WIBC Names All Americans

Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., has been selected as the honorary captain of the 2003 Women's International Bowling Congress All-America Team. The 36-year-old right-hander beat out Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, North Richland Hills, Texas, in the 30th annual poll to choose the best women bowlers of the year.

The 2003 WIBC Queens champion collected 90 first-team and three second-team votes from ballots submitted by 100 of the top bowling writers, broadcasters, WIBC Hall of Famers and officials. That gave Macpherson 273 total points based on three points for each first-team vote and one point for each second-team vote. Dorin-Ballard, the 2001 honorary captain, collected 89 first-team and four second-team votes for 271 points.

Macpherson, a 20-time champion, won the 2003 WIBC Queens title for a record-tying third time. She also was third in average at 212.74 and fourth in PWBA earnings with $43,225. Earnings were not included in the voting process.

Dorin-Ballard, 39, a six-time WIBC All-American, finished the 2003 season first in earnings ($53,750), first in average (215.22) and also led the tour with three perfect games. Among her 2003 achievements were runner-up in the U.S. Open and champion of the Greater Cincinnati Open.

Joining them on the first team are: Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y. (68 first-team votes, 21 second-team votes, 225 points); Tiffany Stanbrough, Oklahoma City (40, 24, 144); and Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J. (36, 33, 141).

Feldman, 27, the 2002 PWBA Player of the Year, won the 2003 Greater Dallas Open as well as the 2003 WIBC Championship Tournament Classic singles and all-events titles. The right-hander ranked second in earnings ($45,900) and ninth in average (211.21). This is the fourth consecutive year Feldman was named to the WIBC All-America team.

Stanbrough, 25, doubled her career titles in 2003 by winning the Greater Terre Haute (Ind.) Open and the Pepsi Greater Rockford (Ill.) Classic. She finished fourth with a 212.40 average, cashed in seven events and was fifth in earnings ($40,410). Stanbrough is making her first-team All-America debut after making the second team in 2002.

Winning her first pro title at the 2003 Women's US Open, Kulick finished the year with a 209.34 average. The 25-year-old former U.S. Amateur Champion ranked third in earnings ($44,350) with six cashes. This marks her first time as a first-team All-American after making the second team in 2002.

Making the second team are: Cara Honeychurch, Eltham, Victoria, Australia (30, 34, 124); Dede Davidson, Las Vegas (24, 31, 103); Kendra Gaines, Sebring, Fla. (16, 42, 90); Diandra Asbaty, Chicago (16, 35, 83); and Liz Johnson, Niagara Falls, N.Y., (15, 34, 79).

Honeychurch, the 2002 Robby Award recipient, finished 2003 ranking second with an average of 214. Gaines, a four-time Team USA member, returned to the All-America second team after finishing second in the 2003 WIBC Queens. Davidson won the Greater Harrisburg (Pa.) Open and had three other top five PWBA finishes. Team USA's Asbaty, the 1999 U.S. Amateur Champion and the only amateur to make either All-America team, captured the Masters gold medal, along with two silver and one bronze, at the 2003 Federation Internationale des Quilleurs World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Johnson, a former Team USA member and two-time U.S. Amateur Champion, was second in the WIBC Championship Tournament Classic team event and had two top five PWBA finishes. Players will be honored at the WIBC Queens in May in Wichita, Kan.