PBA

WYOMING, Mich. – Diandra Asbaty has won titles all over the world and accomplished more than just about any amateur bowler in history.
Now she can add a professional championship to her resume.
Asbaty, who wasn’t even supposed to bowl this week, defeated Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, 236-225, to win the 2007 Great Lakes Classic Sunday at Spectrum Lanes, the fourth and final Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Women’s Series event of the season.
The 27-year-old missed one of the 16 exemptions for the inaugural PBA Women’s Series by just two spots when she finished 18th in the PBA Women’s Tour Trials, a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) event, this summer. As the second alternate, she caught a break this week when exempt player Wendy Macpherson withdrew and first alternate Robin Romeo injured her hand on Wednesday.
Asbaty competed in the Denny’s PBA Tour Qualifying Round on Wednesday to try and earn a spot in the men’s event. After missing a spot in the Round of 64, she received the call that she had an opportunity to bowl in her first PBA Women’s Series event.
She took full advantage, finishing sixth in the Round of 16 to advance to match play where she defeated No. 2 seed Amy Stolz and USBC and Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Hall of Famer Tish Johnson to advance to the finals.
Against Dorin-Ballard, who won 20 times on the PWBA Tour and was looking to become the only woman to win two PBA Women’s Series events, Asbaty looked shaky early after a 4-6-7 split and an open in the first frame. Dorin-Ballard, who won the very first PBA Women’s Series event four weeks ago, struck five consecutive times in frames two through six to take a big lead.
The match turned in the sixth frame, however, when Dorin-Ballard had back-to-back nine spares and then left a 4-9 split and opened in the ninth frame. Asbaty had settled down by then and after a nine-spare in the fourth frame, she struck five times in a row to clinch the victory.
On top of winning her first professional event, the win was even sweeter for Asbaty (Chicago), who had her grandmother on her mind.
“My grandmother is in the hospital right now and she’s the only reason I bowled this week so this is definitely for her,” Asbaty said. “To beat a great champion like Carolyn makes it even better. I just can’t believe it.”
Asbaty pocketed $10,000 for her win while Dorin-Ballard took home $6,000. Though she came up short on Sunday, Dorin-Ballard finished the series as the leader in points, earnings and average.


PBA Women’s Series
2007 Great Lakes Classic
Spectrum Lanes
Wyoming, Mich.
Sunday, Dec. 2

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Pos. Name, hometown Total/Games Money
1. Diandra Asbaty, Chicago 236 (1 game) $10,000
2. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas 225 (1 game) $6,000

SCORES – Asbaty def. Dorin-Ballard, 236-225.

This is Asbaty’s first PBA Women’s Series title.