Rodriguez, a native of Colombia, edged Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, inside the Old Dominion Building at Richmond Raceway, 236-228, to collect a major championship and $20,000 top prize.
.@MariaJoseRodri talks about last night’s big win at the PWBA Tour Championship, seen live on @CBSSportsNet from the Old Dominion Building at @RichmondRaceway.#PWBATour #BowlFearless #RoadToRichmond #WhereChampionsPerform pic.twitter.com/krMU08iJRR— PWBA Tour (@PWBATour) September 20, 2018
Rodriguez was a member of the Hawks' 2008 and 2011 NCAA Championship teams as well as the 2011 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championship winning squad. She was a three-time All-American and two-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bowler of the Year.
The championship round was broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
The 29-year-old right-hander gained the early advantage against Kulick, posting six strikes in her first eight frames, but back-to-back 10 pins in the ninth and 10th frames gave Kulick, who was working on four consecutive strikes, the chance to win her seventh major title.
Needing a strike on her first delivery for a chance to win, Kulick left a 10 pin of her own to record her second consecutive runner-up at the Tour Championship.
"I could only control what I could control," Rodriguez said. "I made great shots and was happy with how I threw it. When Kelly left the 10 pin, I couldn't believe it. I started to shake so bad, and I still can't believe it. I've worked so hard and fought so hard, and I'm so happy this happened."
Watch the third round of match play at the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship LIVE on #BowlTV! Match 11 will feature (11) Diana Zavjalova vs. (13) Maria Jose Rodriguez, while Match 9 features (5) Liz Kuhlkin vs. (12) Kelly Kulick at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. The winner of each match will clinch spots in the CBS Sports Network live finals to join (1) Shannon O'Keefe and (2) Danielle McEwan. #WhereChampionsPerform Check out the full bracket here: https://t.bowl.com/2NilkBr
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Rodriguez used different bowling balls on each lane during her semifinal and championship matches, relying on the information she gained on that pair of lanes in bracket play.
"I bowled on that pair twice in match play, and I'm now thankful each match went to five games," Rodriguez said. "I got to see the transition and how those lanes ended up playing totally different. I just learned by watching and trying different things in match play, and I knew I couldn't use the same ball on both lanes."
Rodriguez burst onto the scene in 2014, winning the United States Bowling Congress Queens in Reno, Nevada. That title match also was against Kulick and ended in similar fashion. Needing a double to win, Kulick left a 10 pin to give Rodriguez the 190-189 victory.
In Wednesday's opening match, Rodriguez rolled eight strikes to hold off a charging Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, 237-224.
Rodriguez struck on five of her first six shots to build an early lead on McEwan, who opened in the fourth frame. McEwan responded with five consecutive strikes to put herself in position to advance with a double in the 10th frame, but she was unable to get the 10 pin out on her first delivery.
Kulick cruised in match play at the Old Dominion Building, getting more comfortable as she continued to move closer to the CBS Sports Network final, which included finishing with a 770 total in her final three games to close out Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, New York.
The 41-year-old right-hander was frustrated as she tried to get her fit to cooperate in both of her matches Wednesday, but she took solace in knowing she executed the way she wanted to in her final frame.
"I didn't have the feel I had all week long, and that's what I was searching for," Kulick said. "Once I found it against Maria, I executed the way I wanted. When I needed to make a good shot in the 10th frame, I did, so I'm walking away knowing I threw the best shot I possibly could. It ended up being a weak 10, but it was a pocket delivery that was well executed. I walk away knowing I left nothing on the table. Am I disappointed? Absolutely. But if I keep knocking on the door, it's going to push itself open."
The 16-player field at the Tour Championship included all of this year's eligible PWBA Tour champions, and the final spots in the bracket were filled in using the 2018 PWBA Tour points list.
Players were seeded into the bracket based on their ranking on the points list, and each bracket match featured a best-of-five format leading up to Wednesday's semifinals. The Tour Championship is a single-elimination event.
For more information on Eastern Shore Athletics visit http://www.easternshorehawks.com/.
By Shawn Yonker
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE HAWKS SPORTS INFORMATION
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