We covered the Professional Women’s Bowling Association when it held its inaugural Bowl the Rogue Open at Showtime Lanes in Grants Pass nearly nine years ago. Then, the women’s tour was flourishing. It had just signed its biggest TV deal to have all 24 events shown live on ESPN2. Three years later it folded after more than 40 years of operation under various names and formats. With women pros coming to Medford for the Bayer Earl Anthony Medford Classic, it was interesting to research stories from that PWBA event (the only time it was here) and see what women players who are here this week said then.
The women had been in Las Vegas for their previous tournament, a doubles event, and Carolyn Dorin-Ballad was the hottest player on tour, seeking her third straight singles title, which would have matched the record. However, Michelle Feldman, the second hottest player on tour, made her fourth TV finals in a row and defeated Kim Adler for the title. Dorin-Ballard and Feldman are in Medford this week and are among the best on the PBA Women’s Series.
In 2000, Dorin-Ballard and others spoke of coming to a new, smaller place.
“There’s a big difference,” she said. “In smaller towns, the people really get behind you. There are no other distractions. The people
are so friendly, so nice, they make you feel really comfortable.”
In talking about the prospect of making history and tying Liz Johnson (1990), Lisa Wagner (1988) and Patty Costello (1976) with a third win in a row, Dorin-Ballard said, “I think it’d be great for my credentials, but that’s not what all my emphasis is on. I approach every week the same way: It’s a new tournament, a new week. I go out and do the best I can. If I do well, great. If I don’t, I have something to work on.”
Before the PWBA tourney, Dorin-Ballard warned of Feldman, the victim in her two recent wins.
“I feel lucky to beat her,” said Dorin-Ballard. “When you see her bowl, you’ll see that she can throw nine strikes in a row at you, no problem. She has the most powerful ball on tour. She’s really on a hot streak.”
That proved to be a prescient analysis.
There were a couple of exhibitions before the tournament, a media challenge and a battle of the sexes. I bowled the media thing but don’t recall too much about it. I do remember Dorin-Ballard moderating. The battle of the sexes pitted former PBA stars Marshall Holman, Dave Husted and Del Ballard Jr. (Carolyn’s husband) against Aleta Sill, Tish Johnson and Pam Buckner. With the venerable Sill — who recently had become the PWBA’s first millionaire and thusly was dubbed “Sillionaire — leading the way, the women won the two-game shootout, 1,277 to 1,219. Sill rolled games of 268 and 248. Husted led the men with a 221 and 220.
It’ll be fun to see the women back in action this week alongside the men.
