Liz Kuhlkin (pictured above) of Schenectady, New York, rolled through the stepladder finals Saturday, winning three matches to claim the title at the 2015 Professional Women's Bowling Association Topeka Open presented by Prairie Band Casino & Resort.

Kuhlkin, who recently wrapped up her collegiate career at Nebraska, defeated Danielle McEwan (right) of Stony Point, New York, 241-203, in the championship match at West Ridge Lanes in Topeka, Kan.

In each of her three matches, Kuhlkin put herself in good position heading into the final frame not needing even a mark to lock up the victory.

"This is amazing because after I missed the cut to match play the last three events, my goal was just to make the first cut," Kuhlkin said. "Then I exceeded my goal and made the stepladder and found a way to win. It's just unreal."

Kuhlkin, who fired the first 300 in a standard PWBA event this season in match play Saturday, knew she would need to make an adjustment for the stepladder finals.

"The ball I threw in the stepladder was one I didn't throw at all this week," Kuhlkin said. "I knew I had to try something different because my look wasn't very good on the fresh."

In the opening match of the stepladder, Kuhlkin took down 18-time Colombian national team member Clara Juliana Guerrero (left), 224-205. In the semifinal, Kuhlkin topped United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Liz Johnson (right) of Cheektowaga, New York, 247-202.

Kuhlkin earned $10,000 for the title and a spot in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship presented by GoBowling.com, which will be contested in Arlington, Texas, in September.

 

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PWBA Topeka Open - Stepladder Finals

West Ridge Lanes in Topeka, Kan., United States (Aug. 6-8, 2015)

Championship Round:
1. Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 712 (3 games), $10,000
2. Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 203 (1 game), $5,000
3. Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 202 (1 game), $3,500
4. Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 205 (1 game) $3,000

Playoff Results:
First Match One: No. 3 Kuhlkin def. No. 4 Guerrero, 224-205
Second Match Two: Kuhlkin def. No. 2 Johnson, 247-202
Championship: Kuhlkin def. No. 1 McEwan, 241-203.

 

PWBA Topeka Open - Match Play Results

Players with position, hometown/country and 16-game total including bonues pins (30 bonus pins for a win, 15 bonus pins for a tie); top four advance to the stepladder finals, places 5-16 show earnings.

1, Danielle McEwen, Stony Point, N.Y., 11-5-0, 6,450
2, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 10-6-0, 6,343
3, Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 9-7-0, 6,253
4, Clara Guerrero, Pflugerville, Texas, 10-6-0, 6,196

Missed Cut:
5, Diana Zavjalova, Beavercreek, Ohio, 9-7-0, 6,188, $2,000
6, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 8-8-0, 6,182, $1,850
7, Kamilah Dammers, Aruba, 10-6-0, 6,126, $1,800
8, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 8-8-0, 6,108, $1,750
9, Shannon Sellens, Copiague, N.Y., 9-7-0, 6,100, $1,700
10, Jennifer Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 8-8-0 6,017, $1,650
11, Brandi Branka, Momence, Ill., 7-9-0, 5,993, $1,550
12, Bryanna Caldwell, Red Rock, Ariz., 7-9-0, 5,921, $1,500
13, Stefanie Johnson, Grand Prairie, Texas, 6-10-0, 5,909, $1,450
14, Sarah Lokker, New Baltimore, Mich., 5-11-0, 5,744, $1,400
15, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 5-11-0, 5,726, $1,350
16, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 6-10-0, 5,694 $1,300