JOHNSON WINS WOMEN'S TITLE

JOHNSON DOMINATES PWBA WICHITA OPEN TO CLAIM FIRST TITLE
 
WICHITA,
 Kan. - Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, dominated the 
Professional Women's Bowling Association Wichita Open on Saturday, 
blasting the field in match play and taking the title in the stepladder 
finals.
 
Johnson, an 11-time Team USA member, defeated Kelly 
Kulick of Union, New Jersey, 247-221, in the championship match at 
Northrock Lanes to win her first career PWBA title.
 
Needing a mark and good count in the final frame, Johnson stepped up and delivered a clutch strike to lock up the win.
 
"After
 I threw that strike, I was holding back the tears because I knew I 
still had to make a couple more shots," said Johnson, who was the 
runner-up at last week's PWBA Lubbock Sports Open. "These are the 
moments you prepare for and it's amazing to make a good shot when you 
need one."
 
Johnson relished the opportunity to be among the 
first group of champions since the PWBA Tour relaunched this year thanks
 to support from the bowling industry.
 
"This is surreal," 
Johnson said. "This is my generation's tour and to already have a title 
is incredible. I'm just so excited to have this opportunity."
 
Leading
 up to the stepladder finals, the top 16 players bowled 16 games of 
round-robin match play and Johnson dominated the competition. She went 
14-2 in her matches and averaged 234 over the 16 games to earn the top 
seed by 359 pins.
 
Kulick entered the stepladder finals as the 
No. 3 seed and won her opening match against amateur Shannon Sellens of 
Copiague, New York, 246-172, before defeating Latvia's Diana Zavjalova, 
216-206, in the semifinal.
 
Johnson earned $10,000 for the title 
and a spot in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship presented by 
GoBowling.com, which will be contested in Arlington, Texas, in 
September.
 
For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com.
 
About the PWBA
The
 Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) originally was formed 
in 1960. The PWBA Tour has events throughout the country, offering 
high-level competition and top prize money for women bowlers. The PWBA 
is supported by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) 
and the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
 
PWBA WICHITA OPEN
At Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.
Saturday's Results
 
Final standings
 
1, Stefanie Johnson, Grand Prairie, Texas, 247 (one game), $10,000
2, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 683 (three games), $5,000
3, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 206 (one game), $3,500
4, Shannon Sellens, Copiague, N.Y., 172 (one game) $3,000
 
Stepladder results
 
Match One - Kulick def. Sellens, 246-172
Match Two - Kulick def. Zavjalova, 216-206
Championship - Johnson def. Kulick, 247-221
 
 
MATCH PLAY
(16 games, 30 bonus pins for a win, 15 bonus pins for a tie, top four advance)
 
1, Stefanie Johnson, Grand Prairie, Texas, 14-2-0, 6,776.
2, Diana Zavjalova, Beavercreek, Ohio, 8-8-0, 6,417.
3, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 8-8-0, 6,403.
4, Shannon Sellens, Copiague, N.Y., 9-7-0, 6,190.
 
DID NOT ADVANCE
 
5, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 8-8-0, 6,165, $2,000.
6, Shannon O'Keefe, O'Fallon, Ill., 8-8-0, 6,162, $1,850.
7, Leanne Hulsenberg, North Ogden, Utah, 9-7-0, 6,135, $1,800.
8, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 9-6-1, 6,115, $1,750.
9, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 8-6-2, 6,095, $1,700.
10, Daria Kovalova, Wichita, Kan., 8-8-0, 6,058, $1,650.
11, Bryanna Caldwell, Red Rock, Ariz., 5-10-1, 6,022, $1,550.
12, Jennifer Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 8-8-0, 6,021, $1,500.
13, Amanda Greene, Romney, W. Va., 8-8-0, 6,014, $1,450.
14, Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 7-9-0, 5,961, $1,400.
15, Kayla Johnson, Washington, Ill., 6-10-0, 5,957, $1,350.
16, Sabrena Divis, Gillette, Wyo., 3-13-0, 5,708, $1,300.