Bowling for Beginners

  • Blog
  • Bowling 101
  • Basic Equipment
  • Oil Patterns
  • Scoring
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Blog
  • Bowling 101
  • Basic Equipment
  • Oil Patterns
  • Scoring
search icon
Homepage link
  • Blog
  • Bowling 101
  • Basic Equipment
  • Oil Patterns
  • Scoring
×

Home » 13 Famous Female Bowlers: The Best Female Bowlers of All Time

13 Famous Female Bowlers: The Best Female Bowlers of All Time

Published: Mar 5, 2023 by Kira Byrd · This post may contain affiliate links ·

The professional bowler in black and posed after her release is one of the best female bowlers
Mateo.ag 98, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Female bowlers have been making waves and setting records for decades. Their contributions and accomplishments have been around long enough to have earned many of them both national and household name recognition for competitive bowling.

So, it's easy to see how famous female bowlers inspire and motivate both their peers and fans. If you want to know more about famous female bowlers, you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to some amazing women who helped shape bowling history and remain famous today. 

Contents

  • 1 Famous Female Bowlers: Milestones
  • 2 Famous Female Bowlers and Their Best Performances
    • 2.1 Patty Costello
    • 2.2 Carolyn Dorin-Ballard
    • 2.3 Dorothy Fothergill
    • 2.4 Millie Ignizio
  • 3 Top Famous Female Bowlers Today
    • 3.1 Shannon O'Keefe
    • 3.2 Danielle McEwan
    • 3.3 Jordan Richard
    • 3.4 Bryanna Cote
  • 4 The Most Famous Female Bowlers of All Time
    • 4.1 Donna Ademack
    • 4.2 Leanne Hulsenberg
    • 4.3 Robin Romeo
    • 4.4 Aleta Sill
    • 4.5 Patty Costello
  • 5 Who Is the Best Female Bowler of All Time?
    • 5.1 Related Articles

Famous Female Bowlers: Milestones

The first recorded evidence of female bowling goes back to the 1880s, when it was not considered socially appropriate. Despite the disapproval of their peers, women continued to bowl, and the first women’s bowling tournament took place in St. Louis, MO, in 1917.

Since then, women have continued to break their own ground in numbers and records. For example, Jeannie Kelleher from WI is the first woman who bowled a perfect game. She did so in 1930.

The Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) was established in 1960 by a group of progressive bowlers. During the following years, the organization went through some changes and eventually became the Women’s Professional Bowlers Association (WPBA) in 1978.

By 1988, women showed no sign of slowing down. The number of women who competed in the Women’s International Bowling Congress Championship held in Reno, NV, set a record. The championship had 77,735 competitors, surpassing any previously recorded competition.

Since then, women have been establishing themselves as true competitors and have made sizable contributions to the sport for decades. In 2011, the International Bowling Museum help to memorialize women bowlers' accomplishments.

The girl bowler with the red bowling ball is practicing to be the first female bowler to enter and win the men's tour.

Famous Female Bowlers and Their Best Performances

It’s easy to list famous bowlers based on their significant achievements, but sometimes the overall performance of a woman throughout a season can be more remarkable. Here are some trailblazing women who pushed their talent and grit to the limit:

Patty Costello

Patty Costello: Costello has a record-setting seven titles during the 1976 season in as few as 17 events. This included a couple of significant victories in the US Women’s Open and the PWBA Championship.

Carolyn Dorin-Ballard

Carolyn Dorin-Ballard: Dorin-Ballard was able to tie the record for wins in a season previously set by Patty Costello in the 1970s. In Dorin-Ballard’s 2001 season, she amassed seven wins. 

2002 PWBA Louisville Open: Semifinal Match: Kim Terrell vs Carolyn Dorin Ballard part 1

Dorothy Fothergill

Dorothy Fothergill: During the 1968 season, Fothergill won four titles, including some majors from the US Women’s Open and PWBA championships. She rounded out her season by getting three runner-up finishes during the season of 12 events.

18th Greatest Season in PWBA History

Millie Ignizio

Millie Ignizio: Going back to 1967, Ignizio had four wins in just nine events. To add to her banner season, Ignizio can boast of having earned 10 titles between 1967 and 1973.

Sixth Greatest Season in PWBA History: Millie Ignizio (1967)

Top Famous Female Bowlers Today

While the female bowlers of the past have made it possible for today’s athletes to excel at the sport, some notable women have earned their own right to be considered famous female bowlers in modern tournaments.

