2006 California Princess Tournament has Co-Champions
 

Iris Pruitt	Lorri Scott

 
The California USBC Bowling Associations Princess Tournament held in Palmdale in October 2006 declared Co-Champions for the first time. Iris Pruett from the San Jose USBC Association and Lorri Scott from the Citrus Belt USBC Association both had scores of 1162 at the end of the 3 day tournament.

“Oh, how wonderful” was the reaction from Co-Champion Iris when she received my call. She later told me that when she hung up the phone, a slow impish grin flashed across her face and she wondered what her departed Uncle might be thinking. Her first attempt at bowling was with her Uncle when she was in her teens. The experience did not go well.

Many years later in 1987, Iris was invited to go bowling by Joel Resnick, who taught her the game. They joined a league together and began bowling each week. One season later, Iris was ready to quit bowling because of all the smoking. 

Three years ago after retiring from work, Iris and Joel started bowling again. Since returning to the game, she has averaged 123, 121 and 134 for the past 3 years. She studied the game, asked a lot of questions, and asked for help when needed. Donna Morales even made a cheat sheet for her. She attended a bowling clinic with Kim Terrell, the Ebonite representative, who started her on a 4 step approach instead of the 3 step approach she had been using and gave her helpful tips to hit the pocket. Skip Pavone gave her a lesson. 

Iris thanks Cary Smith of Rip the Rack Pro Shop and Kiely, who drilled and took such good care with her balls and told her to practice, practice, practice. Cyndee Sutherland and Janet Robertson are great with their helpful advice. Soon she was ready and joined Donna’s Ladies Traveling League. Thanks Donna, our group coordinator, for all your help and for putting together all the ladies to travel to the various tournaments held within the state. 

Iris was surprised with her tiara and plaque from the California USBC Association and a basket of goodies from the Antelope Valley Ladies at the San Jose USBC Association Princess Tournament. Thanks Donna for making this presentation. 

When Iris left the tournament she was sure she did not win because of all the tough competition of the talented ladies that bowled.

“I can’t believe it” was the reaction from Co-Champion Lorri Scott when she received my call. When Lorri left the tournament site, she was happy to have bowled so well.

Lorri has been bowling for over 30 years. About 3 years ago she joined an adult league, but was really struggling with her bowling. This past January, she asked a friend, Greg Ramirez for help.  What a turning point in her game. Greg had her change her bowling balls, shoes and her approach. He taught her to read the lanes. Lorri said “like many others, I never realized how much there was to learn about lane conditions.” With Greg’s help her average has improved by over 20 pins. If you ask Greg and Lorri brother, Lawrence, how long she has been bowling, they will tell you 10 months instead of 30 years.

Lorri sends her Thanks to Greg for all his continued help. Thanks also to Tony from the Pins and Needles Pro Shop at Brunswick Foothill Lanes for his excellent advice over the past several months to improve her game and keeping her bowling balls nice and clean.

Lorri sends her Thanks to Georgia Forch for traveling to Palmdale with her and for all her support during the tournament. She stated that she bowled against some tough opponents and her hat goes off to all the ladies who participated and to her co-champion, Iris.

Co-Champion, Lorri Scott was presented with her tiara, and plaque from the California USBC and a basket of goodies from the Antelope Valley Ladies in front of all the members of her Friday Niters league at Brunswick Foothill lanes in Fontana by Rosie Parker, Princess Tournament Chairman and Kathy Boese, Foothill Lane Service Rep from the Citrus Belt USBC Association.

The tournament had 237 bowlers entered from various areas within the state this year. The ladies bowled 5 games, changing lanes for the last two games.

Rosie Parker
California USBC Association Princess Chairman

 

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PAST PRINCESS CHAMPIONS
2006	Iris Pruett	San Jose
2006	Lorri Scott	Citrus Belt
2005	Miera Jean*	Chico
2004	Debra Williams*	Sacramento WBA
2003	Sarah Chapman*	Central Solano
2002	Michelle Funkhouser*	Orange County WBA
2001	Christy Allen*	Sacramento WBA
2000	Sandra L. Hingst*	Orange County WBA
1999	Roberta Dale*	Imperial Valley WBA
1998	Dolores Hendricks*	Diablo WBA

*Champion under CWBA hosting

Format: Five games singles + handicap for women with a book average of 175 and under.
Pre-requisites: 175 & under average. The champion will receive a tiara, plaque and paid entry into next year's event as well as with the tournament's prize money.