Romeo Rolls 191 to Win Tempe Open

Robin Romeo of Van Nuys defeated top-seeded Jeanne Maiden of Solon, Ohio, 191-176, in the championship match of the $35,000 Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour Tempe Open on Thursday night.

Romeo clinched the victory over Maiden, her roommate and closest friend, with a strike in the 10th frame.

“We made a pact a long time ago,” Romeo said, “that if we both make the television finals, we want to keep the title in our room, regardless of who wins.”

The title, Romeo’s first of the year and seventh of her career,, was worth $7,000.

Maiden, trying for her seventh career title and second of the season, settled instead for her third runner-up finish of the year. She earned $3,500.

Romeo, the No.2-seeded contestant, advanced to the championship match with a 232-196 victory over Wendy Macpherson of San Diego.

Terri Brice of Moses Lake, Wash., opened the finals with a shocking 222-132 victory over Lisa Wagner of Palmetto, Fla.

Palmetto, the tour’s leading money-winner, had a 10-game winning streak on television come to an end.

Wagner had four splits without a conversion in the lowest-scoring game of her professional career.

Macpherson then defeated Brice, 161-137, before losing to Romeo.