Pictured Is: Beverly Gonzalez Of Sierra Vista, AZ. Photo Courtesy Of Bowl.Com.
Beverly Gonzalez Officially Brings The Eagle To Sierra Vista. She Received It At Her Home On November 15.
The Right-Hander Rolled A 798 Series In Singles At The 100th Womens Championships To Win The Diamond Title.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Sierra Vista, AZ. - - - Even though this particular Eagle was not able to fly on its own to its final destination in Sierra Vista, AZ. It still had a little help in getting there from its friends in the over night shipping business.
So, when the Eagle finally found its way to Beverly Gonzalez's front door on Friday November 15. She was still surprised to see it waiting for her when she got home from work, despite the fact that she knew it was on its way to her.
"I knew it was coming, because the director of the USBC Women's Open Championship, had called me to confirm that it was my home address," said Beverly, a Loan Processor for Guild Mortgage in Sierra Vista. "I was anxious to actually hold it. I think my seven year-old daughter was just as excited as I was to finally have it."
To understand how the Eagle finally made it to its final destination in Sierra Vista, we have to flash back to Monday May 6. That's because that was the day that Gonzalez, 39, bowled in her doubles and singles event at the USBC Women's Open Championship in Wichita, Kansas. The 100th year of the tournament. During her singles competition at Northrock Lanes, the right-hander put together games of: 279, 243 and 276 for a 798 series.
"That by far was one of the biggest accomplishments I have ever achieved," she said, of her accomplishment and making history at the same time. "This means more to me, than rolling an 800 series, or 300 game. That is history."
Michelle Feidman of Auburn, NY., won the Classic Singles title at the 2009 event in Reno, NV., with an 816 series. Feidman's 816 series also is tied for the highest three-game total in tournament history. And Jodi Woessner of Oregon, OH., rolled an 816 series during doubles competition at the 2010 Women's Championship in El Paso, TX.
"Its still a very surreal feeling. I am just your average female bowler from a small town," she says, on looking back at the 100th Women's Championships. "Having the Eagle sitting on my table, just makes it more real. Like, 'did I really do that?".
She also rolled series of 602 in doubles, and a 596 in the team event for an all-events total of 1,996. A 1,975 all-events total rolled by Georgia Drewes of Wichita, was the all-events leader before Gonzalez took over the top spot.
"I found the shot in the last five frames of the doubles event. Once I got through the first game of singles, I was thinking this was going to be OK. I just took it one frame at a time, though. I never really focused on the entire event," she said, of her performance in the singles event. "I knew going into the last five frames of the third game, it was going pretty good and that I had a chance to cash this year. That was my only goal.
"I didn't realize it was going amazingly until after I threw my last shot, and my teammate told me I had just taken over the all-events and singles lead," she added. "I didn't even realize how close to an 8 I was. The shot held up well on the lanes, so I didn't have to adjust very much during my singles event."
During her 279 and 276 games in singles, Gonzalez started out with the front nine in both. She left a solid 10-pin on her last ball in the first game, and then a six count on her last ball in the third one.
"The first game, I don't think there is anything that I could have done differently," she said, of her 279. "I tapped it. It was a good shot, that just didn't carry. The third game, I was a little fast. I tugged the ball, so it came up high."
According to Bowl.com, Gonzalez has rolled 11 strikes-in-a-row three times. Those accomplishments coming on: 2/14/14, 7/11/11, and 1/12/09. She has one 800 series that was shot in February of 2015 at Pinnacle Family Entertainment Center in Clarksville, TN. After the 100th Women's Open Championship concluded in June, she finished in 33rd place in all-events.
"I have come close to rolling an 800 series a couple of times. My performance in the Nationals this year stands out leaps and bounds over that 800," she said, of her first 800 series. It was again, the 100th anniversary of the tournament, and I made history. It is such an honor to be among some of the greatest women bowlers."
And, to have her name permantly inscribed in the record books following the completion of the 100th anniversary of the tournament?
"It means a lot to me. My name is in the books. Its hard to describe. Bowling has always been part of my life," she added, on what it meant to her to win the Eagle in Wichita. "It has bonded my dad and I am so happy that he gets to see that. It's crazy to think that my daughters will have that to look at, too."
If you follow women's bowling in Arizona, you know the state is loaded with a lot of great female talent. Mandy Etem-Cirigliano, Shawna Strause, Brenda Burns, Kalyn Washburn-Arthurs, Bryanna Cote, Amanda Faulk, Hedi Woods, and Kyndle-Tooke-Farrell are some of the names that fall on this list of talented bowlers. But, it was Gonzalez who was the one who brought the Eagle home to Arizona.
