Former PWBA star makes history

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Dede Davidson of Buellton, Calif., arrived at the 2011 USBC Women's Championships with just two bowling balls in tow, but she left the Oncenter Convention Center with an armload of accolades and the lead in Scratch and Diamond All-Events.


The 44-year-old left-hander started strong with an 800 series in team Thursday, becoming the sixth bowler in Women's Championships history to achieve the feat, and she added a 300 game during doubles Friday morning to become the only bowler in 92 years of Women's Championships competition with a 300 and an 800 on the tournament lanes.

Davidson finished doubles with a 746 series and closed with 653 in singles for a 2,199 all-events total. Team USA member Shannon Pluhowsky of Kettering, Ohio, previously led both categories with 2,177.

"People were making fun of me for only bringing one strike ball, but it carried really well on this condition," said Davidson, who also owns a 299 game at the USBC Open Championships. "I hope my score sticks. Honestly, this is the one title that is important because without the pro tour, this is one of the only tournaments you can win something significant. This is a big title."

Earlier on Friday, Erin Lenahan of Lincoln, Calif., added her name to the record books with a perfect game of her own during singles. It was the first 300 of the 2011 Women's Championships and the 13th in tournament history.

The 25-year-old right-hander's 300 came between games of 163 and 175 for a 638 series, and she added 630 in team and 609 in doubles for a 1,877 all-events total. Before Friday, the high game of Lenahan's bowling career was 299.

"In the 10th frame, there were a couple of balls I was unsure of, but they came back and hit the pocket," said Lenahan, who helped Team EFX of Sun City, Calif., to a brief stay at the top of the Scratch and Diamond Team standings Thursday morning. "On the last ball, I was so nervous, but it ended up striking to my disbelief. It was extra special to do it around so many people and at this big national tournament."

USBC Hall of Famer Carol Norman of Houston also made a run at perfection Friday, but came up short. She started her second game of doubles with 11 consecutive strikes before leaving the 3 and 6 pins on her final offering to finish with 298.

Norman, who owns three titles at the Women's Championships, finished doubles with a 690 series and added 693 in team and 658 in singles for a 2,042 all-events total.

Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.