Kelly Kulick (pictured) of Union, N.J., has been unanimously named the January 2010 Kegel Bowler of the Month by the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA).

Kulick became the first woman to capture a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour title, the PBA Tournament of Champions, by defeating top-seeded Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 265-195. The second-seeded Kulick finished with four strikes to oust Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., in the semifinal, 227-223. The win also earns Kulick a two-year PBA Tour exemption beginning in the 2010-11 season.

This is Kulick's third BWAA Kegel Bowler of the Month award, also claiming honors in May 2007 and June 2006.

The unprecedented victory has attracted attention of local, national, and online media outlets worldwide. Kulick personally appeared on ESPN, CBS-TV, ABC-TV, Fox Business as well as major media market outlets in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Offering congratulations was Women's Sports Foundation founder and women's professional sports pioneer Billie Jean King. "Kelly Kulick's win at the PBA Tour's Tournament of Champions is not only historic, it serves as a motivational and inspirational event for girls and women competing at all levels all around the world," said King.

Kulick's exposure on a national stage began over a decade ago helping Morehead State University to the women's national championship in the 1998-99 season. She won the gold medal in Singles at the 1999 WTBA World Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Kulick turned professional and was named 2001 Professional Women's Bowling Association Rookie of the Year. That was followed by the 2003 Women's U.S. Open title and the 2007 USBC Queens title.

She is also currently a member of Women's Team USA and was also a member in 1998-2001, 2006, and 2008.

Kulick was also the first woman to qualify for the all-exempt PBA Tour with a sixth-place finish in the 2006-07 PBA Tour Trials. Two victories highlight her PBA Women's Series play this season, the Women's Shark Championship and the Women's World Championship, the latter qualifying Kulick for the PBA Tournament of Champions.

Other nominees capturing votes were Anthony LaCaze, winner of the PBA Earl Anthony Memorial Classic, Michael Fagan, winner of the PBA One-A-Day Dick Weber Open, Mika Koivuniemi, winner of the Brunswick Ballmaster Open, and Stefanie Nation, winner of the PBA Women's Series Earl Anthony Memorial Classic.

 

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