Lynda Barnes Explained

Lynda Barnes (née Norry, born October 7, 1967) is one of the world's leading female tenpin bowlers. She is a former member of the PWBA (Professional Women's Bowling Association). Bowling as an amateur, Lynda won the 1998 USBC Queens championship, then known as the WIBC Queens.[1] In 1999, Lynda married Chris Barnes, a leading bowler on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tour. The couple's twin sons, Troy and Ryan, were born in May 2002. Lynda is a former member of Team USA.

In 2005, along with Paul Moor of England, she was named the 2005 World Bowling Writers Bowler of the Year.

Lynda appears briefly in the 2006 documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen, as her husband was one of four PBA bowlers highlighted in the film.

In August 2006, Lynda competed in the USBC Women's Challenge tournament held at a mall in Las Vegas. The made-for-TV event was later shown on ESPN in a weekly format throughout September and October. She also qualified 7th in the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and fought her way through match play to make the four-person televised finals. She lost her semifinal match to finish in a tie for third place.[2]

On April 30, 2008, Barnes won her second career USBC Queens title in an event televised by ESPN2. Entering the finals as the top seed from qualifying, she defeated Amy Stolz, 215-195, to earn a PWBA major title and the $30,000 first-place prize.[3]

Less than two weeks later, on May 11, Barnes defeated four-time PBA titlist Sean Rash 258-237 in the finals of the first USBC "Bowling's Clash of the Champions." Barnes cashed $50,000 in this made-for-television event, broadcast nationally in the USA by CBS.[4] The following year, she participated in the second and final USBC "Bowling's Clash of the Champions." Although she was eliminated in the first stage, her husband defeated Rebekah Diers in the championship match by a 257-207 victory. Both she and Chris are the only players to win the USBC Clash of Champions.

Barnes made her second U.S. Women's Open televised finals appearance in 2012, but she lost her opening match to finish in fifth place.[2]

Kelly Kulick and Liz Johnson followed Barnes and Zulkifli when they both defeated a man during a televised championship match in bowling. Kulick and Johnson, however, have both won PBA Tour titles. Kulick won the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions and Johnson won the PBA Chameleon Championship during the 2017 PBA World Series of Bowling.

Lynda's Bio

Hometown: Double Oak, Texas

Birth date: Oct. 7, 1967

Height: 1.63 m (5 feet, 4 inches)

Right/left-handed: Right

Highest certified game: 300 (6)

Highest certified series: 806

Family

Lynda and Chris have twin sons, Troy and Ryan, born in 2002. Ryan currently bowls for his father's alma mater, Wichita State University.[5] In his senior year (2024), Ryan Barnes received a commissoner's exemption to compete in the PBA Players Championship, held this year at Bowlero Northrock in Wichita, Kansas. He made the televised finals as the #4 seed, and finished in third place.[6] Upon the conclusion of his collegiate career, Ryan joined the PBA.

Career highlights

International:

National:

Awards:

References

  1. Web site: USBC Queens - Past Results . Bowl.com . June 1, 2022.
  2. Web site: US Women's Open - Past Results . Bowl.com . June 1, 2022.
  3. Wiseman, Lucas. "Barnes clinches second USBC Queens title." Article at www.bowl.com, April 30, 2008.
  4. Wiseman, Lucas. "Barnes wins Bowling's Clash of Champions." Article at www.bowl.com, May 11, 2008.
  5. Web site: Ryan Barnes follows in parents’ footsteps as he starts bowling career at WSU . thesunflower.com . Marty . Sean . January 27, 2022 . March 7, 2023.
  6. Web site: TOM SMALLWOOD EARNS TOP SEED, RYAN BARNES STEALS THE SHOW AT PBA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SNICKERS . pba.com . Hughes . Nolan . January 13, 2024 . January 15, 2024.
  7. Web site: BOWLING INDUSTRY SERVICE AWARDS - Dick Weber Award . BPAA.com . April 28, 2021.