Vol.1, No. 1
Fall 2005

Trailblazer keeps hot streak going

Liz Johnson sets record as first female to win a PBA title

The premiere edition of US Youth Bowler featured trailblazer Liz Johnson on its center poster spread, and for good reason!

At the time we went to press, Johnson had given notice to the big boys of bowling – players in the Professional Bowlers Association – that women can earn a share of the PBA glory as well as a spot in match play finals of televised PBA events. Now she has set another record for women, becoming the first female to win a PBA title with her victory at the 2005 PBA East Region Kingpin Lanes Open in Rome, N.Y.

A Cheektowaga, N.Y., native, Johnson defeated exempt bowler and three-season PBA Tour veteran Michael Fagan 244-171 in the title match at Kingpin Lanes on Aug. 21. She began the match with four straight strikes and secured her victory with strikes in frames 6-9.

“I’ve been so close,” said Johnson, who has three second-place finishes in PBA competition. “After a couple of times, it kind of bugged me. I didn’t want to be second anymore.”

She advanced to the title match by beating four-time PBA Tour title-winner Ryan Shafer in the semifinals, 246-173.

Want to know more about Liz Johnson’s spectacular career prior to her first PBA title win? Check out the Pro Talk section on page 18 of our Fall 2005 edition of US Youth Bowler.

Liz Johnson was all smiles after her ground-breaking success Aug. 21 at the 2005 PBA East Region Kingpin Lanes Open in Rome, N.Y. Craig Vogel, proprietor of Kingpin Lanes, congratulated her on her historic win.

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