Final four ready to roll in Women's Challenge finals

After four weeks of competition on ESPN2, the one-lane stage is set for the finals of the USBC Women's Challenge.

The fifth and final episode of the made-for-TV event will air Monday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, and the winners from each of the first four shows will battle for the title and the $25,000 top prize from the middle of the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas.

Colombian star Clara Guerrero has the momentum after a Week 4 win over nine-time Professional Women's Bowling Association titlist and USBC Collegiate spokesperson Kim Terrell, but she will again have her hands full with three former PWBA stars in the finals.

Leanne Barrette of Elk Grove, Calif., Cara Honeychurch of Melbourne, Australia, and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas, bring many years and 54 titles worth of professional experience, while Barrette and Dorin-Ballard have combined for nearly 200 television appearances - uncharted territory for Guerrero.

"It's been nice to be back on TV and in the spotlight again, and it would be even better to come away with a win," said Dorin-Ballard, the USBC High School spokesperson. "This truly has been a great experience, and I really hope it turns the right heads. It would be great to have a tour again, especially for the younger girls who have never been able to see what it's like."

In Monday's opening match, Barrette, a 26-time PWBA titlist, will take on Honeychurch, an eight-time winner and one of two left-handers in the original field of 16 at the Women's Challenge. The night's second matchup will be a battle of youth and experience, as Guerrero meets Dorin-Ballard, a 20-time PWBA champion.

There is the potential for an all former-PWBA final, an all-international final or a lefty-righty battle for the title, but don't count out the possible changing of the guard. The young Guerrero, a former Colombian national champion, World Ranking Masters winner and collegiate national team champion, takes on some of the women she grew up watching on TV for the second straight week.

"Of course I'm nervous, but I'm also very excited," Guerrero said. "The other girls are very talented, but it's one game and anything can happen. I can't look too far ahead, though. I will take it one shot at a time and not worry about the other person. No matter what happens though, it's been a great experience and it can only make me better as a player."

By Matt Cannizzaro USBC Communications