LPGA STANDOUT LEAVES THE LINKS FOR THE LANES

Brandie Burton of La Verne, Calif., is used to the attention she gets when she swings a golf club, but she was surprised when people recognized her at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships recently.

The 37-year-old right-hander, who was a top junior, collegiate and amateur golfer before beginning her professional career in 1991, has always enjoyed bowling and jumped at the chance to join her friends on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium this week.

While her teammates are regulars at the USBC Women's Championships, Burton was a rookie all over again as she competed in the event for the first time.

"My teammates talked me into coming this year," said Burton, who was the Ladies Professional Golf Association Rookie of the Year in 1991. "Most of them have done this 12 or 13 times already, and I knew we'd have a good time."

Burton rolled a 422 series to help Chaparral Lanes Too! to a 2,147 total. Joni Elmslie led the Division 2 team (combined average of 746-845) with a 483 series and was followed by Jennifer Hilo (468), Jocelyn Perez (391) and Ava Goldhaber (383). A Family Affair of Faribault, Minn., leads the Division 2 team event with 2,556.

"I predominantly bowl for the fun of it," said Burton, who did not compete in doubles and singles this year. "I find it relaxing, so I make time to bowl."

As a two-sport athlete, Burton says there are similarities between bowling and golf, such as the focus and the solid competition level.

"The sports each encompass a pretty good degree of focus to successfully execute, and the consistency in the level of competition is notable, too," Burton said. Then she added with a laugh, "Of the differences between the two, golf seems to have the rowdy fans behind the ropes at times, and, of course, the size of the balls varies, too."
From here, Burton now will turn her attention to the rest of the LPGA Tour season, which runs from February until November. She is finally healed from numerous surgeries over the past few years on her jaw, wrist, shoulder and ribs and is ready to resume the Tour life this weekend.

During her LPGA career, Burton has claimed five Tour victories and earned more than $4 million in prize money. In 1993, she won three titles and became the youngest player (at the time) to surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings.