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Bowling News USBC Vice Presidents Kuhn and Clark offer their thoughts on the U.S. Women's Open quarterfinals
Bowling News USBC Vice Presidents Kuhn and Clark offer their thoughts on the U.S. Women's Open quarterfinalsUSBC Vice Presidents Kuhn and Clark offer their thoughts on the U.S. Women's Open quarterfinals
Here's what USBC Vice President of Tournaments/Events Roseann Kuhn and USBC Vice President of Marketing/Communications Tom Clark have to say about this week's telecast:
Match #1 Team USA member and 2006 USBC Queens champion Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix vs. 11-time Professional Women's Bowling Association and 1996 U.S. Women's Open champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y.
On Pluhowsky:
Kuhn Strengths Shannon is a very talented lefty, has done a great job during her time on Team USA and has had the chance to bowl against the best of the best. She also has an amazing desire to win. Shannon beat Liz to win the Queens title in 2006, so she can be a real threat and perform in clutch situations. Weaknesses Shannon isn't as experienced as Liz in this type of format. Also, she can't lose her composure if she misses a spare or leaves a split. She has to be able to recover quickly if necessary.
Clark Strengths Pluhowsky has a tiger-esque background and has dominated amateur bowling many times over as the top left-handed woman in the past five years. She can get on a roll and never look back. Her win over Johnson in the title match of the 2006 Queens also came at the Stadium, so that could help her. Weaknesses Pluhowsky is the lone lefty on this show, and that could work against her on the Cheetah pattern. Higher scores on the Cheetah seem to come with more traffic.
On Johnson:
Kuhn Strengths Liz has a lot of past experience with this type of format and level of competition. Also, her experience and success in the PBA are tremendous assets. Weaknesses Liz has displayed few weaknesses, but did fall to Pluhowsky twice to cost her the title at the 2006 Queens. This could be in the back of her mind heading into the telecast.
Clark Strengths Like the others on this show, Johnson has been a trailblazer and has gained experience in the PBA, where she became the first woman to advance to a PBA television show. Also, you have to love Liz on the Cheetah pattern, since she can play the first arrow as well as anyone, including the men. Also, she is a past U.S. Women's Open champion. Weaknesses Liz doesn't seem to have many weaknesses, but she struggled at times during the week and didn't look as sharp during qualifying as she usually does.
Match #2 Defending U.S. Women's Open champion Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., vs. former collegiate standout Missy Bellinder of Fullerton, Calif.
On Kulick:
Kuhn Strengths Kelly has been here before. She is a past U.S. Women's Open champion and proved herself again at the Queens this year. Weaknesses She is the defending champion and could be trying too hard to reclaim the title.
Clark Strengths Gained experience as the first woman to earn a full-time exemption on the Denny's PBA Tour. The vast sports world is most familiar with Kelly after her time on the PBA Tour and her subsequent win at the 2007 Queens. Now, she's back against the women on TV again, and even though she has the most pressure, she's the one to beat. Weaknesses Kelly's game is more of a slow hook, which isn't necessarily conducive to the Cheetah pattern.
On Bellinder:
Kuhn Strengths Missy is experienced in this head-to-head competition and has had excellent coaching. Weaknesses Experience-wise, gives up a lot to Kelly, who is a past U.S. Women's Open champion, the reigning Queens champion and has more TV experience.
Clark Strengths Missy is experienced. She was the first collegiate bowler of the year who actually bowled on a men's team. She also has proven herself recently as the first woman to win two PBA regional titles. Weaknesses Missy matches up nicely with the Cheetah pattern, but this is her first time on national TV and in this kind of spotlight.
By Matt Cannizzaro USBC Communications