Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Shannon Pluhowsky elected BWAA Bowlers of the Year
02/22/05
Walter Ray Williams Jr. and amateur Shannon Pluhowsky have been voted 2004 Bowlers of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America. It was the record eighth time Williams has been honored by the BWAA voters and the third consecutive year that the California-born right-hander has been so honored. He also earned that title in 1986, 1993, 1996-98 and 2002-03.
The Ocala, Fla. resident won the January ABC Masters, Earl Anthony Classic and Uniroyal Tire Classic, led the Professional Bowlers Association's money earnings list with $289,600 and cashed in all 21 PBA Tour events he entered. He averaged 224. Williams will be inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame March 17 in Baton Rouge, La.
The voters gave Williams an overwhelming victory with 77 first place votes and 426 points, far ahead of runner-up Mika Koivuniemi of Finland who garnered 222 points with 19 first place votes. Other receiving first place votes were Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo. and Steve Jaros of Yorkville, Ill.
Pluhowsky enjoyed an outstanding year by winning her third U.S. Amateur Championship and her second AMF Bowling World Cup. She was the NCAA Women's Bowling Championships' most valuable player while helping her University of Nebraska team win the inaugural title and she captured the first Intercollegiate Women's Singles Championship.
She received 35 first place votes and 230 points. Runner-up was Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas with 20 first place votes and 165 points. Also in the running was amateur Diandra Asbaty of Chicago with 18 first place votes and 153 points. Others receiving first place votes were Liz Johnson of Tonawanda, N.Y.; Wendy MacPherson of Henderson, Nev.; Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., and 2004 WIBC Queens champion Marianne DiRupo of Dearborn, Mich.
In the absence of a professional women's bowling tour, this was the first year that professional bowlers did not dominate the voting. A dramatic reduction in opportunities for professional women bowlers to compete allowed amateur bowlers to dominate the national and international scene.
United States
Walter Ray Williams Jr. and amateur Shannon Pluhowsky have been voted 2004 Bowlers of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America. It was the record eighth time Williams has been honored by the BWAA voters and the third consecutive year that the California-born right-hander has been so honored. He also earned that title in 1986, 1993, 1996-98 and 2002-03.The Ocala, Fla. resident won the January ABC Masters, Earl Anthony Classic and Uniroyal Tire Classic, led the Professional Bowlers Association's money earnings list with $289,600 and cashed in all 21 PBA Tour events he entered. He averaged 224. Williams will be inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame March 17 in Baton Rouge, La.
The voters gave Williams an overwhelming victory with 77 first place votes and 426 points, far ahead of runner-up Mika Koivuniemi of Finland who garnered 222 points with 19 first place votes. Other receiving first place votes were Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo. and Steve Jaros of Yorkville, Ill.
Pluhowsky enjoyed an outstanding year by winning her third U.S. Amateur Championship and her second AMF Bowling World Cup. She was the NCAA Women's Bowling Championships' most valuable player while helping her University of Nebraska team win the inaugural title and she captured the first Intercollegiate Women's Singles Championship. She received 35 first place votes and 230 points. Runner-up was Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas with 20 first place votes and 165 points. Also in the running was amateur Diandra Asbaty of Chicago with 18 first place votes and 153 points. Others receiving first place votes were Liz Johnson of Tonawanda, N.Y.; Wendy MacPherson of Henderson, Nev.; Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., and 2004 WIBC Queens champion Marianne DiRupo of Dearborn, Mich.
In the absence of a professional women's bowling tour, this was the first year that professional bowlers did not dominate the voting. A dramatic reduction in opportunities for professional women bowlers to compete allowed amateur bowlers to dominate the national and international scene.