ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Missy Parkin started Friday’s opening round of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Sonoma County Open with a 276 game and her closing game wasn’t too shabby, either.
Parkin, from Laguna Hills, California, had a 1,919 pinfall total, nearly a 240 average for the eight games of the first round, to grab the early lead at the PWBA Sonoma County Open at Double Decker Lanes. Parkin has a 59-pin lead over Singapore’s Shayna Ng, who is followed by Sandra Gongora of Mexico, Valerie Bercier of Spring Lake, Minnesota, and Aruba’s Thashaina Seraus.
BowlTV.com is providing live coverage of the 2019 PWBA Sonoma County Open.
“It’s always a lot easier when you get off to a good start,” Parkin said. “Your swing loosens up and I was able to execute a lot better, which, in this building, that is key.”
Though her hometown is a good seven hours away, Parkin said she has competed in the center quite often. Besides PWBA events, she also has bowled in PBA regional events at Double Decker Lanes and knows the lanes can be tricky, but she was able to stay consistent throughout the day.
Parkin’s lowest game in the eight-game set was a 201 – “That’s always awesome when you can say you bailed out a 200 game” – and she closed with a 299.
“That was a lot of fun,” Parkin said of the 299 game. “I wasn’t playing those lanes the same and I got really lucky because I had good reads early and made the proper adjustments. I really liked the last shot.”
Parkin also likes the fact her son, D.J., and husband Drew are able to attend this week’s event. She said someone always is out with her each week to help with D.J., who just turned a year and five months old.
“I feel very fortunate that I am able to have my family out here with me,” Parkin said. “It really does take a village, because with my travel schedule and competing week in and week out, I really need a lot of support and I’m grateful for everybody who has helped out.”
The tournament continues Friday afternoon, with the eight-game second round before the field is cut to the top 32 players, who will bowl eight more games Saturday morning. The field then will be cut to the top 12, who will bowl six additional games with the top four players based on total pinfall advancing to Saturday’s stepladder finals.
Double Decker Lanes also will host the third PWBA Regional event of the season on Sunday. At the PWBA Regional, competitors will bowl eight games of qualifying with the top four advancing to the stepladder finals. The winner of this week’s PWBA Regional earns a spot in the Go Bowling! PWBA Regional Showdown, a special made-for-TV event to be taped Aug. 17 in conjunction with the PWBA Orlando Open.
