Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of N. Richland Hills, Tex., has been named the 2001 Woman Bowler of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America.

Fran Deken, BWAA President, announced that Dorin-Ballard was an overwhelming choice, being named first on 120 of the 126 ballots cast in a poll of international bowling writers and broadcasters. She outdistanced Cara Honeychurch of Australia.

Dorin-Ballard cashed in all 23 Professional Women’s Bowling association tournaments in which she bowled and she won seven times. Her victories included the Women’s International Bowling Congress Queens and the Brunswick World Open. In addition to seven firsts, Dorin-Ballard has a pair of seconds, seven thirds, one fourth and two fifth. She qualified for the televised finals 18 times.

The leading prize winner of the tour with $135,045, Dorin-Ballard also led the PWBA in average with 214.73—two pins better than runner-up Liz Johnson of Tonawanda, N. Y., who was third in balloting.

Honeychurch won four championships and was runner-up four times. The Australian was the fourth leading money winner with $92,565. Johnson also had four titles and was runner-up to Dorin-Ballard in high average at 212.41.

Johnson, like Honeychurch, won four titles including the Hammer Players Championship.

Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., who won top female bowler honors the past four out of five years, finished a distant fourth.

The final voting (based on 5-2-1 points) with first-place votes in parenthesis:

1. Dorin-Ballard (120) 604; 2. Honeychurch (1) 194; 3. Johnson (1) 91; 4. Macpherson (1) 41; 5. Kim Terrell, Daly City, Calif. (1) 29; 6. Leanne Barrette, Pleasanton, Calif. (1) 22; 7. Michelle Feldman, Skaneateles, N. Y., (1) 16.