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Head-to-head with the high rollers Photo by Jim Craven Colleen Padilla had a good start at Showtime Family Lanes. Injury drops Padilla to 41st in PWBA event By FRANK SILOW GRANTS PASS -- Colleen Padilla couldn't pass up the opportunity to compete in the Bowl the Rogue Open Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour event at Showtime Family Lanes. Padilla, who has participated in various regional PWBA tournaments, was making her first start in a major professional event. And the 36-year-old Medford bowler was holding her own against the world's best women until a wrist injury, in essence, dropped her out of contention. On Monday, Padilla was in 14th place after the first six games, then fell to 25th after a second set of six games. But she well within reach to make the cut to the top 24 players or finishing in the top 32 for a paycheck. But Padilla woke up Tuesday morning with an aching wrist and ended up finishing 41st. She averaged 192 over 18 games, with a high-game of 258 on Monday. "I was feeling very good until this morning when I could hardly move my wrist," said the mother of three. "I was in a lot of pain. There was some point today where I could hardly hold onto the ball. I was only at 70 percent capacity with my release." Padilla estimates the wear and tear of bowling 60 games in preparation and tournament competition took its toll physically. Regardless, Padilla proved a point to herself. "It was great to bowl with the professionals and know I can compete at their level," she said. "There was a time when I wanted to be a professional bowler, but it's not a life for someone who has a family." Padilla also ended up with some perks thanks to sponsor Leon Fogle of Medford and men's hall of fame bowler Marshall Holman. Fogle paid her $250 tournament entry fee and the $175 required PWBA membership. Holman, a family friend, observed Padilla in action but wasn't satisfied with the results she was getting on the lanes. "My ball was not carrying the pins like the professionals," said Padilla. "He said, `I don't like that ball. Let's see what I can get for you." Holman produced two brand new bowling balls like the professionals use and Padilla put them to use Tuesday. The balls worked fine, but she couldn't overcome the injured wrist. "My goal was to cash," said Padilla. "I was doing better than that originally until I ran into the physical thing. It was nice to compete against that caliber bowler. And knowing I could be a threat if given all the right circumstances." If Padilla would have made the cut, she could have won at least $835. Meanwhile, Kim Adler of Cocoa Beach, Fla., took the initial lead Tuesday night after the first of three rounds of match play. The top 24 players have two more rounds of match play at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. today before the field is cut to the final five for the stepladder finals at 7 p.m. Thursday. Adler, who made the cut in seventh place, averaged 214 through the first eight-game block. Adler is 8-0 in match play and has a total pin count of 5,805. She holds a 12-pin lead over second-place Michelle Feldman. Tournament leader at the cut, Cara Honeychurch, stands in fourth. MATCH PLAY STANDINGS ( After 26 games) (Name, hometown, total pins) 1, Kim Adler, Cocoa Beach, Fl., 5,805; 2, Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N.Y., 5,793, 217; 3, Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., 5,713; 4, Cara Honeychurch, Australia, 5,618; 5, Carol Gianotti-Block, Perth, W. Australia, 5,605; 6, Marianne DiRupo, Succasunna, N.J., 5,581; 7, Cindy Coburn-Carroll, Williamsville, N.Y., 5,553; 8, Maxine Nable, Australia, 5,524; 9, Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., 5,502; 10, Tammy Turner, Akron, Ohio, 5,501; 11, Shannon Rondeau, Milwaukie, 5,489; 12, Pauliina Aalto, Lahti, Finland, 5,485. 13, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, N. Richland Hills, Texas, 5,481; 14, Shana Ray, Corpus Christi, Texas, 5,409; 15, anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., 5,387; 16, Tish Johnson, Northridge, Calif., 5,377; 17, Dede Davidson, Las Vegas, Nev., 5,368; 18, Marla Chicase, Poland, Ohio, 5,302; 19, Laura Moriarty, Daytona Beach, Fla., 5,279; 20, Karen Stroud, Victoria, Texas, 5,261; 21, Julie Gardner, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5,231; 22, Tennelle Grijalva, Orange, Calif., 5,207; 23, Lynda Barnes, Wichita, Kan., 5,185; 24, Debbie McMullen, Denver, Colo., 5,110. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA