Clonie Gowen was born Cycalona Gowen during the powerful storm that took over in Oklahoma which served as the inspiration for her name. She became a professional poker player while taking a vocational scuba diving trip to Costra Rica. It was then when she joined the World Poker Tour Season One tournament for $500 and finished in tenth place in the money which earned her a seat at the invitational WPT’s Ladies Night where she overcame many accomplished players to elevate into the spotlight.

While in high school, Gowen won Miss Teen Oklahoma at age 15, she was a varsity basketball player, and a high jump track star. She was introduced to playing poker by her boyfriend’s father and the competitive woman she is, she prevailed in yet another sport. Clonie Gowen opened a travel agency which quickly spread to two locations, and later sold it and moved to being a full-time poker pro.

In 2005 Las Vegas found Gowen at third place in the $20,000 No Limit Hold’em FullTiltPoker.Net Championship where she took home $99,000. In the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em Ultimate Poker Challenge tournament she placed in seventh and at the WPT Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City, she finished 31st with $14,987 in the $9,700 No Limit Hold’em Championship Event. Once again in Las Vegas she reached fourth place in the Fourth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic $2,000 No Limit Hold’em event and in 2006’s Full Tilt Poker Pro Showdown she made her mark again at third bringing in $120,000.

At the Ultimate Poker Challenge Clonie Gowen was a guest commentator, as well as in The Gaming Club World Poker Championship and the 888.com Women’s Poker UK Open. All In magazine holds her as a regular columnist and at the United States Poker Association, a non-profit organization; she is a member of the Board of Directors. The cameras love Gowen and she often hosts tournaments.

As of 2006, her total live tournament winnings exceed $300,000.

(Source: pokerteam.com)