"We do have a lot of talent here in the state. I am lucky to bowl among all of them," she said, of the female talent in Arizona. "I am not surprised that it was someone from Arizona that won the Eagle," she said, of her Diamond singles title. "I did surprise myself and I am sure a lot of people in the state, by bringing home the Eagle."
This was Gonzalez's seventh Women's Open Championship that she participated in. We had to ask if seven wasn't her lucky number before this years tournament, is it now?
"You are so right," she said, when asked about the number seven. "I just hope it doesn't take another seven, to do something great again!".
The first Women's Nationals she bowled in, was in Milwaukee, WI. Other national events that she bowled in were at: Reno, NV. Charlotte, NC. And El Paso, TX.
"Bowling in the Nationals, is always a very humbling experience. It challenges even the best of bowlers. It is something you have to go into for the experience," she said, of her previous experiences at the Nationals. "I have learned over the years to enjoy my time with my teammates, and make the most memories I can."
There is nothing mentally that tells Gonzalez that she is going to have a good day on the lanes. This is something that just comes with experience.
"I go to have fun. I focus on one frame at a time and not the whole game. If I am calculating what I need, then I am not getting anywhere," she said, of her mind-set when it comes to bowling. "If I focus on just the frame I am in, and making the best shot I can, then I do much better. I also have a little mantra that I say to myself, before every shot and usually a song in my head. Everyday is a good day on the lanes even when I am not scoring well. If I am there and doing what I love, it is a good day for me."
By working full-time and being a full-time mom of two girls, she is not able to fit in the practice time that she would like to. But, she is still able to bowl in two leagues, and sub in a third.
"2019 has been an amazing year bowling wise for me. Ever since nationals, I have cashed in all, but two tournaments that I have bowled in," she said, of how the year has gone for her thus far. "I feel that I am in the best form I have ever been on the lanes. I want to participate in at least one pro competition. When I was growing up in the sport, I always wanted to be a pro bowler. Once I became of age to join the women's tour, it was cancelled. Now that it is back, I would like to take my chance and see if I can hold up to the greats in women's bowling."
The PWBA Tour made its first stop in Tucson on June 6-8 at the now closed Golden Pin Lanes. Shannon O'Keefe is the defending champion of the Tucson Open. The PWBA Tour came to Tucson, to help Golden Pin Lanes go out with a bang. The bowling center closed on June 21. Lucky Strike Bowl in Tucson, will host the event from April 23-25, 2020.
"I did not bowl at Golden Pin last year, because I was en route to Vegas to bowl in the Open Nationals," she said, of the tour stop at Golden Pin. "I would like to bowl in the tour stop at Lucky Strike this year, and I am planning on it.
"Golden Pin was a staple to the Arizona bowling community. It was around for a very long time. I was sad at its closure, as I am sure many of us were," she said, on her memories of Golden Pin. "It just goes to show that if we don't promote and advance the sport, then it is going to die out. It is important to recruit our youth and keep people interested and informed."
She used the 'Terminator Red Eye' (now nicknamed the champ) in her singles championship win at the 100th Women's Open Championship. She is on staff with Tony's Bowling Supply, and Bret Murray from Bret's Pro Shop, drills her lay outs.
She graduated cum lade from UofA South in 2004, with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from the Eller School of Business. Before attending UofA, she went to Southern University and A&M College in Baton Roughe, LA; on a full bowling scholarship. She bowled there for two years. She was named the MVP. Had the highest average, and the highest GPA on the team, during her two year tenure on the team.
"At this point in my life I am no spring chicken anymore. I just want to be having fun, promoting the sport, and enjoying it. I will take a shot at bowling with the professionals at least once," she said, of where she wants her game to be moving forward. "My game is where it is now, because I have fun. I embrace the good and learn from the bad. I hope in five years to be watching my daughters bowling competitively and enjoying the game as much as I do."
She says the real estate market in the Sierra Vista has been doing well, and that it is a buyers market.
"The real estate market from a processors point of view, seems to be thriving. It is definitely a sellers market right now. There are a lot of buyers and not a lot of houses," she said, of the market in Arizona. "It tells me that in Sierra Vista our economy is doing well. We are a majority military and retirees. Its a nice calm town to raise kids and grow old on."
Arizona State Bowling News - December 10, 2019