Kadry on Bowling: Women’s championships begin in Abu Dhabi

The 2015 World Bowling Women’s Championships kicked off this week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at Khalifa International Bowling Centre.

The worldwide event includes nearly 150 women bowlers from 30 countries competing for medals in six events. The weeklong event will include Singles, Doubles, Trios, Team, All-Events and Master Match Play. The tournament will feature two different lane conditions – a short and a long oil pattern. Each event will have two qualifying squads before cutting to the top four for the semifinals.

The last World Championships were held in Las Vegas in 2013 and combined both the men and women. South Korea claimed the Team title and the medal count, while the United States earned its fourth second-place finish in the five previous World Championships. In the other, the 2011 event in Hong Kong, Team USA took the gold in Team.

This year’s Team USA includes Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y., Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., Shannon Pluhowsky of Kettering, Ohio, and Shannon O’Keefe of O’Fallon, Ill.

Participating countries this year are: Australia, Bahamas, Canada, China, Taiwan, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, South Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela and the host country United Arab Emirates. ...

Pat Kirschman was the top scorer in the Yosemite Senior No-Tap Tournament and won the women’s side with her 921 total. Sharon Moore rolled an 878 to finish second. Claudelle Bonaccinie took third with an 855. Marion Roberts topped the men’s list with an 898 total. Gary Riley was next in line with an 886 set, followed by Mike Seibel in third tallying an 845. ...

The team of Teeny Allen, Valerie Rodgers and Joyce Lewis won the Ladies Trio Tournament at McHenry with a score of 2,312. Taking second with a team score of 2,177 was the threesome of Rose Baker, Tena Cozby and Carol Hancock. Kathy Wesley, Olivia Clinton and Mary Eccleston teamed up to take third, posting a 2,168. Wesley rolled a nice 722 set for the team. ...

This Friday there are two tournaments on the calendar. The Ladies Luncheon No-tap Tournament runs at Yosemite starting at 9:30 a.m. Check-in is 9 a.m. Trio teams of women bowl three games with no-tap scoring. In the afternoon, the Christmas Celebration runs at McHenry. The singles event has a prize list for both men and women. Potluck is at noon, check-in at 12:30 p.m. and tournament scoring at 1 p.m. ...

Both pro shops are running Christmas specials this month. Yosemite Pro Shop is featuring a Basic Ball, Bag and Shoe package including drilling for $133 plus tax. For the higher-end bowling ball, they have the Melee Special for $155 plus tax and including drilling and inserts. At Bowling Outfitters at McHenry, there is a 10 percent discount on all balls, bags and shoes. Seniors and veterans will receive a 15 percent discount. Gift certificates for bowling are also available at the bowling centers in any amounts. ...

The New Year’s in Paris No-tap Tournament celebrates at McHenry on Dec. 31 at 12:30. A buffet lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Call 209-571-2695 for more information or to sign up. ...

The McHenry Strike-Out-Hunger program will be running through Christmas. Every five cans of food or nonperishable food item is good for one game of bowling anytime during the day or evening. Bowl when you bring in your donation or receive a coupon to come back another time. ...

Nominations are open for the Modesto Bowling Hall of Fame and Pioneer Awards. Applications are available at the bowling centers. Deadline for submittal is Jan. 31.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Kadry on Bowling: Women’s championships begin in Abu Dhabi."