PWBA Communications
EAGAN, Minn. – Summer Jasmin of Beckley, W.Va., earned her fourth Professional Women’s Bowling Association Regional Tour title Sunday at Cedarvale Lanes by beating Kathlene Addair of Moncks Corner, S.C. in the title match, 214-190.
Jasmin qualified as the top seed after the eight-game qualifying block with a 1,770 total, good for a 221 average, and waited to see who her opponent would be. Addair, who was making her first PWBA stepladder appearance, was the No. 2 seed and advanced to face Jasmin after a 221-189 semifinal win over Anna Warkel of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The title match began with both competitors opening within the first three frames as Addair opened in the second frame after leaving the 2-8-10 split, while Jasmin left and missed a 7-pin one frame later after a double. The next two frames saw the two finalists double to keep things close halfway through the match, but a second open for Addair, the 3-6-9-10 combo, in the sixth frame swung momentum back to Jasmin.
A third double for Jasmin in frames seven and eight nearly shut the door on Addair, who needed to strike out to have any chance at the title. A strike in the eighth kept Addair’s hopes alive, but a light 2 pin the following shot essentially ended her run for a regional title. Addair closed with 190 while Jasmin just needed count to win, and she did just that to clinch the win with 214 to earn her fourth PWBA Regional title, the $2,100 top prize and an automatic berth into the PWBA Regional Showdown in December. Addair took home $1,050 for her runner-up finish.
For Jasmin, the victory marked another milestone 10 years after she won her first regional title by defeating PWBA and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Liz Johnson at the 2016 PWBA Diamond Jo Midwest Open.
“I just feel like a different bowler, just a little more confident in everything,” Jasmin said. “And I think all the patience and practice has paid off.”
Jasmin said she focused on giving herself enough room to feel comfortable during Sunday’s stepladder and was able to overcome some recent struggles, including injuries and inconsistent spare shooting.
“I wanted to make sure I gave myself enough room to feel comfortable, and I did that,” Jasmin said. “Definitely made the right choices. I struggled with some spare shooting today and just overcame some troubles I’ve had in the last couple weeks with some injuries. But overall, just threw it great all day today.”
The victory also sends Jasmin to the PWBA Regional Showdown for the second consecutive year. After finishing 14th at last year’s event, Jasmin plans to approach this year’s competition with a more open mindset as she looks to adjust to the changing lane conditions.
“I just have to trust what I’m seeing on the lanes versus what I know happened before and what worked, and being more in the moment,” Jasmin said.
Jasmin also encouraged bowlers who may be considering joining the PWBA Regional Tour to take the opportunity and see where it leads.
“If you have that thought in your mind and you want to try it, I think you should go out there and give it a shot,” Jasmin said. “If you like it, just keep doing it, because, if you keep knocking on that door, that door’s going to open eventually.”
Jasmin added that her own journey through the Regional Tour is proof that persistence can eventually pay off.
“I had a little spell where I struggled a lot in regionals, but the last couple years, I’ve made a bunch of stepladders,” Jasmin said. “And just like I said, keep knocking on that door, and that door opens, you’re going to win one eventually.”
The stepladder finals began with No. 3 seed Warkel and No. 4 seed Kayla Verstraete of Loves Park, Ill., both making their first PWBA stepladder appearance. Verstraete struggled early with three opens in the first four frames while Warkel didn’t make any big mistakes and she advanced with a 219-155 win. Verstraete earned $605 for fourth place.
The semifinal match between Warkel and Addair played out in a similar way, but Warkel opened twice in the first six frames and was unable to recover as Addair stayed clean for 221 to Warkel’s 189. Warkel earned $805 for her third-place finish.
The PWBA Regional Tour continues Sept. 27 with the PWBA Albany Regional at Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center in South Glens Falls, N.Y.