Kelly Kulick makes history by winning the PBA TOC

GeorgeF

Hypercell = Hyperhook!
Truly a historic win

Sports history was made Sunday when Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., won the 45th Professional Bowlers Association Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes becoming the first woman to win a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour tournament.

She defeated 2007-08 PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes 265-195 in the championship match to win a $40,000 first prize in PBA’s signature event, plus a two-year exemption on the PBA Tour.

“It’s been a dream of mine to win a PBA Tour event but I couldn’t have imagined it would have come in the Tournament of Champions,” said the 32-year-old right-hander. “It may have looked easy but my legs were like jelly—it got to a point where I couldn’t feel them. Believe me I was nervous and I was just letting adrenalin take over.”

The previous high finish for a woman in a PBA Tour event was second by Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in the 2005 Banquet Open.

In 2006, Kulick became the first woman to earn an exemption on the PBA Tour by finishing sixth in the PBA Tour Trials. Her best finish in the 2006-07 season was 22nd which she accomplished twice.

Kulick recognized the potential impact her victory will have for the future of the sport.

“I believe this can only mean bigger and better things for the sport,” she said. “If in any way this can be a boost for women sports and bowling, I’m willing to do my part.

“I feel like I’m on a magic carpet ride right now and I want to keep riding it higher and higher.”

In the championship match Kulick started with four consecutive strikes, then had an open frame when she left the 7-10 split in the fifth frame. She then went on to fire the next six strikes and a nine-count on the final ball to close the game.

Barnes, who won the Tournament of Champions in 2006, was trying for his second Tournament of Champions win.

“When it comes down to one game, a combination of factors have to come together and they just didn’t for me,” Barnes said, “but Kelly bowled great and she met every challenge.”

In women’s professional competition, Kulick won the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Queens and the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open in addition to winning the PBA Women’s World Championship in 2009.

In the semifinal match, Kulick defeated eight-time Tour champion Mika Koivuniemi 227-223 to advance to the final match against Barnes.

In the opening match, Koivuniemi defeated three-time titlist Rhino Page, 255-215.

Kulick earned a berth in the Tournament of Champions, by winning the PBA Women’s World Championship last September, the first PBA women’s major tournament.

PBA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, Nev.

Jan. 24, 2010


Final Standings

1, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J. 492 (two games) $40,000

2, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas 195 (one game) $20,000

3, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich. 478 (two games) $10,000

4, Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla. 215 (one game) $7,000


Stepladder Results

Match One – Koivuniemi def. Page, 255-215

Semifinal Match – Kulick def. Koivuniemi, 227-223

Championship – Kulick def. Barnes, 265-195
 
One of the very few sports where there are no barriers ( official or otherwise ) to prevent this happening.
 
Look forward to watching this at 1:30 in morning on espn. She won using the new Ebonite Mission which will be released on the 2nd of Feb.
 
I watched it live and it was terrific, she just threw great shots and Chris Barnes couldn't find a shot - he was lost after the first ball. It isn't making any news we have seen here though in Lake Tahoe, but then most of it is local anyway.

The guys that turn up the ball should have a field day this week.... I would have thought the woman would have been having a field day with this one.

A good post would be what the benefits to the sport would be ... and who thinks this is good for the game and why.
 
The media in the states is loving this, here is a snippet from ESPN

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4854424

Yes, George, there is great media opportunities in this, and as a consequence great opportunities to publicise bowling as a sport.

Wouldn't it be good if we had some central organisation in Australia, who could pull all this together, gain permissions, where necessary, to use material ( like that shown), plus their own,and blitz our media, and women's magazines, with media releases.

Oh, wait a bit - we do have. Thank goodness for that - the TBA.

I'll just sit back and watch. Should be great!
 
You GO girl well deserved win . Flush pocket shots showing us you don't need a ton of revs to win. Cheers Ralph {Kulick Fan].
 
Kelly Kulick is one of the instructors at the Dick Ritger Camps in the US - I had the pleasure of coaching alongside her for a week in New York in 2004. One of the highlights of my trip - Believe me she works on her game and it is great to see she is reaping the rewards. You will hear a lot more from her in the future I am sure.
Gail
 
She nearly shot a 300 by the sounds of it as well! opened with a 4bagger, 7-10 from the pocket, and then a 6bagger to finish! Great bowling and well deserved
 
Just finished watching Kelly Kulick win the Tournament of Champions on ESPN and seriously if that doesn't make the hairs on your neck stand up and inspire you to work on your game then nothing will.

For me Kelly's win is right their along side Belmo's PBA win as history making, must watch bowling.

Personally I have never thought of or regarded women as inferior in any walk of life, and especially not out on the lanes. I mean just in Australia names like Ann Maree Putney, Carol Gianotti, Cara Honeychurch, Maxine Nable and Kate Wilton to name a few have handed quite a few men some good old fashion ass whoopin's. So hopefully Kulick's win will inspire a whole new generation of girls/women to get out their and have a crack against the guys.

That's the glorious thing about bowling, is that anybody can be beaten on any given day.

Now we just need to get Cara bowling again so that she can teach that Frilingos guy a thing or two :D:D

Cheers

Steve :D
 
yeh i watched it the other day also it was on the foxtel on ESPN it sure is a great moment in pba history for women now if you ask me you might see maybe a few more girls out there and winning more events like this.
 
it is one of the few sports where in my opinion gender does not matter 1 bit. She nailed almost every shot, a couple of light ones but take the good with the bad... she did leave 7 10 off a good shot. She settled and doubled to get the advantage back... well deserved win.
 
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