Sisters surge to Sapphire lead at 2016 Women's Championships
June 11, 2016
LAS VEGAS - The Pacific Ocean may have stood between sisters Pua Edayan of Waimanalo, Hawaii, and Tatiana Montez, Kapolei, Hawaii, and their trip to the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, but nothing was standing in their way on the lanes as they moved into the lead in Sapphire Doubles on Friday.
Powered by a strong finale at the South Point Bowling Plaza, Edayan and Montez posted a 1,100 total to move ahead of Marge Vieira of Ripon, California, and Suzanne Ruiz of Delhi, California, who previously held the top spot with 1,085.
Edayan led the effort with games of 180, 180 and 202 for a 562 series, while Montez added 162, 161 and 215 for a 538 set.
The pair comes to Las Vegas each year as part of a league back home, and the USBC Women's Championships return to Clark County for the first time since 1983 served as a perfect opportunity to compete in the world's largest participatory sporting event for women, including a first visit to the tournament for Montez.
"We're not used to bowling in a venue like this," said Montez, who bowls at Aiea Bowl. "Back home, our center is 24 lanes, so adjusting to this was a little intimidating at first, but what made it fun and enjoyable was how supportive everybody was. It also was inspiring to hear how many people have dedicated themselves to bowling each year."
The sisters may be inspiring a few bowlers of their own after Friday's performance. Their final game included just one open, and both filled the 10th frame in order to secure the lead.
"We guided each other," said Edayan, who made her third Women's Championships appearance. "I knew she could go in and handle about anything, so I knew she would do well. We can only hope that the score holds."
The sisters also were impressed with the hospitality they found from their fellow competitors on the championship lanes. Edayan and Montez both live a short distance from Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii and one of the most sought-out vacation destinations in the world.
"I just want to say how enjoyable it was to compete with all of the other bowlers," Edayan said. "We had the chance to compete with bowlers from different states, and many haven't been to Hawaii, so they really made us feel welcome."
Sapphire Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Powered by a strong finale at the South Point Bowling Plaza, Edayan and Montez posted a 1,100 total to move ahead of Marge Vieira of Ripon, California, and Suzanne Ruiz of Delhi, California, who previously held the top spot with 1,085.
Edayan led the effort with games of 180, 180 and 202 for a 562 series, while Montez added 162, 161 and 215 for a 538 set.
The pair comes to Las Vegas each year as part of a league back home, and the USBC Women's Championships return to Clark County for the first time since 1983 served as a perfect opportunity to compete in the world's largest participatory sporting event for women, including a first visit to the tournament for Montez.
"We're not used to bowling in a venue like this," said Montez, who bowls at Aiea Bowl. "Back home, our center is 24 lanes, so adjusting to this was a little intimidating at first, but what made it fun and enjoyable was how supportive everybody was. It also was inspiring to hear how many people have dedicated themselves to bowling each year."
The sisters may be inspiring a few bowlers of their own after Friday's performance. Their final game included just one open, and both filled the 10th frame in order to secure the lead.
"We guided each other," said Edayan, who made her third Women's Championships appearance. "I knew she could go in and handle about anything, so I knew she would do well. We can only hope that the score holds."
The sisters also were impressed with the hospitality they found from their fellow competitors on the championship lanes. Edayan and Montez both live a short distance from Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii and one of the most sought-out vacation destinations in the world.
"I just want to say how enjoyable it was to compete with all of the other bowlers," Edayan said. "We had the chance to compete with bowlers from different states, and many haven't been to Hawaii, so they really made us feel welcome."
Sapphire Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.