ALLEN PARK, Michigan – Most bowlers will tell you that as a match comes down to the final frames, all they want is a chance.
Andrea Behr of Kettering, Ohio, found herself in that position during the final two matches of Saturday’s stepladder finals at the 2023 PWBA Greater Detroit Regional at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan.
Although she had never won a professional title when the day began, Behr ended it by performing like a veteran champion, downing Victoria Giardina of Shelby Township, Michigan, (224-219) in the semifinals and Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, (197-185) during the title match to collect the $2,200 winner’s check and her first PWBA Regional victory.
Behr admitted that the magnitude of what she had just accomplished hadn’t yet hit her in the moments immediately following her victory; nevertheless, she knew if felt good, and she certainly hadn’t forgotten what it took to get there.
“It was a grind all day, but I caught some lucky breaks,” Behr said. “My opponents left some doors open for me, and with carry on my side, I was able to take advantage. It was just amazing.”
What was more amazing was the way that Behr came through and delivered the shots that she needed time and time again throughout the stepladder finals.
She trailed Woessner throughout the championship match, falling behind by 24 pins at the halfway point and still facing a 16-pin deficit with two frames remaining.
Nevertheless, Behr wouldn’t give up, and when Woessner was unable to convert the 3-6-9-10 in the 10th frame, the door swung wide open.
Unwilling to let the opportunity slip away, Behr walked right through it, tripping a 4 pin for a strike on her first shot in the tenth to put herself on the brink of victory.
Needing seven pins for a tie or eight or more for the win, Behr struck on her next ball as well, giving her the title; it was the only time she led during the championship match.
“I’ve been in match-play situations before, so I know that when the ball is in my court, I have to take advantage,” Behr said. “I just try to stay calm and execute.”
In hindsight, maybe it should have been easy for Behr to stay calm and believe that she could pull off the come-from-behind victory over Woessner. After all, she had just done the very same thing against Giardina during the semifinals.
Giardina, who rolled the highest game of the tournament by shooting 299 during Game 2 of qualifying, jumped out to an early lead and seemed destined to eliminate Behr as their semifinal match moved toward the final frames.
However, when Giardina was unable to convert the bucket (2-4-5-8) in the ninth and was saddled with a pocket 7-10 split on her second ball in the tenth, Behr suddenly had a chance to win. She came through in fine fashion, delivering a double and nine to complete the comeback and move on to the title match.
Behr opened the stepladder finals by taking down No. 4 seed Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania, by a score of 211-203.
Saturday’s victory not only earned Behr a big check and a fancy trophy, but it also earned her a berth in the 2023 PWBA Regional Showdown, which will be held in December.
The field at the Regional Showdown will feature 16 players. Each regional champion in 2023 will automatically be seeded into match play at the event while the rest of the field will be determined through an eight-game qualifying round that will be open to all PWBA Regional-eligible bowlers.
The 16 players will compete in round-robin match play before the field is cut to the final four bowlers for the stepladder finals. The winner of the Regional Showdown will receive paid entries into all singles events on the 2024 PWBA National Tour schedule.
Behr didn’t realize that Saturday’s victory earned her a berth in the Regional Showdown, but she’s excited about the possibilities that affords.
“Bowling in the Regional Showdown will be a great opportunity,” Behr said. “I didn’t even know about that piece before. It’s going to take some hard work because all of the ladies who will bowl that are just amazing, but it’s still very exciting. The possibilities are endless.”
In the meantime, Behr plans to keep her sights set on other regional events, and she may even bolster her competition schedule as a result of Saturday’s win.
The next PWBA Regional event will be May 14 at the PWBA Spokane Regional. The tournament will be held at Lilac Lanes & Casino in Spokane, Washington, one day after competition concludes at the 2023 PWBA GoBowling! Spokane Open.
The 2023 PWBA Tour season will start in May at the PWBA Stockton Open in Stockton, California. The event will be contested from May 4-6 and kick off the 12-event national tour schedule.
