SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967 Kulick And Johnson Offer Analysis Norm Duke Joins The Of U.S. Women’s Open Lane Conditions Storm Nation GREENDALE, Wis. - After competing regularly on the Denny's PBA Tour last sea- son, two accomplished women have a unique insight about the lane conditions they will Storm Products is proud to announce that 26-time PBA champion Norm Duke has face at the upcoming U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event. joined its’ staff of champions. Kelly Kulick, who won the U.S. Open when it was last held in 2003 and recently won Duke led the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour with three titles and was dominant in the 2007 USBC Queens, also was the 2001 Professional Women's Bowling Association winning all three, using Storm equipment the entire year. Rookie of the Year, but had her professional career cut short when the PWBA ceased Duke’s first title came in the 2006 Lake County Indiana Classic where he went a operations in 2003. She later became the first woman to qualify for the PBA Tour's ex- perfect 14-0 in match play to set a new Denny's PBA Tour record as the first bowler empt field and averaged 211.9 in 19 events last season. ever to go 14-0 in a tournament. Duke then won four matches in the championship Liz Johnson, an 11-time PWBA titlist and the first woman to win a PBA regional title, round of the 2006 Columbia 300 Classic en route to his second title in the first half. was a regular in the PBA's weekly Tour Qualifying Rounds last season and averaged 212.7 in 17 Tour appearances. Late in the second half, Duke dominated the 2007 Pepsi Championship, leading Both are well-versed in the five PBA Experience oil patterns, which will be used dur- after each round to earn the top seed for the stepladder finals where he cooled off ing the U.S. Women's Open, and offer their analysis of each: Storm's Ryan Shafer after he had fired the 18th nationally-televised 300 game in VIPER Tour history. Duke set a new Denny's PBA Tour single-season average record with Kulick: "I tend to use a weaker, pin-up ball and play the outside from board eight and his 228.47 average. He finished eighth in the PBA World Point Rankings and sixth in out. This pattern usually has a lot of hold down the lane and allows me to miss inward earnings ($127,000) despite withdrawing from eight events. Duke went 7-1 in his on occasion with a positive result. The breakpoint is close to the gutter. As the lanes four championship round appearances, with his only loss coming in the 2007 PBA break down, I follow it inward, but always try to get it to the gutter. I can begin to play Tournament of Champions semifinal. He also finished fifth in the 64th U.S. Open, this pattern fairly straight all the time." one spot shy of the championship round. Johnson: "This is one of the higher-scoring patterns, and I generally like to play a Duke finished second in the 2006-07 Player of the Year race. He won the award little closer to the gutter. The strategy is similar to the Cheetah, the highest-scoring pat- in 1994 and 2000. tern, but since the Viper is a couple of feet longer, I usually start out with a stronger ball. “I’m excited to officially join the Storm staff, said Duke. “I have used Storm exclu- As far as surface, I go with something in the middle, since something too dull will burn sively since the fall of 2005 by choice because I felt Storm had, and has, the best up too early." equipment on the market. I’m just thrilled to be a part of team and look forward to a SCORPION great future together.” Kulick: "Your basic league-type condition. You can attack this pattern from different “Storm is excited to welcome Norm Duke to the Storm Nation,” said Storm Mar- angles. My success in the past has been limited. I have yet to match up very well, even keting Director Steve Kloempken. “We’ve had a great relationship with Norm over though it is a high-scoring pattern. The outside usually plays well. As it breaks down, the years. His history with Storm dates back to 1996, with Norm’s record-setting just keep chasing it in. I plan to get through the first two games, move inward, and hope I can bank the track where the other women may play." performance rolling three consecutive 300 games with the original Fire Storm™. As Johnson: "This pattern is my biggest challenge, and the strategy usually depends on a free agent since 2005, Norm’s been able to use whichever brand he felt gave him who I'm crossing with and following. I like to start around the track area with something the best chance of winning. His three wins last year on tour with Storm speaks vol- stronger, but the surface is important, too. I like to go with something that's not too dull umes!” and not too shiny. This pattern is a little touchy because there's not as much hold. As "Norm is a huge addition to the staff," said Storm Tour Representative Chris the lanes transition, I will either move a little deeper or stay where I am and go to some- Schlemer."He has used Storm balls the last two years. Norm makes things happen thing weaker." and we are very happy to have him." SHARK Duke resides in Clermont, Florida and is an analyst (with Storm's Randy Peder- Kulick: "By far the toughest pattern. I have some success using a ball with surface sen) for the Denny's Pro Bowlers Tour on ESPN. and playing near the track. I try and use a little tilt so the ball has a slight change in direction. I try very hard to not give up the pocket. Even if I start to play inside around well, but I'm not scoring that high. It's usually pretty easy to find the pocket, but the hard 20, I use a ball with surface and never give up the pocket. I play it as a fall back shot part is finding something that's going to help you strike. I like to start with stronger sometimes. Worst case scenario, you leave a lot of weak 10 pins which is a good thing. equipment and work off of that by using different layouts, and I attack this one similar to Make your spares." the Viper." Johnson: "This is the longest of the patterns, and I like to use an early-rolling ball with Kulick lists the Viper as her best pattern, followed by the Chameleon, Scorpion, a lot of surface and play around 8-10. On wood, like at the Tour Trials, I'd play in the Cheetah and Shark. Johnson also prefers the Viper, followed by the Chameleon, Chee- track or even a little deeper. Because of the length and volume of this pattern, you defi- tah, Shark and Scorpion. nitely can't miss to the right." Competition at the U.S. Women's Open begins Monday at the National Bowling Sta- CHAMELEON dium in Reno, Nev. Competitors will bowl eight qualifying games on the Viper, Scor- Kulick: "One of my favorite patterns. Again, I play as far out as a can with a weaker pion, Shark and Chameleon patterns, and the field will be cut to the top 16 after 32 ball. However, my mistakes have to be to the right. Because of the light volume of oil, games. there isn't any hold toward the middle. As this pattern transitions, I quickly move my feet The players who advance to the top 16 are guaranteed at least $3,000 and will take left but keep my eyes right. I over exaggerate my target to the right to ensure it will go in part in a bracket-elimination format, which will be contested on the Cheetah pattern and that direction. A weak, pin-down, pearlized ball works great for me on this pattern." aired at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN on Sept. 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7. The final four competi- Johnson: "You can play this pattern from different angles. I think the women will tors will return to Reno for a live televised championship round on Oct. 14 also at 1 p.m. probably start further outside with more surface, while the PBA players generally start Eastern. around the second or third arrows. I think this pattern favors me because it's lower scor- The U.S. Women's Open has an entry fee of $250 and is open to any female USBC ing, which I prefer." member. The event will feature a guaranteed prize fund of $150,000, including $25,000 CHEETAH to the winner. Kulick: "On synthetic surface, I score well. The first two games I need A LOT of sur- So far, more than 120 players have booked their tickets to Reno, but there still is face. With my tilt, when the ball sees friction, it makes a 90 degree left turn. As the oil plenty of time to enter. The final entry deadline is 6 p.m. on Sunday, just before the start carries down, more hold is developed. The trick for me on this pattern is matching up of the tournament's official practice session.