DAVIDSON IS LOVING LIFE IN BOWLING ALLEYS.

Byline: Nevin Barich Daily News Staff Writer

She bowled her first 300 game at age 16. But for Dede Davidson, a greater challenge loomed: trying to convince her mother that it happened.

``I remember. It was April Fools Day,'' said Davidson, now a 31-year-old professional bowler from Woodland Hills. ``Every year on that day, I would tweak my Mom out, telling her something that wasn't true, just to get a reaction. So when I called her after I bowled the 300, she didn't believe me. She just said, `Yeah right.' ''

Eventually, Davidson convinced her mother and since then she's been convincing the rest of the bowling world that she's one of the best at what she does, currently ranking 15th in the nation.

``This is true,'' said Davidson, who was ranked as high as 11th in 1989 or 1991. ``It's a great feeling. When I have bad days, sometimes I ask myself, `What am I doing out here?' But then I look out there at the crowd and I realize how lucky I am. Only a handful of people make a living at this. I'm thankful for my gift. I thank God for it. I'm proud of what I do and I try to be the best I can be.''

Last April, Davidson competed in the U.S. Open in Milford, Conn. - considered by many to be the most prestigious bowling event on the tour. At first, it looked as if Davidson would wrap up the event and its $42,000 in prize money, in dominating fashion as she tallied a 241 average over the first two days, tops for both the men and the women.

Though she tapered off a bit toward the end of the tournament, Davidson finished strongly, placing 15th among 150 women bowlers.

``I felt good all week. I had been practicing simply for that tournament, all by itself,'' said Davidson who won the U.S. Open in 1993. ``I practiced really hard because I wanted to do well again. I had the lead for two days on both sides and I guess that's quite an accomplishment. But I should've been able to keep it going, to keep the lead.''

It didn't take long for Davidson, who started bowling at age 8, to make an impact on the game. When she was 11, she became the youngest girl ever to bowl a 299.

``I sure did,'' said Davidson, reminiscing about her feat. ``It was at the McKeebowl Bowling Alley in San Jose. I had never worn an arm brace (a bowling glove extending to the wrist and part of the forearm) before, but I found one (at the ball return). It was pretty, so I put it on. Then I went out and bowled a 299. At first, I thought it was because of the arm brace.

``At the time, my mom was working across the street and my Dad kept calling her and giving her updates frame by frame,'' she added, laughing.

Davidson bowled in junior tournaments throughout California before having to compete in the adult leagues against 20- and 21-year-olds when she was just 16 because ``the program was kind of fading.''

It was while bowling in the adult leagues that Davidson realized she might just have a future in bowling.

``Competing in the adult leagues, I really began to think that I could do this for a living,'' said Davidson, who has won 18 Professional Regional titles.

In a sport where some don't embark upon the professional ranks until they're in their 30s, Davidson turned pro in 1985 at the tender age of 17. She made waves her first year, being named Rookie of the Year by both the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour and the Worldwide Women's Pro Bowlers (WWPB).

But in her second year on the tour, Davidson went through a bit of a rough spot, struggling to regain the form that made her the top rookie just one year before.

``I went through a stage in my second year. I guess you can call it the sophomore jinx,'' Davidson said. ``My parents had been there with me, really been there for me, my first year and so in my second year I decided to try and be on my own. It was the worst year I ever had. I think I made $5,000 that whole year. I started to wonder if I was good enough. I began second-guessing myself. So I went home and tried to straighten out my game.''

Davidson eventually got her game back on track and brought it to higher levels of excellence throughout the rest of the 1980's. But it wasn't until the '90s that Davidson would have some of her best bowling triumphs.

In the early part of that decade, Davidson was named the WWPB Player of the Year two years in a now. Also, in 1991, Davidson was named to the U.S. team which defeated Japan in team competition in Tokyo. That same year, she won the Women's International Bowling Congress National Title.

``She's probably one of the stronger, more powerful left-handers on the tour,'' said Gip Lentine, Davidson's coach since 1991. ``She has the ability to hook it more, even overpower it a little bit more, than other bowlers.''

In 1993, Davidson won the U.S. Open, a victory that led to her becoming one of the few women bowlers ever to be written about by Sports Illustrated.

``The day before the final (of the U.S. Open) I told Kelly (the reporter from Sports Illustrated) that I would speak to her tomorrow,'' said Davidson who has been endorsing tournaments for Continental Amateur Bowlers Incorporated since 1996. ``She said, `Well, I'm only writing about the winner.' And I said, `Yeah, I'll be speaking to you tomorrow.' ''

What happened after that was a series of injuries, the most notable one being in 1996 when Davidson threw out her back three days before the start of the summer pro tour.

``I used to practice every day, every weekend, between tournaments,'' said Davidson who has been sponsored by Dan Duett, of Kinco Ltd., and his wife Wanda for the past three years. ``But then I hurt my back and I realized that there were going to be times when I needed to rest, when I needed my body to heal.''

In May, Davidson won the St. Clair Classic in Fairview, Ill.; it was her first tournament victory in five years.

``It's been too long,'' Davidson said. ``I earned this victory. I deserved it. It's been a long time coming.''

Davidson's perseverance was recently awarded when she was named the Bowler of the Month for May by the Women's Pro Bowlers Association.

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PHOTO DEDE DAVIDSON

The Woodland Hills product has had her ups and downs as a pro bowler. But the 31-year-old can't see herself being as happy in any other career.