Liz Johnson, Patrick Allen BWAA Bowlers of the Year
In balloting so close the swing of just one vote could have changed the outcome, Liz Johnson edged Lynda Barnes for the 2005 Woman Bowler of the Year award while Patrick Allen easily captured the Men's honor based on voting by the Bowling Writers Association of America.

Using its established system of awarding 5 points for each first place vote, 2 points for second and 1 point for third, both Johnson and Barnes received 45 first place votes. Only after second and third place votes were factored did Johnson prevail, 303-295, in overall points.

Johnson's success in PBA events in 2005 caught the attention of the sports world far beyond bowling. She advanced from a non-exempt pre-tournament qualifier to the nationally televised championship match of a tournament in Grand Rapids, Mich., before finishing second to Tommy Jones. Later in the season the 31-year-old right-hander from Niagara Falls, N.Y., became the first women to win a PBA regional title and added two second place finishes in PBA Eastern regional tournaments.

Barnes of Flower Mound, Texas, started her superb year by winning the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. She took home two silver and two bronze medals from the Women's World Championships, then earned three gold and two silver medals at the American Zone Championships. At season's end she captured the Qubica/AMF World Cup in Slovenia.

Because Johnson competed primarily in professional events while Barnes maintained an amateur standing, the year's top women rarely played in the same tournaments, perhaps a contributing factor to the almost evenly split election results.

In contrast, Patrick Allen, a lefthander from Tarrytown, N.Y., outpolled Tommy Jones, 473-218, based on a strict comparison of major tournament results and overall prize money. Among Allen's four titles in 2005 was the PBA World Championship. His $348,500 in earnings eclipsed his nearest rival by more than $100,000.

It marked the first BWAA Bowler of the Year Award for both Johnson and Allen.

Also receiving first place votes were Chris Barnes with five and Norm Duke with two. On the women's side, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard received six first place votes, Leanne Barrette five, Diandra Asbaty four and Tennelle Milligan one.
(2-13-2006)