Woessner crushes all-events record at Women's Championships

EL PASO, Texas - Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, charged into the record books Friday at the 2010 USBC Women's Championships, crushing the all-time record for all-events and tying the record for three-game series.

Woessner had a scratch all-events total of 2,330, an average of 258.8 for nine games, at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center to beat the previous record of 2,231 set by Leanne Hulsenburg in 2005.

After shooting 764 in team Thursday night, Woessner returned Friday afternoon and fired 816 in doubles and 750 in singles. Woessner's doubles set tied the three-game series record set last year when Michelle Feldman shot 816 to win singles.



"I didn't know what any of the records were or what was leading, so I just focused on making good shots," said Woessner, who won the 2008 PBA Women's Series Shark Championship. "This is typically the week where most of the big scores are shot, and I'm one who thinks that if I can do it, anyone can do it. I certainly hope it holds up. This is a real thrill."

In the doubles set, Woessner had games of 259, 268 and 289, just missing an opportunity for a perfect game. She started Game 3 with nine consecutive strikes and needed just a mark with good count to lock up the 800 series.

After a perfect 10th shot for a strike, Woessner stepped up and the ball sailed to the left side of the head pin, leaving the 6 pin, to end her bid for a perfect game.

"I don't care how many 800s or 300s you shoot, if you don't get nervous in that situation you are a robot," said Woessner, who combined with doubles partner Tracey Distel of Lansing, Mich., for a 1,312 total. "When I threw the first one in the 10th and got the strike, it took a lot of the pressure off. But I just got up there and rushed to the line and threw a horrible shot."

The 800 series was the sixth in Women's Championships history and came just a day after Brenda Edwards of Mansfield, Texas, added her name to the record books with an 802 series in team event.

Edwards, a Team USA member, had games of 268, 278 and 256 to get to 802, which was one of three honor scores on Thursday night's late team event squad.

Three-time Women's Championships titlist Karen Boyd of Plantation, Fla., and Alisha Hill of Riverside, Calif., became the 10th and 11th bowlers in Women's Championships history to roll 300 games.

Edwards has been on a roll the past 12 months, winning the Regular Doubles title with Stephen Padilla at the USBC Open Championships last year. She capped that off in her singles event by becoming one of only six women to roll a 300 on the tournament lanes on her way to the highest all-events total ever recorded by a woman at the event, 2,132.

Finally in December, she claimed the 2010 USBC Team Trials title to secure her spot on Team USA.

"This year has been a crazy, fantastic ride. You couldn't script it this well," Edwards said. "I've learned a lot about myself as a bowler and just how to attack the lanes with the right attitude. The history of this tournament is phenomenal, and it's really cool to join this elite group."

As Edward's struck on her first shot of the 10th frame her final game to secure her place in tournament history, Hill patiently waited to bowl on the adjacent lane to take her shot at reaching perfection at the Women's Championships. Hill notched her 300 after games of 257 and 206 for a 763 series.

"I've never been in that situation in this kind of setting, so I was completely nervous. The 11th shot was a total tug shot," said Hill, who has more than 20 career 300 games. "I didn't want to push it or rush it. I just wanted to make good shots. It's a great feeling to know I can still compete with such a talented group of bowlers."

Boyd, whose Women's Championships titles include the 2005 Classic Doubles, 2006 Classic Singles and All-Events, was slow out of the gates and didn't warm up until the 10th frame of the first game. From the 10th frame, she strung together 18 consecutive strikes.

"It was tough to get good, quality shots during practice, and it took me a little longer to get loose," Boyd said. "After that, it was off to the races. This is such a prestigious tournament, and to be a member of this category is awesome."

Boyd's 300 was between games of 190 and 200 for a 690 series.


MILLIGAN LEADS SCRATCH SINGLES

Team USA member Tennelle Milligan of Arlington, Texas, delivered in the clutch to take over the scratch singles lead at the 2010 USBC Women's Championships on Friday afternoon.

After opening her singles set with games of 245 and 278, Milligan need all three strikes in the 10th to finish with a 256 and 779 series, taking over the lead from Sharon Aston of La Grange, Ky., who rolled a 771 set Thursday night.

Milligan, the 2005 Queens champion, was pleasantly surprised to find out her score took the top spot.

"I had no idea on what I needed," the two-time Women's Championships titlist said. "It's funny because I mentioned to Lynda (Barnes) before we started that I don't think I've ever really bowled that well in singles."

Switching pairs from doubles to singles provided a better look for Milligan, as the previous competitors on the lane created area for the 33-year-old right-hander.

"The first pair burned up," Milligan said. "The group on our singles pair played them further right than we did, and it was a huge difference. It all depends on who you follow."

Milligan added a 723 series in her team event and 647 in doubles for an all-events total of 2,149, which is currently second. Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, leads with 2,330.


GIANOTTI, KLUG ON TOP IN SCRATCH DOUBLES

The scratch doubles lead also changed hands Friday afternoon as Carol Gianotti of Australia and Missy Klug of Macomb, Mich., put together the highest doubles total seen so far at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.

Led by Gianotti's 770 series along with Klug's 661, the duo fired a 1,431 total, surpassing Sandra Gongora of Wichita, Kan., and Jessica Baker of Bel Aire, Kan., who rolled a 1,407 set in the previous set.

Gianotti, the 1989 Queens champion and a three-time Women's Championships titlist, and Klug came out of the gates with a 526 combined total, and never looked back. Although the two were familiar with each other, they entered the event as a doubles team for the first time.

"We got lined up pretty quick. There was a nice little shot," said Gianotti, who won 16 titles during her time on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour. "Missy bowled great. It's nice to have an opportunity to win."

The 42-year-old right-hander has had a storied career on the lanes, but felt this performance was one of her best at the Women's Championships. Her 770 set included games of 259, 245 and 266.

"That was probably one of the highest series I have ever shot at the Women's," Gianotti said. "It felt good to bowl so well. It's nice to come back and perform like this."

Gianotti finished off her 2010 event with 667 series in team and 659 set in singles for a 2,096 all-events total. Klug added 595 in singles and 582 in team for an all-events total of 1,838.

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.