Leanne Barrette-Hulsenberg (born August 18, 1967), from Roseville, California and currently of North Ogden, Utah,[1] was one of the top female professional bowlers on the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour. In a career that spanned 17 years, she won 26 PWBA titles (fourth most all-time) and was a three-time PWBA Player of the Year (1990, 1991 and 2002).[2] In 2007, she was elected to the USBC Hall of Fame for Superior Performance, and was inducted with the 2008 class.[3] She was inducted into the PWBA Hall of Fame in 2019, as a member of the first Hall of Fame class since that organization suspended operations in 2003.[4]
Bowling Career
After turning pro at age 19 in 1987, Barrette caught on quickly, winning three PWBA titles and Rookie of the Year honors. Her best pro season was in 1991, when she won three titles, was the PWBA tour's leading money winner, and captured both PWBA Player of the Year and the Bowling Writers Association of America's Bowler of the Year honors.[5] Having also won PWBA Player of the Year in 1990, she became the first player in PWBA history to win this award in back-to-back seasons.[6] In 1999, she won the prestigious USBC Queens tournament (then known as the WIBC Queens) for her first major title.
Given that she was still in her prime (winning five titles between 2001 and 2002), bowling writers like Richard Kolb speculated that Barrette had the best shot to eclipse Lisa Wagner's record of 32 PWBA titles.[7] However, the PWBA held only eight events in 2003 before going on an 11-year hiatus (2004 through 2014), denying Leanne the opportunity to add more titles to her career resumé.
On June 30, 2011, Leanne won her 27th professional title (and first since 2002) when she defeated defending champion Kelly Kulick at the U.S. Women's Open in Arlington, Texas.[8] She made a run at a second USBC Queens crown in 2013, finishing runner-up to Diana Zavjalova.
Nicknamed "Boomer," she was a familiar face in the heyday of televised women's bowling, making over 100 total TV appearances. During her career, she also won two Robby Awards—an award for sportsmanship and professionalism voted on by her PWBA peers. She is one of only four women to earn over $1 million (U.S.) in her career on the PWBA Tour.[9]
Hulsenberg has been part of Senior Team USA (for players age 50 and over) since 2017. Together with her teammates, she won team gold medals in 2017 and 2019 at the World Bowling Senior Championships. She also won All-Events gold in 2017 and 2019. In 2019, Leanne won gold in Doubles with partner Tish Johnson.[10]
Professional titles
Major championships in bold text. (Source: 11thframe.com[11])
1987 Columbia 300 Invitational*
1987 Ebonite Invitational I*
1987 Ebonite Invitational II*
1988 AMF Virginia Classic
1988 Columbia 300 Classic
1989 Lady Ebonite Classic
1989 Albuquerque Open
1990 Garland Open
1990 Brunswick Open
1990 Hammer Western Open
1991 Lady Ebonite Classic
1991 Brunswick Open
1991 Denver Classic
1992 Hammer Eastern Open
1994 Alexandria Louisiana Open
1996 Lubbock Open
1997 Omaha Open
1998 AMF Greater Atlanta Open
1998 Lehigh Valley Classic
1999 Greater Atlanta Open
1999 WIBC Queens
2001 Lady Ebonite Kentucky Classic
2001 Storm Challenge
2002 Empire State PWBA Classic
2002 Greater Syracuse Classic
2002 Three Rivers Open
2011 U.S. Women’s Open
*Tournament conducted by Ladies Touring Players Association (LTPA). All others conducted by PWBA.
Personal
During the early part of her professional career, Leanne resided in Oklahoma City, her father having been transferred there by General Motors in 1983.[12]
Leanne's husband, Gary Hulsenberg, is a director of marketing for Storm Bowling in Brigham City, Utah, which prompted their move to the state.[13] Leanne now also works for Storm as a marketing coordinator. The couple has a son, Barrett, born in 2009.[14]
United States
