Powers rolls 800, takes lead at 2021 USBC Women's Championships
May 21, 2021
By Aaron Smith and Ikra Zakir
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Sharon Powers of Lakewood, Colorado, started her appearance at the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships by being recognized as a tournament champion for the first time after helping Powerhouse claim the Diamond Team title in 2019.
She's leaving the National Bowling Stadium with her name being added to the record book once again, along with the chance to win a gemstone trophy for a second consecutive tournament after rolling an 801 series Friday to take the lead in Diamond Singles.
Powers, who made her 45th consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearance this week, fired games of 289, 268 and 244 to become the 10th bowler to achieve an 800 series at the tournament.
After leaving a 10 pin to start her final frame of singles, the 64-year-old right-hander needed to convert the spare to take the lead from England's Verity Crawley, who held the top spot with 793.
Powers made the spare and added seven pins on her fill ball to become the second bowler this year to roll an 800 series at the Women's Championships. Colombia's Maria José Rodriguez put together an 810 series to take the Diamond Doubles lead with Guatemala's Sofia Granda with a record score of 1,560.
"I knew I had to pick up the 10 pin for 800, and I was just happy to pick it up and get to 801," said Powers, who helped the United States win the team gold medal at the 2019 International Bowling Federation World Senior Championships. "I didn't know what the lead was, so all I wanted to do was make the 10 pin. I'm thrilled to accomplish this."
Powers and her teammates, three-time champion Christine Gill, Michelle Maly and Debbie McMullen, were recognized Thursday for their win at the 2019 Women's Championships in Wichita, Kansas, and moved into 14th place in Diamond Team with a 2,522 total. Bowl 2 Win of Mechanicville, New York, leads Diamond Team with 2,809.
Powers felt there may have been some additional pressure returning as the defending team champion, but she thinks the nerves settled down after she moved into the right bowling ball toward the end of doubles Friday.
"There was some pressure coming in as the defending champions, and I think we all felt it," said Powers, who added sets of 696 in team and 615 in doubles for a 2,112 all-events total. "Today, we came in here wanting to do the best we could. I did switch balls, and I think I just relaxed after the last game of doubles. I figured out the right lane was hooking more than the left lane, and I just tried to take my time."
The Greater Denver and Colorado State USBC Hall of Famer's singles score is the second highest in the 101 editions of the tournament, and now she's excited to see if she can pick up a second title at the national event.
Michelle Feldman of Auburn, New York, won Classic Singles in 2009 with an 816 series, also rolled at the 78-lane venue.
"For all of these years, I wanted a title," said Powers, who finished tied for 33rd place at the 2021 USBC Queens earlier in the week at the NBS. "To win again would just be a dream come true."
The Diamond Division features bowlers with entering averages of 175 and above.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Sharon Powers of Lakewood, Colorado, started her appearance at the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships by being recognized as a tournament champion for the first time after helping Powerhouse claim the Diamond Team title in 2019.
She's leaving the National Bowling Stadium with her name being added to the record book once again, along with the chance to win a gemstone trophy for a second consecutive tournament after rolling an 801 series Friday to take the lead in Diamond Singles.
Powers, who made her 45th consecutive USBC Women's Championships appearance this week, fired games of 289, 268 and 244 to become the 10th bowler to achieve an 800 series at the tournament.
After leaving a 10 pin to start her final frame of singles, the 64-year-old right-hander needed to convert the spare to take the lead from England's Verity Crawley, who held the top spot with 793.
Powers made the spare and added seven pins on her fill ball to become the second bowler this year to roll an 800 series at the Women's Championships. Colombia's Maria José Rodriguez put together an 810 series to take the Diamond Doubles lead with Guatemala's Sofia Granda with a record score of 1,560.
"I knew I had to pick up the 10 pin for 800, and I was just happy to pick it up and get to 801," said Powers, who helped the United States win the team gold medal at the 2019 International Bowling Federation World Senior Championships. "I didn't know what the lead was, so all I wanted to do was make the 10 pin. I'm thrilled to accomplish this."
Powers and her teammates, three-time champion Christine Gill, Michelle Maly and Debbie McMullen, were recognized Thursday for their win at the 2019 Women's Championships in Wichita, Kansas, and moved into 14th place in Diamond Team with a 2,522 total. Bowl 2 Win of Mechanicville, New York, leads Diamond Team with 2,809.
Powers felt there may have been some additional pressure returning as the defending team champion, but she thinks the nerves settled down after she moved into the right bowling ball toward the end of doubles Friday.
"There was some pressure coming in as the defending champions, and I think we all felt it," said Powers, who added sets of 696 in team and 615 in doubles for a 2,112 all-events total. "Today, we came in here wanting to do the best we could. I did switch balls, and I think I just relaxed after the last game of doubles. I figured out the right lane was hooking more than the left lane, and I just tried to take my time."
The Greater Denver and Colorado State USBC Hall of Famer's singles score is the second highest in the 101 editions of the tournament, and now she's excited to see if she can pick up a second title at the national event.
Michelle Feldman of Auburn, New York, won Classic Singles in 2009 with an 816 series, also rolled at the 78-lane venue.
"For all of these years, I wanted a title," said Powers, who finished tied for 33rd place at the 2021 USBC Queens earlier in the week at the NBS. "To win again would just be a dream come true."
The Diamond Division features bowlers with entering averages of 175 and above.