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Barnes clinches second USBC Queens title
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Thursday, May 01, 2008 (EST)
Her husband may be one of the best bowlers in the world, but Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, proved she's not so bad herself Wednesday as she won the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Queens.
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Her husband may be one of the best bowlers in the world, but Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, proved she's not so bad herself Wednesday as she won the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Queens.
Barnes, whose husband is PBA Player of the Year Chris Barnes, delivered three perfect strikes in the final frame en route to defeating Amy Stolz of Castle Rock, Colo., 215-195 at Skore Lanes to win the biggest and most prestigious title in women's bowling.
"Stepping up in the 10th frame in that situation is every athlete's dream," said Barnes, who also won the Queens in 1998. "When I looked up there and knew I needed all three strikes just to give me a chance, I knew I'd already done it a thousand times in my head and I just needed to get out of my own way."
Barnes entered the championship round as the top seed and survived seven consecutive matches without a loss to claim the title. She rebounded from a 2-4-10 split in the sixth frame and struck on five of her next six shots to win the title.
"This is a tough tournament, and I've been very fortunate because it takes the luck of the draw and bowling the right people at the right time," Barnes said. "I feel lucky to even have made it to this position."
While Barnes was competing in the championship match, her husband was calling the action for the live telecast on ESPN2, creating a unique situation for Barnes.
"I could hear him throughout the show, and I could hear some of his comments," said Barnes, the mother of 5-year-old twin boys, Ryan and Troy. "It was actually reassuring for me because I could hear him and it let me know I was doing the right things. Plus, I had the picture of my kids on the table, so between the two it really kept me focused."
After Barnes stepped up in the final frame and delivered three strikes, Stolz had an opportunity to tie the match if she could match with a three-bagger of her own. But on her first shot, she left the 2-5 spare to finish second.
"I just wanted to step up and throw a good shot," Stolz said. "Usually I'm great under pressure and I didn't throw a bad shot, it just didn't quite make it to the pocket. It felt really good off my hand, but it just hung out there a bit."
On the way to the title match, Stolz took out Australian Carol Gianotti, 217-179, and then defeated second seed Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 234-232, in the semifinal. Gianotti defeated Joy Esterson of Annapolis, Md., 237-222 in the opening match.
Barnes took home $30,000 for first place in addition to the Queens tiara, pendant and crystal trophy. Stolz earned $18,000 for second.
The USBC Queens, which is presented by Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus, featured a field of 337 of the top female bowlers in the world competing for a total prize fund of $200,000.
2008 USBC QUEENS
At Skore Lanes, Taylor, Mich.
Wednesday's Results
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Match 1
Carol Gianotti, Australia, def. Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., 237-222. (Esterson finishes fifth, earns $7,500.)
Match 2
Amy Stolz, Castle Rock, Colo., def. Gianotti, 217-179. (Gianotti finishes fourth, earns $9,500.)
Match 3
Stolz def. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 234-232. (Johnson finishes third, earns $13,000.)
Match 4
Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. Stolz, 215-195. (Stolz finishes second, earns $18,000; Barnes finishes first, earns $30,000.)
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