The bowling must go on; a televised perfect game that was never broadcast was part of a tragic week that no Americans will ever forget - The Match I'll Never Forget - Paula Carter Classic women's bowling tournament; September 11, 2002

Bowling Digest, June, 2002 by Liz Johnson

LIKE MOST AMERICANS, I'LL never forget where I was on the morning of September 11, 2001, when, without warning, terrorists attacked our nation. I was at the Don Carter University Lanes in Davie, Fla., along with 23 other PWBA members beginning match play at the Paula Carter Classic.

Our six-game block was starting earlier than usual because of a schedule change, but our day of bowling was delayed because of a mechanical breakdown. During the delay, PWBA officials allowed us to practice. The glitch was soon fixed, and I began my first match, against Kendra Gaines.

I noticed a couple of the gals going to the bar, and it was then that we heard that a plane had flown into one of the two World Trade Center towers in New York City. Soon we learned that another plane collided into the other tower. Two years earlier, I had visited the World Trade Center. Little did I know at the time that those Twin Towers would play a tragic part in the match I'll never forget.

A few minutes later we learned a plane had struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and we eventually heard the news that a fourth hijacked plane had crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

We somehow managed to complete the six morning games, but PWBA officials decided to postpone the afternoon block. Everybody went back to his or her motel room to watch television. We all were in total shock. I just wanted to go home.

Every other major sporting event in the country was cancelled that week, but our officials decided we should continue to bowl. Many people felt that, if possible, we shouldn't stop or we would be playing into the hands of the terrorists. Even though most airplane flights had been cancelled after the attacks, we were all already in Davie, so it was easier for us to keep bowling.

Three days before the start of the Paula Carter Classic, I won the Foundation Games Tournament at Sebring, Fla. It was my second victory of the year, so I arrived in Davie with a lot of confidence. And believe me, I needed it after all that happened on and off the lanes the week of September 11.

We squeezed all of our remaining 18 games of match play into Wednesday, the day after the attacks. We started at 9 a.m. and didn't get done until about 5 p.m. I led qualifying with a 16-8 match-play record and a 216.28 average. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard was second, Cara Honey-church third, Leanne Barrette fourth, and Karen Stroud fifth.

Because ESPN chose not to send a crew to televise our finals, PWBA officials decided to cancel Thursday's events in order to secure a local crew to videotape the finals, which were rescheduled for Friday afternoon. They wanted to make sure they had footage for the next telecast, in Cape Coral, Fla., on September 20.

PWBA tour media director Gary Kohn coordinated the makeshift film crew. Only one camera was used to shoot the action; a second person was charged with keeping the ball-by-ball log.

In the first game of the finals, Stroud defeated Honeychurch and Barrette, 212-171-155. Dorin-Ballard then beat Stroud in the semifinal match, 205-147. As I got ready to bowl against Carolyn, I wasn't as nervous as I would have been for a regular telecast. Because the championship was held in the afternoon, I didn't have a lot of time that day to worry about what was going to happen.

I knew I had to bowl only one game and I was shooting well in practice, but I wasn't entirely confident. Carolyn was having a phenomenal year--one for which she eventually was named PWBA Player of the Year and the BOWLING DIGEST Women's Pro Bowler of the Year. Also, she probably has the best mental game of anybody on tour, so I wanted to be aggressive. I decided to play outside the first arrow--that's my "A" game.

Carolyn hit the pocket very well but didn't get many breaks. In the 5th frame I had a Brooklyn [crossover] strike and in the 8th I rolled a messenger [mixer] strike. Carolyn had a pocket hit in the 7th frame but wound up with a 7-10 split, which she didn't convert.

It wasn't until the 10th frame that I realized I had a chance to bowl a 300 game. My first two balls in the 10th were flush in the pocket. Before my 12th delivery, however, my Storm Tour Power got stuck in the ball return. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait for it more than 30 seconds, so I didn't get tense, nervous, or lose my concentration.

On that 12th shot, I was a little quick with my release; it looked as if the ball was going to end up in the gutter. The ball was literally halfway in, but it came back for a light strike. It was not one of my best shots, but all 10 pins fell down. Because I have a heavy ball roll, I can often roll a strike with a light hit.

I'm not one to show much emotion, but after that 300-224 victory I was so thrilled--not only for myself, but also for the fans, who were very supportive all week. I still couldn't believe I shot a 300. I was lucky the PWBA officials had that local cameraman film the Davie finals. The PWBA sent me a copy of the video, and it's something I'm never going to let get out of my hands. My dad made a copy for himself and my mother, but that's the last time it leaves my possession.