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View Full Version : Two semifinalists determined at u.s. Women's open



onefrombills
08-09-2009, 07:17 PM
8/08/2009

By Lucas Wiseman
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS - Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, and Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix moved into the semifinals of the 2009 U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event, on Saturday afternoon.

Boomershine defeated Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia, 216-202, while Pluhowsky knocked off Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., 236-142, as both winners moved on to Sunday night's semifinals. The two players who will join them will be determined Sunday afternoon at Strike Zone Bowling Center inside the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson, Nev.

Boomershine, the fourth seed, trailed the entire match and eventually advanced when Zulkifli made a critical error in the final frame. Needing just nine, spare, strike to move on, Zulkifli went high on the head pin and left the 4-6-7-10 split to lose.

"I struggled at the beginning of the game, but at the end, I finally got it together," said Boomershine, who struck in the eighth and ninth frames and then on the first ball in the 10th frame. "I was shocked at the way it ended because that was the only shot Shalin missed all game. I expected her to get it done. I did what I could to put the pressure on her."

Zulkifli, a semifinalist at last year's U.S. Women's Open who defeated Diandra Asbaty of Chicago, 255-206, to reach the quarterfinals Saturday, started the game against Boomershine with three strikes in a row before leaving a 2 pin on the right lane. She never doubled again, leaving three consecutive 10 pins on the left lane before disaster struck in the final frame.

In the other quarterfinals match-up, Pluhowsky never faced any pressure from Kulick. The left-hander started with three consecutive strikes, while Kulick, the third seed, opened with three splits.

"At that point, I just wanted to stay clean," Pluhowsky said. "She had a rocky start, but it didn't mean she wasn't going to get lined up and start striking. It was definitely relaxing a little bit to have the pressure off."

In the opening match, Pluhowsky made a run at the $25,000 bonus for a televised perfect game in the opening four telecasts. She started with eight consecutive strikes before a solid 7 pin put a halt to her streak. Pluhowsky went on to defeat defending champion Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas, 269-172.

"I made a good shot, and I knew it was going to be close, but I wasn't sure that it would strike," Pluhowsky said. "Obviously, when you get that many strikes in a row, you start thinking about 300, but my mind was still focused on the main goal, which is winning the U.S. Women's Open."

Six more players will battle for the last two spots in the championship round on Sunday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. EDT. Lynda Barnes will take on Clara Guerrero with the winner facing Carolyn Dorin-Ballard. The other show features Liz Johnson battling Missy Bellinder with the winner taking on top seed Shannon O'Keefe.

The championship round, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. EDT, will feature the four quarterfinal winners battling in head-to-head matches until the champion is determined. If a player shoots 300 in the championship round, she will earn a $100,000 bonus. The shows will air on five consecutive Sundays at 2 p.m. EDT beginning Sept. 13 on ESPN. The schedule is subject to change.

The top 12 players after 40 games of qualifying advanced to the televised portion of the event with the top four finishers, O'Keefe, Dorin-Ballard, Kulick and Boomershine, earning byes in the first round.

2009 U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Saturday's results

SHOW 1

(5) Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia def. (12) Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 255-206
(4) Tammy Boomershine of North Ogden, Utah, def. Zulkifli, 216-202

SHOW 2

(6) Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix def. (11) Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas, 269-172
Pluhowsky def. (3) Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., 236-142