Kulick makes history, becomes first woman to win a PBA Tour title
Move over Billie Jean King.
Former Morehead State University bowler Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., became the first woman ever to win a major title on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour Sunday as she captured the 2010 Tournament of Champions at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas.
“History has been made in the world of sports,” Kulick said as she prepared to throw her last ball of the game.
The former Eagle ran away with the championship as she defeated Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, by 70 pins (265-195).
Kulick opened the championship with four strikes and ended with 10 strikes, including six straight in frames 6-10.
“This day will never be forgotten. I will think about this day over-and-over again in my career and my lifetime. I am so happy my mom was here to witness this,” said the 32-year-old bowler.
“This is, by far, the greatest accomplishment in my career.”
She beat Mika Koivuniemi of Hartland, Mich., to advance to the final. With the victory, she earns a two-year exemption to the PBA tour.
Kulick earned a berth in the Tournament of Champions by winning the PBA Women's World Championship, the first PBA women's major tournament. The Tournament of Champions is one of the PBA Tour's four major tournaments.
In June 2006, she was the first woman to earn a PBA Tour exemption and has two PBA Women Series titles.
The only other woman to make it to a PBA final was another former MSU bowler, Liz Johnson, who lost in the championship of the 2005 Banquet Open.
Kulick, a three-time All-American, was the 1997 and 1998 Collegiate Bowler of the Year while at MSU. In 1998, she helped guide coach Larry Wilson’s squad to the National Championship.
The MSU women won national championships in 1989, 1998, 2000 and 2002, were runner-ups in 1993 and finished in third place in 2006.