Romeo Wins Bowling Title in Roll-Off

Robin Romeo of Van Nuys played a key role in bringing a Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour tournament to her local alley and then walked away with the first-place prize.

With the hometown crowd rooting for her, Romeo defeated top-seeded Rene Fleming of Oklahoma City Wednesday in the championship match of $30,000 Canoga Park tournament at Canoga Park Lanes.

Romeo, who owns the pro shop where the tournament was held, won in a two-frame roll-off, 39-26, after she and Fleming tied, 229-229. It was the second sudden-death roll-off championship match in LPBT history.

“This victory means more to me because I did it in front of my friends,” said Romeo, who won $5,000 and her eighth career title. “I felt a little more pressure because I was expected to do well.”

Romeo beat 1988 player of the year Lisa Wagner of Palmetto, Fla., 268-207, and Paula Drake of Broken Arrow, Okla., 237-233, to reach the final.

In the championship, Romeo needed a seven-count on her final ball to win in regulation, but left a 4-6-7-9 split to tie Fleming. She rolled a strike and a spare in the roll-off to clinch the victory.

It was the second time that a bowler from the San Fernando Valley has won the tournament. Tish Johnson of Panorama City did it in 1984, the only other time the event has been held.