LAS VEGAS - Kelly Kulick left all the guys in the gutter.

Kulick became the first woman to win a PBA Tour title yesterday, beating Chris Barnes in the final of the 45th Tournament of Champions.

Kulick outscored Barnes 265-195 to take home the $40,000 first prize and a two-year PBA Tour exemption. The 32-year-old righthander earned a berth in the Tournament of Champions by winning the PBA Women's World Championship last September.

"It's unbelievable," Kulick told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I always imagined myself winning a professional title, but I never thought it would be a major. The Tournament of Champions is one of the most prestigious events on Tour.

"It's starting to kick in now. It's slowly starting to seep in now."

The previous best finish for a woman in a PBA Tour event was second by Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in the 2005 Banquet Open.

Kulick, of Union, N.J., also was the first woman to earn a PBA Tour exemption, finishing sixth in the tour trials in 2006.

"Kelly Kulick's win today at the PBA Tour's Tournament of Champions is not only historic, it serves as a motivational and inspirational event for girls and women competing at all levels all around the world," Women's Sports Foundation Founder Billie Jean King said in a release. - AP

Ronnie Tanner, a horse jockey in the '60s and '70s, and Kendrick Carmouche, a current jockey, spoke about the racism Black jockeys have faced. NewsdayTV's Jamie Stuart reports. Credit: Ed Murray, Jonathan Singh

'I had to keep my mouth shut'  Ronnie Tanner, a horse jockey in the '60s and '70s, and Kendrick Carmouche, a current jockey, spoke about the racism Black jockeys have faced. NewsdayTV's Jamie Stuart reports.

Ronnie Tanner, a horse jockey in the '60s and '70s, and Kendrick Carmouche, a current jockey, spoke about the racism Black jockeys have faced. NewsdayTV's Jamie Stuart reports. Credit: Ed Murray, Jonathan Singh

'I had to keep my mouth shut'  Ronnie Tanner, a horse jockey in the '60s and '70s, and Kendrick Carmouche, a current jockey, spoke about the racism Black jockeys have faced. NewsdayTV's Jamie Stuart reports.

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