These women are:

Shannon O'Keefe

Shannon O’Keefe: This star is an 18-time member of Team USA and can boast that she is an 8-time World Champion. Even though O’Keefe still plays professionally, she has diversified her roles in the bowling world. O’Keefe is now a professional coach in Shiloh, Illinois. 

2022 PWBA US Open | Stepladder Match 2 - Shannon O'Keefe vs Erin McCarthy

Danielle McEwan

Danielle McEwan: Currently a Team USA member, McEwan broke into the professional circuit during her college years. She’s already taken home 7 titles and has won the World Bowling Tour twice.

The Video Room - Danielle McEwan's Work Ethic Leads to Better Timing and Repeatability

Jordan Richard

Jordan Richard: While still young, Richard has been able to snag titles at the PWBA Greater Harrisburg Open and the PWBA Tour Lincoln open, making her a competitor to watch out for.

2022 PWBA St Petersburg-Clearwater Open Stepladder Match 2 Jordan Richard vs Bryanna Cote

Bryanna Cote

Bryanna Cote: Cote touts, having been on both the Junior Team USA and Team USA for most of her professional career. She’s also won four major titles, including the PWBA Lexington Open, PWBA ITRC Classic, PWBA BVL Classic, and PWBA Dallas Classic. Cote was also named the 2021 PWBA Player of the Year.

2022 PWBA BVL Classic Series - Long Island Championship Match (Bryanna Cote vs Danielle McEwan

These ladies are so talented that you’re likely to see their names at the top of the scoreboards when you look at the most recent tournament results.

The Most Famous Female Bowlers of All Time

The bowling community has seen many outstanding performances by women over the years. This list includes the names you're likely to see come up often when discussing the great ones with others.

Donna Ademack

Donna Ademack: Not many professional bowlers can say they were bowling 200+ games when they were ten years old, but Ademack can. She went pro at the young age of 19 and went on to win 19 titles and five major titles. Ademack also has had the honor of being named the Woman Bowler of the Year four times. 

1988 Sams Town National Pro Am

Leanne Hulsenberg

Leanne Hulsenberg: Hulsenberg is yet another woman who was able to go pro at 19 years of age. She won 26 PWBA titles and the PWBA Player of the Year award three times. Hulsenberg also won awards from the PWBA for sportsmanship and professionalism.

2011 Bowling US Women's Open: Championship Match: Leanne Hulsenberg vs Kelly Kulick pt 1

Robin Romeo

Robin Romeo: Romeo was the first woman who won first place at the West Coast Men’s Senior Tour. She also took home 17 titles in her career, even winning cash prizes in advanced age. Just a couple of years ago, Romero became the first woman to attend the USBC Men’s Senior Masters Tournament.

Jeri Edwards vs. Robin Romeo - LPBT Greater ATL Open Final - Paul Orndorff Bowling Center - 1990

Aleta Sill

Aleta Sill: With the distinction of being the only female bowler to have won the triple crown two times, Sill has already been established as one of the most memorable female bowlers to this day. She earned 31 PWBA Championships and has also achieved Hall of Fame status at 8 prestigious bowling organizations. 

MATCH #1 Lis Johnson VS Aleta Sill 1997 LPBT Tour COLUMBIA 300 DELAWARE OPEN

Patty Costello

Patty Costello: Costello earned 25 pro titles, including 3 U.S. Open wins and 4 PWBA Players Championships. She also set the record for the highest number of titles in a single year and was named Bowler of the Year twice.

Who Is the Best Female Bowler of All Time?

Depending on the criteria you would use to qualify a person as the best female bowler of all time, the answers from different people would likely vary quite a bit.

Everyone in the bowling community has their own opinion about who the best female bowler is and can back it up with all the qualifications important to them.

Naming a single person is difficult but not impossible. For example, if you’re searching for and talking to people about who the most famous female bowler might be, you’re likely to hear the name Lisa Wagner more than a few times.

Lisa Wagner earned an impressive 32 titles from the PWBA during her career and was named Bowler of the Year four times by the Bowling Writers Association. She was also honored to be named the Bowler of the Decade during the 1980s. 

Wagner was inducted into the Women’s International Bowling Hall of Fame after winning the Women’s International Bowling Congress Queens Tournament. She bowled 25 strikes throughout the tournament. She also won over $100,000 in a single season.

1990 $150,000 Bowling Shootout, Caesars, Atlantic City

Related Articles

  • Bowling in the 1970’s
  • 300 Games Bowled
  • 299 Game

Scores, awards, and money prizes are a big deal to many in the bowling community. And when you begin to participate in or study the talent and precision needed to attend official tournament events, you’ll understand how hard it is to accomplish what these remarkable women have done over the years. 

