GREELEY, Colo. – Chloe Herman of Aurora, Colorado, took home her first Professional Women’s Bowling Association Regional win Saturday evening at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colorado, climbing the ladder in doing so.
Herman defeated Avery Domaguin of San Diego, California, in a back-and-forth title match, 205-189, taking home $1,600 and an automatic spot into match play at the PWBA Regional Showdown in December.
Herman used a final qualifying game of 257 to jump into the top four as the No. 3 seed and have a chance at the regional win.
“I threw three bad shots during Game 7 for the 190 game, then in the 10th frame I jumped back right to where I started the day. Threw the same ball with no surface and it looked great, I just made some good shots,” said Herman.
In the opening match, Herman fired off the first six strikes and finished with a 243 against Emily Eckhoff of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, who fell behind early after opening in frames five and six. Eckhoff finished with 200 and a fourth-place finish for $580 while Herman began her climb up the ladder.
In the semifinal match, Herman took on Jasmine Snell of Papillion, Nebraska. The two competitors were neck and neck, including two Brooklyn strikes for Snell to benefit from in the middle of the game. A 3-10 baby split miss in the ninth frame by Snell was the breaking point however, and Herman cruised to another victory with 247 and strikes from frames two through eight. Snell ended with a 215 and $650 for her third-place finish.
The title match saw Herman and Domaguin struggle to get anything going, but kept things mostly clean, with Domaguin having the only miscue of the match in frame seven with a 2-8-10 split.
In the final frame, Herman ended first, needing a double and count to shut out Domaguin. Herman struck in the first ball of the 10th, but a wrap 10 pin allowed Domaguin the opportunity to win, as she could max with 211 while Herman ended with 205.
Domaguin threw the first shot in the 10th, and it looked good the entire way, but a wrap 10 pin of her own sealed the win for Herman. A 189 finish for Domaguin resulted in a second-place finish and $850 for her SMART account.
Spare shooting was key for Herman, especially in the title match where every pin counted in a close match.
“I really just tried to get the ball off my hand good, which was more important than my normal shots.”
Herman also had revealed that she was bowling for two, announcing her pregnancy. Bowling the Regional Showdown is still the first thing on her mind, however.
“As long as I can still swing it, I’ll be there.”
The PWBA Regional Tour continues Nov. 3, with the PWBA Rochester Regional in Gates, New York, before the PWBA Regional Showdown in Winter Park, Florida, Dec. 5-7 to close out the year.
