ALLEN PARK, Mich.- Using a six-game block of 1,541, Stephanie Zavala of Long Beach, California, vaulted into the lead at the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Pepsi Open in Detroit at Thunderbowl Lanes.
Zavala had games of 246, 268, 269, 226, 296 and 236 for a total of 1,541, the fifth-highest six-game qualifying total since 2015 in her second qualifying block of the day. She had an overall total of 2,837.
Zavala made a big adjustment heading into the second qualifying block after starting with a 173 in Round 1.
“Looking back, I just started way too far left,” she said. “For me, short patterns are hard for me to get the ball to stop hooking so it was just get left quick, which in hindsight wasn’t the right move. By the time I chased it back right, that’s when scores started coming up.”
Zavala described this season as a rollercoaster with the up and down showings from week to week.
“I started hot out of the gates, making that show (in Eagan), but missed the next one. It felt like I kept going brakes, reverse and step on the gas. Taking a break after the Women’s Open was really good to help figure out my head and the arm swing.”
She had a good showing at the first event of Tour Championship Week, the Greater Detroit Open, finishing in 19th. She is currently 16th in points for the PWBA Tour Championship event, solidifying her spot into the major event after today’s qualifying blocks.
Match play begins Saturday at 9 a.m. Eastern with the first of two six-game blocks, with the second block starting at 2 p.m. and the stepladder finals beginning at 6:30 p.m. All rounds will be streamed live on BowlTV.
