Birthday Gift From Herself: Zavala Wins 2025 PWBA Cleveland Open

Stephanie Zavala | Pictures credit: Professional Women's Bowlers Association (PWBA.com)

Stephanie Zavala couldn’t have asked for a better birthday. On her 29th, she walked away with the 2025 PWBA Cleveland Open title — and her sixth career win — after a clutch performance at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.

It’s the second time Zavala has won at this venue, having claimed the 2021 PWBA Greater Cleveland Open. This time, she edged out rising talent Olivia Komorowski 207–173 in the finals to claim the $10,000 top prize.

The match didn’t start smoothly for Zavala, who opened in the first and fifth frames. But when Komorowski faltered as well, Zavala made her move — striking six times in her last seven frames to shut the door and take the win.

Zavala entered the stepladder as the top seed after a dominant second round of match play, going 7–1 (11-5 overall).

Earlier in the finals, Dasha Kovalova advanced past Kelly Kulick in the opener after Kulick struggled with five open frames. Kovalova then held off 2024 PWBA Rookie of the Year Crystal Elliott with a late string of strikes to move on again. But her run ended against Komorowski, who put together a clutch mid-game turkey to secure the semifinal.

The PWBA Summer Series rolls on with the PWBA BowlTV Open starting Friday. Qualifying begins at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern, with match play and stepladder finals to follow on Saturday.

Then, it's on to the PWBA Rock ‘n’ Roll Open starting Monday — a bracket-style event with best-of-five matches leading to single-game semis and finals on Tuesday.

All events in the Summer Series are streamed live on BowlTV.

Stay with BowlingLife.eu for complete coverage from the PWBA Summer Series in Cleveland.