Tan tops field after first day at 2023 PWBA Stockton Open
May 06, 2023
STOCKTON, Calif. – It’s often been said that you can’t win a tournament on the first day, but if you could, then Cherie Tan would already be holding up the trophy at the 2023 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Stockton Open.
The left-hander from Singapore, who celebrated her 35th birthday just four days ago, was dominant during the first two qualifying rounds at Pacific Avenue Bowl on Friday, putting up a 12-game total of 2,985 (a 248.75 average) to lead the field by more than 100 pins.
Tan was locked in from start to finish, breaking the 200 mark in 11 of her 12 games on the day and going over 250 six times (278, 280, 279, 259, 268 and 279).
According to Tan, much of Friday’s success was due to her ability to stay comfortable on the tournament’s 43-foot oil pattern all across Pacific Avenue Bowl.
“The lanes were really consistent pair to pair, so it was easier to move off each lane,” Tan said. “I didn’t really have to work very hard to figure out where to play on each pair, and that worked out great for me.”
The three-time PWBA Tour titlist and one-time major champion was certainly pleased with her strong start; however, she realizes that there is plenty of bowling left to do on Saturday.
“It’s great to have a lead, but there are still 12 games left tomorrow, which makes it anybody’s game,” Tan said. “I need to stick to my game plan, take advantage of one shot at a time and see how it goes.”
Two bowlers who are hoping that it’s their game on Day 2 will be 2022 USBC Queens champion Birgit Noreiks of Germany and 2018 PWBA Rookie of the Year Jordan Richard of Maumee, Ohio, who were Tan’s closest pursuers at 2,880 and 2,842, respectively.
Stephanie Zavala of Downey, California, was fourth with 2,834 while Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina, captured the final spot in the Day 1 top five with 2,789.
The 73-player field was cut to the top 24 players after Friday’s second round. England’s Verity Crawley was the last player to advance after finishing with a 2,587 12-game total, an average of 215.58.
Saturday’s third round will consist of an additional six games starting at noon Eastern. Then, the top 12 players will return at 5 p.m. Eastern for a fourth and final six-game round to complete qualifying, after which the top five players, based on total pinfall for 24 games, will advance to the stepladder finals.
The stepladder will be Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast live at BowlTV.com. The champion will earn $20,000.
For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com.
The left-hander from Singapore, who celebrated her 35th birthday just four days ago, was dominant during the first two qualifying rounds at Pacific Avenue Bowl on Friday, putting up a 12-game total of 2,985 (a 248.75 average) to lead the field by more than 100 pins.
Tan was locked in from start to finish, breaking the 200 mark in 11 of her 12 games on the day and going over 250 six times (278, 280, 279, 259, 268 and 279).
According to Tan, much of Friday’s success was due to her ability to stay comfortable on the tournament’s 43-foot oil pattern all across Pacific Avenue Bowl.
“The lanes were really consistent pair to pair, so it was easier to move off each lane,” Tan said. “I didn’t really have to work very hard to figure out where to play on each pair, and that worked out great for me.”
The three-time PWBA Tour titlist and one-time major champion was certainly pleased with her strong start; however, she realizes that there is plenty of bowling left to do on Saturday.
“It’s great to have a lead, but there are still 12 games left tomorrow, which makes it anybody’s game,” Tan said. “I need to stick to my game plan, take advantage of one shot at a time and see how it goes.”
Two bowlers who are hoping that it’s their game on Day 2 will be 2022 USBC Queens champion Birgit Noreiks of Germany and 2018 PWBA Rookie of the Year Jordan Richard of Maumee, Ohio, who were Tan’s closest pursuers at 2,880 and 2,842, respectively.
Stephanie Zavala of Downey, California, was fourth with 2,834 while Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina, captured the final spot in the Day 1 top five with 2,789.
The 73-player field was cut to the top 24 players after Friday’s second round. England’s Verity Crawley was the last player to advance after finishing with a 2,587 12-game total, an average of 215.58.
Saturday’s third round will consist of an additional six games starting at noon Eastern. Then, the top 12 players will return at 5 p.m. Eastern for a fourth and final six-game round to complete qualifying, after which the top five players, based on total pinfall for 24 games, will advance to the stepladder finals.
The stepladder will be Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast live at BowlTV.com. The champion will earn $20,000.
For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com.