Kuhlkin takes first career PWBA title in Topeka
August 08, 2015
TOPEKA, Kan. - Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, New York, rolled through the stepladder finals Saturday, winning three matches to claim the title at the 2015 Professional Women's Bowling Association Topeka Open presented by Prairie Band Casino & Resort.
Kuhlkin, who recently wrapped up her collegiate career at Nebraska, defeated Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, 241-203, in the championship match at West Ridge Lanes.
In each of her three matches, Kuhlkin put herself in good position heading into the final frame not needing even a mark to lock up the victory.
"This is amazing because after I missed the cut to match play the last three events, my goal was just to make the first cut," Kuhlkin said. "Then I exceeded my goal and made the stepladder and found a way to win. It's just unreal."
Kuhlkin, who fired the first 300 in a standard PWBA event this season in match play Saturday, knew she would need to make an adjustment for the stepladder finals.
"The ball I threw in the stepladder was one I didn't throw at all this week," Kuhlkin said. "I knew I had to try something different because my look wasn't very good on the fresh."
In the opening match of the stepladder, Kuhlkin took down 18-time Colombian national team member Clara Guerrero, 224-205. In the semifinal, Kuhlkin topped United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, 247-202.
Kuhlkin earned $10,000 for the title and a spot in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship presented by GoBowling.com, which will be contested in Arlington, Texas, in September.
For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com.
PWBA TOPEKA OPEN PRESENTED BY PRAIRIE BAND CASINO & RESORT
At West Ridge Lanes, Topeka, Kan.
Final standings
1, Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 712 (three games), $10,000
2, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 203 (one game), $5,000
3, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 202 (one game), $3,500
4, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 205 (one game) $3,000
Stepladder results
Match One - Kuhlkin def. Guerrero, 224-205
Match Two - Kuhlkin def. Johnson, 247-202
Championship - Kuhlkin def. McEwan, 241-203
Kuhlkin, who recently wrapped up her collegiate career at Nebraska, defeated Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, 241-203, in the championship match at West Ridge Lanes.
In each of her three matches, Kuhlkin put herself in good position heading into the final frame not needing even a mark to lock up the victory.
"This is amazing because after I missed the cut to match play the last three events, my goal was just to make the first cut," Kuhlkin said. "Then I exceeded my goal and made the stepladder and found a way to win. It's just unreal."
Kuhlkin, who fired the first 300 in a standard PWBA event this season in match play Saturday, knew she would need to make an adjustment for the stepladder finals.
"The ball I threw in the stepladder was one I didn't throw at all this week," Kuhlkin said. "I knew I had to try something different because my look wasn't very good on the fresh."
In the opening match of the stepladder, Kuhlkin took down 18-time Colombian national team member Clara Guerrero, 224-205. In the semifinal, Kuhlkin topped United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, 247-202.
Kuhlkin earned $10,000 for the title and a spot in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship presented by GoBowling.com, which will be contested in Arlington, Texas, in September.
For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com.
PWBA TOPEKA OPEN PRESENTED BY PRAIRIE BAND CASINO & RESORT
At West Ridge Lanes, Topeka, Kan.
Final standings
1, Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 712 (three games), $10,000
2, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 203 (one game), $5,000
3, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 202 (one game), $3,500
4, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 205 (one game) $3,000
Stepladder results
Match One - Kuhlkin def. Guerrero, 224-205
Match Two - Kuhlkin def. Johnson, 247-202
Championship - Kuhlkin def. McEwan, 241-203