The age of parity: a mix of rising stars and determined veterans makes this year's short-season sprint as compelling as any in years - 2003 PWBA Preview - Professional Women's Bowling Association

Bowling Digest, June, 2003 by Rick Woelfel

WHATEVER UNCERTAINties the PWBA may be facing off the lanes, there is little doubt that it will be putting a first-rate product on the approaches in 2003. In fact, the new season is shaping up as one of the most competitive in the organization's history, for a variety of reasons.

The tour's decision to reduce its schedule to 12 tournaments has turned what once was a long-distance race into a sprint. With the shortened schedule in place, at least for this year, the players will be looking to break out of the starting gate in a hurry.

"You really have to have it together," Kim Terrell says. "You really have to be very sharp. God forbid you don't match up to the pattern or something."

And while the list of players who cash regularly is fairly predictable, the pool of players capable of winning a tournament has gotten deeper. In 2001, when Carolyn Dorin-Ballard won seven titles and set one record after another, it was largely overlooked that Liz Johnson and Cara Honeychurch won four tournaments apiece.

Last year, no fewer than 12 players won rifles, parity that is likely to continue in the immediate future. The PWBA, at least for now, is a tour on which players of two different generations are flourishing. There is a small but talented group of young bowlers in their mid-to-late 20s who are flirting with elite status, but the thirtysomething veterans aren't going anywhere, either. The multitude of stars gives bowling fans a chance to sit back, anticipate, and debate who will be appearing on TV each week.

But even among the most elite bowlers in the world, a few names stand out. Last year, those names were Michelle Feldman and Leanne Barrette, who battled head-to-head at the top of the rankings for much of the season. Both bowlers won three events, with Feldman finishing at the top of the earnings and points lists and Barrette leading the tour in average. In the end, the 27-year-old Feldman was named Player of the Year by her PWBA peers, while BOWLING DIGEST honored the pair as Co-Bowlers of the Year.

While neither Feldman nor Barrette shows any sign of slowing down, they will have a crowded pack of players nipping at their heels. Tiffany Stanbrough, 25, opened some eyes when she won two of the season's last three tournaments. Kelly Kulick, 26, did everything but win, while Brenda Norman and Kendra Gaines, both 29, also made it into the winner's circle.

And their elders are not quite ready to step aside. After her monster year in 2001, Dorin-Ballard "slumped" all the way to third in the rankings, won twice, and was second to Barrette on the average list. Dorin-Ballard will turn 39 in July, but her competitive fires seem to be burning as brightly as ever. Wendy Macpherson, 35, didn't win, but she finished fifth in the rankings, proving that even after 16 years on tour and four Player of the Year awards in the last seven seasons, she still has some gas left in the tank.

Terrell, 37, and Liz Johnson, who will be 29 in May, both won tournaments, as did 35-year old Kim Adler, who captured her first title in more than two years. And no list of elite players would be complete without Honeychurch, who took some time off from bowling and missed five tournaments, but still picked up a win and enhanced her status as the tour's top lefty.

It's so difficult to determine a clear favorite for Bowler of file Year honors in 2003 that we asked the players to help us out. Here's a rundown of the top players on tour, including comments from their peers--all of whom were promised anonymity in return for their candor.

The Top Guns

Michelle Fredman (R)
Age: 27
Years on tour: 10
Career titles: 11

Ask the tour veterans who among today's young players is most likely to reach megastar status and Feldman's name is usually the first one mentioned. She won three times in 2002 (St. Clair Shores Classic, Louisville, and San Diego) and was named Player of the Year by her peers, who sense she is starting to harness her raw power and improve her consistency. She also led the tour in earnings, cashed in all 19 events, made nine shows, and was a First Team WIBC All-American.

WHAT THE PROS SAY: "She is absolutely amazing to watch. TV does her no justice as to what she really does to a bowling ball. She would be one of the few women on our tour who could compete with the men."

Another veteran feels that Feldman still has some growing to do. "She has great physical talent and throws the most powerful ball on tour. You can't deny what she does. But she needs some other tricks in her bag. We know she can win two, three, four, five times a year, but there are times when she comes in 15th or 20th, where if she just got a couple more tricks in her bag, she wouldn't be down that low, and possibly would win more."

Leanne Barette (R)
Age: 35
Years on tour: 17
Career titles: 26

Three wins last year (Empire State Classic, Syracuse, and Three Rivers Open) put her within striking distance of Lisa Wagner's record of 32 career victories. But the shortened schedule makes it highly unlikely, by Barrette's own admission, that she will challenge the mark in 2003. Despite battling a hip injury, Barrette led the tour in average and was just nosed out for top PWBA honors by Feldman. Barrette cashed in 18 of 19 starts, made nine shows, was named the honorary captain of the WIBC All-America team--her eighth First Team appearance--and was second on the money list.