Kerry Smith Claims Victory at 2023 PWBA Regional Showdown in Thrilling Finale

A Hard-Fought Win in a Dramatic Championship Match

Kerry Smith of Lititz, Pennsylvania, emerged victorious at the 2023 Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Regional Showdown, securing her win in a thrilling title match against Gazmine Mason of Cranston, Rhode Island. The final match, held at Aloma Bowl and streamed live on BowlTV, ended with Smith’s 203-181 win over Mason.

As the top seed after 16 games of match play, Smith not only claimed the $4,000 top prize but also earned fully covered entry fees for the 2024 PWBA National Tour, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Smith’s Path to Victory

Smith’s journey to the championship began in July, when she won the PWBA Greater Pittsburgh Regional, earning an automatic spot in the round-robin match play at the Regional Showdown.

During Saturday’s match play, she dominated with a 7-1 record, finishing with a total pinfall of 3,727 and securing the No. 1 seed for the stepladder finals. Mason followed closely, earning the No. 2 seed with 3,696. The top four competitors advancing to the finals also included:

• No. 3 Andrea Behr (Kettering, Ohio) – 3,691
• No. 4 Ashly Galante (Palm Harbor, Florida) – 3,552

Behr made a significant leap into the finals by rolling a perfect 300 game in Game 15, while Galante climbed from sixth to fourth after winning her position-round match.

Stepladder Finals Recap

The first stepladder match between Behr and Galante was a nail-biter. Behr struck out in the 10th frame to apply pressure, forcing Galante to deliver a strike to advance. Galante rose to the challenge, winning 229-214 and moving on to face Mason.

The semifinal match between Mason and Galante was even closer. Both struggled at times, and the game ended in a 204-204 tie, forcing a one-ball roll-off. Mason struck first, while Galante left a 4-6-7 split, giving Mason the victory and a ticket to the final match against Smith.

A Battle Between the Top Two Seeds

In the championship match, Smith started strong with three consecutive strikes, but disaster struck in the fourth frame when her ball went into the gutter.

“I used to walk to the right, and I’ve worked on fixing it for years, but sometimes it still happens. On that shot, it was either throw it into the gutter or take out my ankle,” Smith later explained.

However, she recovered quickly, regaining her rhythm with a strike in the next frame. Mason kept her game clean until a 2-10 split in the sixth frame, opening the door for Smith. Both players stayed tied at 125 through seven frames and remained even heading into the final frame.

Smith finished first, delivering a crossover strike, an eight-count (3-6), and a spare, ending with 203. This left Mason needing a strike, nine-count, and a spare to win. However, she pushed her shot too far right, leaving another 2-10 split, ultimately finishing at 181—falling short for the second straight time in a PWBA Regional Showdown final.

A Milestone Victory for Smith

With this victory, Smith now holds three PWBA Regional titles and will have her 2024 PWBA National Tour entry fees covered.

Reflecting on her progress, Smith recalled her first PWBA National Tour show at the PWBA Waterloo Open in August, where she finished fifth. She had a simple message for her younger self:

“You did it.”

The 2023 PWBA Regional Showdown Wrap-Up

The PWBA Regional Showdown marked the final event of the 2023 PWBA Regional Tour season, which featured nine champions crowned throughout the year.

A total of 16 players advanced to match play after a grueling qualification process, and the top four based on total pinfall and match play performance earned their spot in the stepladder finals.

With an intense battle to the finish and a deserving champion in Kerry Smith, the 2023 PWBA Regional Showdowndelivered yet another unforgettable chapter in women’s professional bowling.