ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS - The Professional Women's Bowling Association voted Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, New York as the 2001 recipient of the Robby Award. Given to the player that "best exemplifies the most positive image of women in professional bowling on and off the lanes, Johnson earned 32 percent of the player's vote en route to the honor.

"I'm very surprised and flattered to receive this award," said Johnson. "It's a great honor to be recognized by your peers for what you do on and off the lanes."

Johnson is the 18th bowler to garner the award. She completed the 2001 campaign as one of the tour's top players ranking second in earnings ($85,827), sixth in competition points (12,337) and second in averages (212.41). In addition, she claimed four titles increasing her career total to ten. Her victory at the 2001 Hammer Players Championship was her second "major" championship of her five-year professional career.

"I feel great about the year I just had. To win four titles and make the championship round ten times is a special accomplishment."

Competing in 20 tournaments, Johnson cashed in 18 events and finished in the top ten 13 times. She appeared in ten televised finals including the Paula Carter Classic where she made national news by bowling a 300-game in the title match. Along with the championship and first place purse, Johnson's perfect game earned her a $50,000 Travelodge Bonus. Including TV incentives, the native New Yorker made the most money among all PWBA'ers taking in $156,827 for the season.

Now a two-time winner of the Robby Award (1998), Johnson's pro career has also included making the 1998 Bowlers Journal International All-American Team and earning the 1996 PWBA Rookie of the Year.

During her time at Morehead State University, Johnson was a three-time Bowlers Journal International Amateur of the Year (1993-95), a two-time U.S. National Amateur Champion (1993-94) and the 1993 the Collegiate Bowler of the Year.

The Professional Women's Bowling Association, founded in 1981 as the Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour, provides a professional tournament program for the most skilled women bowlers in the world. The PWBA's key sponsors include the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC), Travelodge Hotels Inc., Riverside Resorts and more than a dozen other bowling industry sponsors. For the latest information on the PWBA go to www.pwba.com.