Jordan Richard Claims Second PWBA Title of 2023 at Great Lakes Classic

A Familiar Victory at Spectrum Lanes

Jordan Richard of Tipton, Michigan, continues to make waves on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour. On Tuesday night, she secured her second title of the 2023 season by winning the PWBA Great Lakes Classic at Spectrum Lanes in Wyoming, Michigan. In a dominant performance, Richard defeated England’s Verity Crawley 241-171 in the championship match, aired live on BowlTV.

While this was her first professional title at Spectrum Lanes, the 28-year-old right-hander has a long history of success at this venue, having competed (and won) there frequently in youth tournaments. Her victory earned her $12,000 and made her the first two-time champion on the 2023 PWBA Tour.

Crawley, who was also aiming for her second win of the season, took home $6,000 as the runner-up.

The Road to Victory

Both Richard and Crawley entered the final match as titleholders this season, making it a significant battle in the PWBA Player of the Year race. The match started off strong, with Richard rolling a four-bagger (four consecutive strikes) and Crawley striking in her first three frames. However, Crawley struggled with open frames in the fifth through eighth, including two chops, a split, and a washout.

Richard also faced some adversity, opening in the fifth frame, but she rebounded quickly with another four-bagger to seal her victory. This marks her second title in less than a month, having won the PWBA GoBowling! Spokane Open on May 13.

Winning at Spectrum Lanes was particularly special for Richard, as the center holds fond memories for her and her family.

“We used to bowl MJMA (Michigan Junior Masters Association) at Spectrum at least once a year, and I won here, my older sister won here, and my twin won here as well,” Richard shared. “It’s kind of been like a home away from home.”

Her comfort at Spectrum was evident, as she earned the top seed for the stepladder finals after an impressive 18-6 record during match play.

Navigating the Tournament Challenge

Despite being the No. 1 seed, Richard admitted that it comes with its own challenges.

“Sometimes I feel it’s good to be the No. 1 seed, but other times I feel like I need a couple of games to get loose,” she explained. “However, in this tournament, my ball reaction got better and better toward the end, so having others break down the lanes for me worked in my favor.”

Richard had already bowled 61 games in the PWBA Classic Series – Grand Rapids, including:

• 12 games at the Grand Rapids Classic
• 24 games at the BowlTV Classic
• 25 games en route to her Great Lakes Classic title

However, endurance wasn’t her biggest challenge—it was managing the unpredictable match-play format, where each win carries an extra 30 bonus pins.

“If you lose one game and others win with a 250, you can drop 10 spots instantly,” Richard noted. “I just focused on what I could control, and that helped me stay near the top.”

Looking Ahead on the PWBA Tour

With three stepladder finals appearances and two wins this season, Richard is a strong contender for PWBA Player of the Year. However, she’s keeping her focus on the present.

“Of course, I’d love to add that award to my resume, but when I focus too much on it, my performance suffers,” she admitted. “Right now, I’m just happy and bowling well, and I really couldn’t ask for more.”

Veteran bowler Shannon O’Keefe, a three-time PWBA Player of the Year, echoed the importance of happiness and mental clarity in a bowler’s success. O’Keefe had an impressive run in the stepladder finals, finishing third with a $4,000 prize.

The PWBA Classic Series – Grand Rapids concluded with nearly 100 competitors battling for three titles.

• Crawley won the Grand Rapids Classic
• Stephanie Zavala claimed the BowlTV Classic
• Richard secured the Great Lakes Classic

The tour now moves to Parma Heights, Ohio, for the 2023 PWBA Bowlers Journal Cleveland Open at Yorktown Lanes (June 8-10).

Can Richard continue her hot streak? The season is far from over, and the race for PWBA Player of the Year is heating up! Stay tuned.