Nebraska bowler shines at 2015 USBC Women's
June 22, 2015
By Aaron Smith and Jessica Gilgor
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Emotions were high for Ashley Bonebright of Lincoln, Nebraska, when she arrived at the National Bowling Stadium for her first appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The 23-year-old right-hander was taking the place of her late grandmother, Geraldine Korber, and Bonebright put together a memorable performance in her honor as she took the lead in Ruby All-Events on Sunday.
Bonebright rolled a career-high 712 series in doubles and added 622 in singles and 502 in team for a 1,836 all-events total. Patti Pope of Valparaiso, Indiana, held the lead since May 1 with 1,778.
"My grandmother passed away in November, and this would have been her 40th consecutive year," said Bonebright, who bowled collegiately at Central Missouri. "It meant a lot that I was taking her place and continuing the family tradition."
After struggling during Saturday's team event at the NBS, Bonebright purchased a new bowling ball, hoping to turn around her performance for doubles and singles.
"I bought a new ball and had it drilled this morning," Bonebright said. "I first threw it during practice about 30 minutes after it was drilled."
With her new equipment in hand, Bonebright found her line and rolled 24 strikes during her doubles set. She teamed with her mother, Pamela, who added a 444 series in her 19th consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearance, to move into fifth place in Ruby Doubles with a 1,156 total. Senli Chu of San Francisco and Michele McLaughlin of Redwood City, California, took the lead Saturday with 1,191.
Bonebright's success on the national level came as a surprise, since she had stopped bowling after finishing at Central Missouri and moving back to Nebraska.
"I started working and going to school full-time," said Bonebright, who works as a Senior Certified Pharmacy Tech at Walgreen's in Lincoln. "I didn't really have the time to keep bowling at the same level."
With her first tournament experience behind her, Bonebright looks forward to finding a team for the 2016 event in Las Vegas.
"I'll be back next year," Bonebright said. "Whether or not I have a team, I will be back."
Also on Sunday, Marva Cobb of Inglewood, Colorado, found her way into the top spot in Emerald Singles with a 617 series.
She rolled games of 219, 169 and 229 to sneak past Barbara Frank of Battle Ground, Washington, who previously held the lead with 610.
Cobb added 485 in doubles and 466 in team for a 1,568 all-events total. Tamara Smith of Poncha Springs, Colorado, leads Emerald All-Events with 1,699.
The Ruby Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 175-189, and bowlers in the Emerald Division have entering averages of 160-174.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Emotions were high for Ashley Bonebright of Lincoln, Nebraska, when she arrived at the National Bowling Stadium for her first appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The 23-year-old right-hander was taking the place of her late grandmother, Geraldine Korber, and Bonebright put together a memorable performance in her honor as she took the lead in Ruby All-Events on Sunday.
Bonebright rolled a career-high 712 series in doubles and added 622 in singles and 502 in team for a 1,836 all-events total. Patti Pope of Valparaiso, Indiana, held the lead since May 1 with 1,778.
"My grandmother passed away in November, and this would have been her 40th consecutive year," said Bonebright, who bowled collegiately at Central Missouri. "It meant a lot that I was taking her place and continuing the family tradition."
After struggling during Saturday's team event at the NBS, Bonebright purchased a new bowling ball, hoping to turn around her performance for doubles and singles.
"I bought a new ball and had it drilled this morning," Bonebright said. "I first threw it during practice about 30 minutes after it was drilled."
With her new equipment in hand, Bonebright found her line and rolled 24 strikes during her doubles set. She teamed with her mother, Pamela, who added a 444 series in her 19th consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearance, to move into fifth place in Ruby Doubles with a 1,156 total. Senli Chu of San Francisco and Michele McLaughlin of Redwood City, California, took the lead Saturday with 1,191.
Bonebright's success on the national level came as a surprise, since she had stopped bowling after finishing at Central Missouri and moving back to Nebraska.
"I started working and going to school full-time," said Bonebright, who works as a Senior Certified Pharmacy Tech at Walgreen's in Lincoln. "I didn't really have the time to keep bowling at the same level."
With her first tournament experience behind her, Bonebright looks forward to finding a team for the 2016 event in Las Vegas.
"I'll be back next year," Bonebright said. "Whether or not I have a team, I will be back."
Also on Sunday, Marva Cobb of Inglewood, Colorado, found her way into the top spot in Emerald Singles with a 617 series.
She rolled games of 219, 169 and 229 to sneak past Barbara Frank of Battle Ground, Washington, who previously held the lead with 610.
Cobb added 485 in doubles and 466 in team for a 1,568 all-events total. Tamara Smith of Poncha Springs, Colorado, leads Emerald All-Events with 1,699.
The Ruby Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 175-189, and bowlers in the Emerald Division have entering averages of 160-174.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.