Kulick becomes first woman to bowl for major PBA title
January 22, 2010
2010 Tournament of Champions matchplay scores round 3
In one of the tightest and most thrilling position rounds in recent memory, Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. became the first woman ever to earn the chance to bowl for a major title on the PBA Tour. Kulick shot a 267 game in the position round to seize second place behind Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, who will be looking to avenge his infamous collapse in the title match of this same event in 2008.
It looked as if Kulick's magical run was coming to an end after she opened the final round of matchplay with a pair of games in the 170s. But she later rebounded with consecutive scores of 279 and 277 in a furious charge to make the telecast, ultimately holding on to claim the second seed.
Also looking for redemption this week is Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla., who qualified fourth to take the final telecast spot and hopes to avenge the stunning 4-count that gave Patrick Allen a Tournament of Champions title last year. Qualifying third is Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., who held off Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo. in a closely contested position round match.
One player who might enter next year's Tournament of Champions with a taste for vengeance is Tony Reyes, who fell off the show after the position round despite being in second place with just one game to go. Reyes, who stood a chance of reclaiming the exempt status he lost last season if he made the telecast, left a greek church split in the foundation frame and then chopped the 2-7 split in the tenth in a disastrous collapse.
The 2010 Tournament of Champions telecast airs Sunday at 1pm ET on ESPN.
In one of the tightest and most thrilling position rounds in recent memory, Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. became the first woman ever to earn the chance to bowl for a major title on the PBA Tour. Kulick shot a 267 game in the position round to seize second place behind Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, who will be looking to avenge his infamous collapse in the title match of this same event in 2008.
It looked as if Kulick's magical run was coming to an end after she opened the final round of matchplay with a pair of games in the 170s. But she later rebounded with consecutive scores of 279 and 277 in a furious charge to make the telecast, ultimately holding on to claim the second seed.
Also looking for redemption this week is Rhino Page of Dade City, Fla., who qualified fourth to take the final telecast spot and hopes to avenge the stunning 4-count that gave Patrick Allen a Tournament of Champions title last year. Qualifying third is Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., who held off Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo. in a closely contested position round match.
One player who might enter next year's Tournament of Champions with a taste for vengeance is Tony Reyes, who fell off the show after the position round despite being in second place with just one game to go. Reyes, who stood a chance of reclaiming the exempt status he lost last season if he made the telecast, left a greek church split in the foundation frame and then chopped the 2-7 split in the tenth in a disastrous collapse.
The 2010 Tournament of Champions telecast airs Sunday at 1pm ET on ESPN.