Dayton bowler has 300 in tournament

Wilson’s perfect game comes at National Golden Ladies Classic.

It wasn’t until the final pin toppled that Mandy Wilson could breathe a sigh of relief.

“Finally,” Wilson thought to herself.

The timing was perfect for the Dayton bowler to post her 19th 300 game as she was competing in the qualifying round of the National Golden Ladies Classic at the Orleans in Las Vegas on Monday.

“I’ve had at least seven games since December with the first nine or 10 (strikes),” said Wilson, 56. “So I wasn’t counting on anything until the last pin fell.”

Wilson’s 300 propelled her to the top of the standings at the national tournament open to women 50 and older. She didn’t stay at the top long enough for her liking, however.

“The first block was great, then I forgot how to carry,” Wilson said.

Wilson dropped to 11th after the second block and was 13th after the final round of qualifying — good enough to advance to match play. The top 16 advanced to match play, dropped their pin totals and started from scratch.

Wilson battled through 18 games of match play, falling 41 pins shy of qualifying for the stepladder finals. Terri Ward edged Wilson, 4,243 to 4,202, for the fifth and final berth.

“I really wanted to make stepladders, but I improved from last year and I know what I need to work on,” she said.

Spare shooting proved problematic for Wilson at the Golden Ladies tournament. Even after 47 years on the lanes, she knows there is always room for improvement.

“I missed a couple of easy commenting on her weekend with a 300 game spares and I lost focus a little bit,” she said. “I need to work on my spare shooting and my mental game.”

The 300 game, however, went a long way toward making Wilson feel better, especially after three long days on the lanes.

“I’m definitely a little sore — I bowled 33 games in three days. What was I thinking,” she said with a smile.

Wilson wasn’t the only Miami Valley competitor who lit up the lanes at the National Golden Ladies Seniors Classic. Linda Kelly placed 15th after match play Wednesday.

Dayton’s Shannon Pluhowsky recently received high-average awards from both the United States Bowling Congress and the Ohio USBC Women’s Bowling Association. Pluhowsky carried a whopping 245 average for the 2013-14 season.

‘I’m definitely a little sore — I bowled 33 games in three days. What was I thinking.’ Mandy Wilson

High average: