Diandra Asbaty was supposed to be in the prime of her career right now, a multi-time champion and star on the women’s pro bowling tour.
That seemed her destiny from when she was one of the most heralded young bowlers ever.
But the ending of a women’s pro tour relegated top women bowlers like Asbaty to just a couple of chances a year at top level competition.
That makes those events — especially the United States Bowling Congress Queens and the U.S Women’s Open — that much more coveted.
So winning one as Asbaty did in the USBC Queens on Tuesday night is even more of an achievement — and a dream come true.
Here is what Asbaty posted on her Facebook page after her Queens win, which was her first major title:
“It was a dream. Since I was a little girl, I used to imagine this exact situation while practicing alone at the bowling center. I threw it exactly like I practiced. But, I never imagined it would feel like this. Thank you to every single person who has rooted me on, believed in me, and picked me up when I was down. This, I didn't win alone. It's because of everyone who has helped build my character. For that, I will always be grateful.”
The win was made even sweeter — if that’s possible — by the trainwreck of a game she bowled for the Queens title in 2007, gruesome highlights of which were shown during Tuesday night’s telecast on ESPN2.
That loss was 192-143 to Kelly Kulick.
She was 101 pins better in beating USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard 244-227 on Tuesday night, striking on her first ball in the 10th to essentially clinch the win.
"I'm still in shock and literally feel like I'm in a dream," Asbaty said in this USBC news release. "It's every girl's dream to step up in the 10th against a bowler like Carolyn and throw a strike to win. She was one of my idols growing up and really inspired me. If I could take what happened in 2007 and change it, I still wouldn't do it. That moment and that heartbreak made this win possible."
Dorin-Ballard bowled a solid game of pocket shots but a 7-pin in the ninth and a ringing 10-pin in the final frame gave Asbaty the chance she needed.
"Am I disappointed? Absolutely. But I put the ball in the pocket and you can't control what happens sometimes," Dorin-Ballard said in the release. "Now it's time to work a little harder and get ready for the U.S. Women's Open in June."
The key for Asbaty was switching from a Storm Marvel Pearl after the semifinal match to a Roto Grip Critical Theory for the title match. That allowed her to move deeper and open the lane up much more than Dorin-Ballard could.
First was $20,000 and second $10,000.
More details are in the release.
Here is a great BowlTV video interview with Asbaty on her win.
And here is Chris Schlemer's report on the Queens.
2011 USBC QUEENS
International Training and Research Center, Arlington, Texas
Tuesday's Results
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Match 1
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. Josie Earnest, Nashville, Tenn., 268-223 (Earnest finishes fifth, earns $3,000)
Match 2
Diandra Asbaty, Chicago def. Johnson, 233-191 (Johnson finishes fourth, earns $5,000.)
Match 3
Asbaty def. Stefanie Nation, Grand Prairie, Texas, 270-185 (Nation finishes third, earns $7,000.)
Match 4
Asbaty def. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 244-227 (Dorin-Ballard finishes second, earns $10,000; Asbaty finishes first, earns $20,000.)
