New leaders emerge in Ruby Division at 2019 USBC Women's Championships

By Ryne Navarro
USBC Communications

WICHITA, Kan.
- The top of the standings at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships welcomed new leaders in Ruby Team and Ruby All-Events on Saturday at Northrock Lanes.

The members of Rookies of Shawnee, Kansas, may have never bowled together at the USBC Women's Championships before the 100th edition of the event, but their on-lane chemistry quickly showed as they took over the top spot in Ruby Team with a 2,215 total.

Elainea Myers of Bowie, Maryland, had a career day at the 48-lane venue Saturday, taking over Ruby All-Events with a 1,802 total.

Garden Center Lanes 2 of Alexandria, Minnesota, previously led Ruby Team with 2,175, and Annette Miller of Roseville, California, had held the Ruby All-Events lead with 1,776.

Led by Trenetta Alford's 635 series, Rookies were able to start strong at Northrock Lanes, rolling games of 770 and 793 before finishing with 652.

Alford was joined in the effort by Briana Hooper (563), Vi Frye (530), and Diane Weeks (487).

The team relied on some strategy after finding the right look to the pocket Saturday.

"There was a dry spot out there that we could get our balls out to," Weeks said. "We tried hitting that for as long as we could, but the lanes got tricky the last game. It was a good thing we started strong."

Two of the team members, Alford and Frye, were making their first USBC Women's Championships appearance this week.

"This is awesome," Alford said. "I wasn't expecting much for my first time, so to take the lead, it's so exciting."

"We bowl other tournaments together," Frye said, "So I thought we could all bowl this, and it worked out."

The team hails from eastern Kansas and western Missouri, and they made sure the short drive was worthwhile.

"To be so close to home and take the lead, it's so special," Hooper said, "This definitely is a moment we won't forget."

Ruby Team consists of bowlers with combined entering averages between 650-724.

Elainea-Myers-051119_637Myers, a 50-year-old right-hander, started off strong with a 661 series in team and added sets of 610 in singles and 531 in doubles.

Her initial goals in competing this week were to have fun with her fellow bowlers.

"I had no expectations," Myers said. "I just wanted to bowl well and have fun."

Myers, who has one USBC-certified 300 game to her credit, said her performance this week at Northrock Lanes serves as the new highlight of her bowling career.

"This tops my 300," Myers said. "Having the lead at the national tournament is awesome, and it's even better since I haven't bowled as well here in the past."

Myers made her fifth Women's Championships appearance, and after her strong showing she's looking forward to making the event a regular trip on her schedule.

"This event is so much fun," Myers said. "I haven't been in a few years, and I forgot how great it was. Taking the lead makes this even more special, and I hope to experience it more often. When I walked in, I was in awe of seeing all the history of the tournament, and to be able to take the lead at the 100th edition is so exciting and awesome."

Bowlers in Ruby All-Events have entering averages between 175-189.

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