPN at 2 p.m. EDT. The series will be shown on Sunday afternoons throughout September (13 and 20) and October (4, 11 and 18) with the champion being crowned on the finale.

"Part of this feels natural, but I'm also a little nervous and anxious because I haven't done it in a while," said Boomershine (previously Turner), who owns four PWBA titles. "To be able to bowl as well as I did and make the TV show makes me very proud. I'm nervous about being back on TV, but there's a different kind of nerves now than there used to be. I'm hoping that since I've done it in the past, it will all fall into place this time around."

With 12 bowlers advancing to television this year, compared to 16 in recent years, the top four seeds earned byes. Boomershine, the No. 4 seed, will wait patiently on the sidelines while Malaysian star Shalin Zulkifli takes on Team USA member Diandra Asbaty of Chicago in the show's opening match. The winner then will face Boomershine for a spot on the final show.

"I don't know how I'm going to feel when the lights come on, but I'm excited to be back out there," said Boomershine, who rolled one of three perfect games during qualifying at the 2009 U.S. Women's Open. "I just plan to focus on shot making and block everything else out."

Boomershine enjoyed quick success during her time on the PWBA Tour, but her career was cut short after back surgery in 1997.

Although she returned to the lanes after surgery and rehab, she was unable to add to her four victories. She left the Tour shortly before the PWBA closed its doors in 2003.

While most of her competition in recent years has been in league or local events, she has been working on her game and has regained her desire to compete at the highest level.

Boomershine recently helped her team, Together Once Again (Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Lynda Barnes and Andrea Fleming), to its second Classic Team title in three years at the USBC Women's Championships, and now, she's found success again individually.

"There ended up being less opportunities after the close of the PWBA, so I decided not to make bowling a priority anymore," said Boomershine, who was the runner-up to USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson in the 1996 PWBA Player of the Year race. "Slowly over the years, I got the desire and the motivation back, and now, I am excited to get out there whenever I can."

Boomershine finished second to Aleta Sill at the 1998 U.S. Women's Open, but that is not the first thing on her mind. Neither is the fact that her last title came in 1996. For now, it's all about the comeback and being competitive again.

"I never really wanted to give it up, but physically, I just couldn't do it anymore," Boomershine said. "I really missed bowling against the better bowlers, and at this point, this experience has been amazing, so no matter what happens, I won't be disappointed."

Next week's show will feature Team USA teammates Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix and Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas, battling for the chance to face 2003 U.S. Women's Open winner Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. The winner will advance to the series finale. Terrell-Kearney is the defending champion at the U.S. Women's Open.

Any competitor who rolls a 300 game on one of the first four TV shows will receive a $25,000 bonus. A perfect game in the semifinals or championship match (the fifth show) will earn the player $100,000.

Qualifying at the U.S. Women's Open was at held Strike Zone Bowling Center from Aug. 4-7, and the five TV shows were taped Aug. 8-9.

TV PAIRINGS

Show 1 (Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

No. 5 Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia vs. No. 12 Diandra Asbaty, Chicago

No. 4 Tammy Boomershine, North Ogden, Utah, vs. Zulkifli/Asbaty winner

Show 2 (Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

No. 6 Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix vs. No. 11 Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas

No. 3 Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., vs. Pluhowsky/Terrell-Kearney winner

Show 3 (Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

No. 7 Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, vs. No. 10 Clara Guerrero, Pflugerville, Texas

No. 2 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, vs. Barnes/Guerrero winner

Show 4 (Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

No. 8 Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., vs. No. 9 Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif.

No. 1 Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, vs. Johnson/Bellinder winner

Show 5 (Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN)

Semifinals: Show 1 winner vs. Show 4 winner, and Show 2 winner vs. Show 3 winner

Championship: Semifinal winners