Storm | Danielle McEwan's HIDDEN TALENT

Whether you’re a woman looking to find some inspiration or someone curious about the contributions women have made in bowling, you can see that plenty of these individuals are worth looking further into.

Women in bowling have contributed substantially to how the game is viewed and played today. Now that you know a bit about some notable female bowlers, we hope you see bowling in a whole new light.

Img 8242
Kira Byrd( CEO )

Kira Byrd, a Certified Fraud Examiner, holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. With a passion for bowling from her childhood, Kira has poured her expertise and personal experiences into creating and nurturing Bowling For Beginners. Kira's mission is to meet new bowlers where they are and guide them toward consistently achieving higher scores. With a focus on skill development and strategic techniques, she empowers readers to take control of their game and unlock their true potential.

Bowling For Beginners embodies strict editorial integrity, ensuring reliable and unbiased information. Kira's commitment to delivering valuable insights and practical strategies is reflected in every article. Here's an explanation of our editorial policy and how we get money.

More Bowling Tips

  • The bowler with a purple bowling ball crosses the foul line and heads toward the dangerous pin-setting machine.
    12 Bowling Etiquette Rules, Do’s & Don’ts for Beginners
  • Gift vouchers or gift certificates on white wood background, wrapped in brown paper with a white bow are great gift ideas.
    Best Gifts for Bowlers: Coaches, Teams, Leagues, and Parties
  • Three bowling balls showing the conventional drill 3 finger holes for bowling
    Semi-Fingertip Grip Bowling: Mechanics, Thumb Usage, and More
  • Knowing the terminal velocity of a bowling ball is important information for a bowler.
    What Is the Terminal Velocity of a Bowling Ball? Easily Explained
Bfb about me wlogo2

Welcome!

Since 2018, Bowling for Beginners understood the importance of clear, concise, and organized content needed in the bowling space. That’s why we have carefully structured our platform to provide you with a step-by-step approach to mastering the fundamentals of bowling.

More about us

Recent Posts

  • Best bowling shoes for beginners
    The Best Bowling Shoes for Beginners, Sliding, Toe Draggers, & Wide Feet
  • What is Scratch Bowling; Everything You Need to Know
  • Montreal oil pattern by wtba
    Montreal Oil Pattern: WTBA, Strategy, and Which Ball to Use
  • A ten pin bowling lane where the head pin was knocked down and if the spare is cleared, that is referred to as a killer shot.
    What Is a Split Ball in Bowling and What’s the Hardest Split
  • Lawn bowling and bocce ball similiarities and differences on bowling for beginners. Com
    Lawn Bowling vs. Bocce: Is Lawn Bowling the Same as Bocce?
  • A female without her own bowling equipment is preparing to rent shoes to try bowling alley floors in her hometown.
    Why Is Bowling So Expensive Now? Learn How to Save Money

Popular Posts

  • Learning the types of bowling ball with the most hook.
    Bowling Balls With the Most Hook: Our Top 8 Aggressive Balls
  • The best bowling shoes available for rental at the local bowling alley require you to wear socks since they're shared.
    What Shoes Can You Wear Bowling? Can You Wear Regular Shoes?
  • Pink bowling ball on lane butcher alley wax
    How to Use Bowling Alley Wax and What Is It and How to Apply
  • These five friends are leaning against white wall reading bowling books
    12 Best Selling Bowling Books & Beginner Friendly Books
  • A green bowling ball, ten pin and bowling shoes are on bowling lane.
    Bowling Rules for Beginners: Basic Rules and Regulations
  • Yellow urethane bowling balls on synthetic lanes at the bowling center
    Why Do Bowling Alleys Oil Lanes? 6 Unknown Reasons You Need to Know

Recommended Reading

  • Bowling Oil Patterns Explained (Finally a Newbie Friendly Guide)
  • How to Hold a Bowling Ball (and Finally Increase Your Score)
  • Bowling Ball Sizes and Weights (How to Choose Bowling Ball Size)

Footer

↑ Back to Top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • About

Contact

  • Contact
  • Blog

Legal Information: The information on this site is provided for educational purposes only. We may have an affiliate relationship with certain goods that we recommend. We may receive compensation if purchases are made using our affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Bowlingforbeginners.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

COPYRIGHT © 2018–2022 BOWLING FOR BEGINNERS
4614 Hwy 280 #1123 Birmingham, AL 35242 | 1 (844) 424-BOWL