2015 Women's Championships gets two new leaders
June 26, 2015
By Aaron Smith and Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Former Kutztown University standout Brooke Bower of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, cruised into the Diamond Singles lead at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships with a 781 series Thursday.
The 22-year-old right-hander rolled games of 257, 257 and 267 at the National Bowling Stadium to break a tie at the top of the leaderboard. Darris Ruffner of Exeter, California, and Rochelle Roventini of Franklin, Wisconsin, previously shared the lead with 742.
After her team event Wednesday, Bower followed the path her sister, Nicole Bower, was taking to the pocket as everything fell into place during her singles performance.
"We bowled doubles first, and I was bowling with my sister," said Bower, who added 603 in doubles and 560 in team for a 1,944 all-events tally. "Yesterday, she had a pretty good line. So I pretty much based it off of how she was playing the lanes. I had a decent look in doubles, but I wasn't quite carrying, so I made a couple of adjustments for singles, and everything kind of fell together."
Two days shy of her 23rd birthday, Bower knew the leading total was within reach, but she even surprised herself by being the one to make a run at it. She now is less than a week away from claiming her first USBC Women's Championships title as the 2015 event approaches its June 30 conclusion.
"We actually looked online this morning," said Bower, who made her second Women's Championships appearance. "We knew it was possible to beat the score, we just didn't think we actually would be able to do it. So, I'm very surprised. I was throwing it really well, and once everything got flowing, I was like, 'I have a shot at this.'"
Bower recently joined the Professional Women's Bowling Association, so along with the anticipation of her Women's Championships scoreboard watch, she also has the rest of the 2015 PWBA season on the horizon. The schedule resumes July 9-11 with the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open in Citrus Heights, California.
"When I was little, my father always got (the PWBA Tour) at our bowling center," said Bower, who received honorable mention status in the 2013 National Tenpin Coaches Association All-America voting. "So, while growing up, I got to watch them and be there all the time while they were bowling. I was in love with the sport as it is, and now that the PWBA is back, and I'm old enough to be able to do what I love to do, I figured now is a great the opportunity to pick up the pace and compete with the best in the world."
During the same Women's Championships squad at the NBS on Thursday, Alice Javey-Linton of Manchaca, Texas, found her way into the Amethyst Singles lead after games of 182, 213 and 169 for a 564 series. Carrie Hagedorn of Eureka, California, previously held the top spot with 546.
The 69-year-old right-hander was unaware of the score to beat and was surprised to find out she had taken the lead.
"I am extremely tired, and my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my body," said Javey-Linton, who made her 10th Women's Championships appearance. "But other than that, I'm fine. When singles rolled around, I just wanted to take my time and not guide it. I wasn't watching the numbers because when I do, I bowl badly."
Javey-Linton considered her performance at the 2015 event as one of the best of her career.
"It is, it really is," Javey-Linton said. "In the other tournaments I've bowled in, I very seldom hit my average."
Javey-Linton added 435 in doubles and 417 in team for a 1,416 all-events total, which is 25th overall. Julie Harter of Lakeland, Florida, leads Amethyst All-Events with 1,524.
Competitors in the Diamond Division at the Women's Championships have entering averages of 190 and above, while Amethyst Division bowlers enter with averages of 130-144.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Former Kutztown University standout Brooke Bower of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, cruised into the Diamond Singles lead at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships with a 781 series Thursday.
The 22-year-old right-hander rolled games of 257, 257 and 267 at the National Bowling Stadium to break a tie at the top of the leaderboard. Darris Ruffner of Exeter, California, and Rochelle Roventini of Franklin, Wisconsin, previously shared the lead with 742.
After her team event Wednesday, Bower followed the path her sister, Nicole Bower, was taking to the pocket as everything fell into place during her singles performance.
"We bowled doubles first, and I was bowling with my sister," said Bower, who added 603 in doubles and 560 in team for a 1,944 all-events tally. "Yesterday, she had a pretty good line. So I pretty much based it off of how she was playing the lanes. I had a decent look in doubles, but I wasn't quite carrying, so I made a couple of adjustments for singles, and everything kind of fell together."
Two days shy of her 23rd birthday, Bower knew the leading total was within reach, but she even surprised herself by being the one to make a run at it. She now is less than a week away from claiming her first USBC Women's Championships title as the 2015 event approaches its June 30 conclusion.
"We actually looked online this morning," said Bower, who made her second Women's Championships appearance. "We knew it was possible to beat the score, we just didn't think we actually would be able to do it. So, I'm very surprised. I was throwing it really well, and once everything got flowing, I was like, 'I have a shot at this.'"
Bower recently joined the Professional Women's Bowling Association, so along with the anticipation of her Women's Championships scoreboard watch, she also has the rest of the 2015 PWBA season on the horizon. The schedule resumes July 9-11 with the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open in Citrus Heights, California.
"When I was little, my father always got (the PWBA Tour) at our bowling center," said Bower, who received honorable mention status in the 2013 National Tenpin Coaches Association All-America voting. "So, while growing up, I got to watch them and be there all the time while they were bowling. I was in love with the sport as it is, and now that the PWBA is back, and I'm old enough to be able to do what I love to do, I figured now is a great the opportunity to pick up the pace and compete with the best in the world."
During the same Women's Championships squad at the NBS on Thursday, Alice Javey-Linton of Manchaca, Texas, found her way into the Amethyst Singles lead after games of 182, 213 and 169 for a 564 series. Carrie Hagedorn of Eureka, California, previously held the top spot with 546.The 69-year-old right-hander was unaware of the score to beat and was surprised to find out she had taken the lead.
"I am extremely tired, and my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my body," said Javey-Linton, who made her 10th Women's Championships appearance. "But other than that, I'm fine. When singles rolled around, I just wanted to take my time and not guide it. I wasn't watching the numbers because when I do, I bowl badly."
Javey-Linton considered her performance at the 2015 event as one of the best of her career.
"It is, it really is," Javey-Linton said. "In the other tournaments I've bowled in, I very seldom hit my average."
Javey-Linton added 435 in doubles and 417 in team for a 1,416 all-events total, which is 25th overall. Julie Harter of Lakeland, Florida, leads Amethyst All-Events with 1,524.
Competitors in the Diamond Division at the Women's Championships have entering averages of 190 and above, while Amethyst Division bowlers enter with averages of 130-144.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.