Texan edges into lead at 2016 USBC Women's Championships
June 14, 2016
By Kesha Dirkson and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Faith Nealon of Dallas may be known as the "Queen of Diamonds" to her bowling club in Texas, but she may need to adjust that title after taking the lead Tuesday in Emerald Singles at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The 58-year-old right-hander fired games of 234, 174 and 234 at the South Point Bowling Plaza to move to the top of the standings with a 642 series. Alyssa Keyser of Bridger, Montana, previously held the lead in Emerald Singles with 638.
Nealon's final game included five consecutive strikes early on, but a missed spare in the seventh frame forced her to find one more double for an opportunity at the lead. She bounced back with strikes in the eighth and ninth frames and converted a 6-9 spare in the 10th to solidify her spot in the Emerald rankings.
"I just came to bowl and have fun," said Nealon, who made her fifth USBC Women's Championships appearance. "I knew that I had bowled better than usual, but I had no idea that I bowled well enough to take the lead."
Although Nealon attributes her success Tuesday to matching up to the conditions and the easy-going atmosphere, the chemistry shared between her and her teammates on the championship lanes could not be ignored.
Nealon's bowling club, known as the Dallas Diamonds, travels together to events across the country, but the primary goals including having fun while developing friendships into a tight-knit family.
"You need to have the right chemistry, and, today, I had it on the lanes," said Nealon, who added 532 in team and 503 in doubles to finish her 2016 event with a 1,677 all-events total. "I've been bowling with this group for five years now, and I enjoy all of my Diamonds. We come together, go from tournament to tournament and just have fun."
With less than a month to go before the final ball is rolled at the 2016 Women's Championships, Nealon is thrilled about the opportunity to bring home a national title and is thankful for the experience. The 2016 Women's Championships will conclude July 11.
"That would be awesome," Nealon said. "I loved getting the news today, and it's great for our club. It was just an awesome experience."
Another member of the group also created some buzz Tuesday at the Bowling Plaza, as Debby Oulicky, also of Dallas, started her singles set with nine consecutive strikes before leaving a 6 pin to end her run at the tournament's first perfect game.
Oulicky, competing in the Diamond Division, finished her opening effort with 277 and added 246 to put her within range of USBC Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, who leads Diamond Singles with 757.
The strikes did not continue into the finale for Oulicky, and she only was able to connect twice for a 175 finish and 698 series.
Emerald Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 160-174. Diamond Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 190 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Faith Nealon of Dallas may be known as the "Queen of Diamonds" to her bowling club in Texas, but she may need to adjust that title after taking the lead Tuesday in Emerald Singles at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The 58-year-old right-hander fired games of 234, 174 and 234 at the South Point Bowling Plaza to move to the top of the standings with a 642 series. Alyssa Keyser of Bridger, Montana, previously held the lead in Emerald Singles with 638.
Nealon's final game included five consecutive strikes early on, but a missed spare in the seventh frame forced her to find one more double for an opportunity at the lead. She bounced back with strikes in the eighth and ninth frames and converted a 6-9 spare in the 10th to solidify her spot in the Emerald rankings.
"I just came to bowl and have fun," said Nealon, who made her fifth USBC Women's Championships appearance. "I knew that I had bowled better than usual, but I had no idea that I bowled well enough to take the lead."
Although Nealon attributes her success Tuesday to matching up to the conditions and the easy-going atmosphere, the chemistry shared between her and her teammates on the championship lanes could not be ignored.
Nealon's bowling club, known as the Dallas Diamonds, travels together to events across the country, but the primary goals including having fun while developing friendships into a tight-knit family.
"You need to have the right chemistry, and, today, I had it on the lanes," said Nealon, who added 532 in team and 503 in doubles to finish her 2016 event with a 1,677 all-events total. "I've been bowling with this group for five years now, and I enjoy all of my Diamonds. We come together, go from tournament to tournament and just have fun."
With less than a month to go before the final ball is rolled at the 2016 Women's Championships, Nealon is thrilled about the opportunity to bring home a national title and is thankful for the experience. The 2016 Women's Championships will conclude July 11.
"That would be awesome," Nealon said. "I loved getting the news today, and it's great for our club. It was just an awesome experience."
Another member of the group also created some buzz Tuesday at the Bowling Plaza, as Debby Oulicky, also of Dallas, started her singles set with nine consecutive strikes before leaving a 6 pin to end her run at the tournament's first perfect game.
Oulicky, competing in the Diamond Division, finished her opening effort with 277 and added 246 to put her within range of USBC Hall of Famer Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, New York, who leads Diamond Singles with 757.
The strikes did not continue into the finale for Oulicky, and she only was able to connect twice for a 175 finish and 698 series.
Emerald Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 160-174. Diamond Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 190 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.