Judy Soutar celebrates golden anniversary; 50 years with Brunswick Bowling
07/27/10
By age nine, she knew she wanted to make a career out of bowling. And now, decades later, Judy Soutar is celebrating her 50th year in bowling with Brunswick; and she has never looked back.
Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., began bowling at the age of four at her father's bowling center in Kansas City, Mo. Growing up, her father had a big impact on Soutar's success as her mentor and teacher. He taught her the techniques and mental aspect of bowling until she turned 16 and joined the Professional Women's Bowlers Association (PWBA) and Brunswick Pro Staff in December 1960.
Soutar has experienced many changes throughout her 50-year bowling career. "When I was on the ladies' tour in the '60s, I would go to tournaments with three balls - one for oily lane conditions, one for dry lane conditions, and a spare ball," she said.
"Spare shooting was a premium, as it was very difficult to string strikes. I was the high average on the tour with 200 to 202 in the early '70s, and today, I would have to learn the modern game with equipment, technology, lane surfaces, pins, and the technical support from product specialists," she said.
Bowling has been good to Soutar over the years, earning her more than $190,000 in career earnings, eight national titles, including the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Queens, and several awards, including induction into the WIBC (now United States Bowling Congress) Hall of Fame in 1976 for superior performance at the age of 31.
At one point in her career, Soutar was almost ready to quit. After finishing in second place 13 times, she craved her first tournament win. Then, in 1973, her crowning achievement happened when she won her first tournament.
"You have to learn the ups-and-downs of competition and just put it behind you, and I was always able to do that," says Soutar. "Sometimes it was no fun, but I had more ups than downs in my career." Soutar went on to be named PWBA Star of Tomorrow and, Bowler of the Year, which she was also named again in 1975.
Soutar also names this 50th year celebration with Brunswick as one of her most memorable accomplishments. "Brunswick has given me the opportunity to pursue my career from the age of 16, and has supported me for 50 years," said Soutar. "I have remained with the company well after my 30 years of competition as its representative on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour, and I will continue to do what I love."
Soutar says she hopes to contribute her knowledge and help the ladies re-establish their tour. She said young, female bowlers today really have no platform from which to start out, as the bowling tour is limited for them and mainly contains only the established bowlers.
Remembering her early years getting started in the sport, Soutar says she was fortunate because she was accepted early and also had Brunswick as her support system.
Brunswick honored Soutar during the 2010 International Bowl Expo in Las Vegas where Brunswick Bowling & Billiards President, Warren Hardie, presented her with a crystal bowling pin (pictured), as a token of the companies' appreciation.
In front of a crowd of family, friends and fellow bowlers, Soutar thanked Brunswick for allowing her the opportunities and experiences she was able to achieve during her journey.
Soutar's list of other titles and awards includes:
Industry News
By age nine, she knew she wanted to make a career out of bowling. And now, decades later, Judy Soutar is celebrating her 50th year in bowling with Brunswick; and she has never looked back.Soutar, Bradenton, Fla., began bowling at the age of four at her father's bowling center in Kansas City, Mo. Growing up, her father had a big impact on Soutar's success as her mentor and teacher. He taught her the techniques and mental aspect of bowling until she turned 16 and joined the Professional Women's Bowlers Association (PWBA) and Brunswick Pro Staff in December 1960.
Soutar has experienced many changes throughout her 50-year bowling career. "When I was on the ladies' tour in the '60s, I would go to tournaments with three balls - one for oily lane conditions, one for dry lane conditions, and a spare ball," she said.
"Spare shooting was a premium, as it was very difficult to string strikes. I was the high average on the tour with 200 to 202 in the early '70s, and today, I would have to learn the modern game with equipment, technology, lane surfaces, pins, and the technical support from product specialists," she said.Bowling has been good to Soutar over the years, earning her more than $190,000 in career earnings, eight national titles, including the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Queens, and several awards, including induction into the WIBC (now United States Bowling Congress) Hall of Fame in 1976 for superior performance at the age of 31.
At one point in her career, Soutar was almost ready to quit. After finishing in second place 13 times, she craved her first tournament win. Then, in 1973, her crowning achievement happened when she won her first tournament.
"You have to learn the ups-and-downs of competition and just put it behind you, and I was always able to do that," says Soutar. "Sometimes it was no fun, but I had more ups than downs in my career." Soutar went on to be named PWBA Star of Tomorrow and, Bowler of the Year, which she was also named again in 1975.
Soutar also names this 50th year celebration with Brunswick as one of her most memorable accomplishments. "Brunswick has given me the opportunity to pursue my career from the age of 16, and has supported me for 50 years," said Soutar. "I have remained with the company well after my 30 years of competition as its representative on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour, and I will continue to do what I love."
Soutar says she hopes to contribute her knowledge and help the ladies re-establish their tour. She said young, female bowlers today really have no platform from which to start out, as the bowling tour is limited for them and mainly contains only the established bowlers.Remembering her early years getting started in the sport, Soutar says she was fortunate because she was accepted early and also had Brunswick as her support system.
Brunswick honored Soutar during the 2010 International Bowl Expo in Las Vegas where Brunswick Bowling & Billiards President, Warren Hardie, presented her with a crystal bowling pin (pictured), as a token of the companies' appreciation.
In front of a crowd of family, friends and fellow bowlers, Soutar thanked Brunswick for allowing her the opportunities and experiences she was able to achieve during her journey.
Soutar's list of other titles and awards includes:
- Highest game series: 787
- Three-time WIBC All American
- Only back-to-back USBC Doubles Champion (with partner Gloria Bouvia) 1969 and 1970
- Kansas City, Mo., Hall of Fame – 1980
- PWBA Hall of Fame – 1987
- Missouri Hall of Fame – 1989
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