McCarthy leads PWBA Lilac City Open heading into match play
June 01, 2026
Qualifying Results
Bracket
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – In the final event of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Summer Series in Rochester, New York, Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska, led the field at the PWBA Lilac City Open on Sunday.
McCarthy shot a 12-game qualifying total of 2,688 as the field of 87 is cut to the top 24 for bracket-style match play, and will be one of eight to earn a first-round bye into the Round of 16. Others earning a bye include Singapore’s Cherie Tan (2,677); Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee (2,663); Canada’s Felicia Wong (2,655); Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane (2,641); Liz Johnson of Orlando, Florida (2,637); Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan (2,629); and Sweden’s Nora Johansson (2,621) after winning a one-game roll off, 205-193, to break a tie with Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania.
"Today was definitely a grind, but I felt like I stayed patient and made good decisions throughout the day," McCarthy said. "The scores weren't as high as some of the previous events, so every shot mattered a little more."
The final match play spot went to Olivia Farwell of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, with 2,536, who will face Runk in the Round of 24.
Despite leading the field, McCarthy said she's not looking too far ahead as match play begins Monday.
"Every day out here is a new challenge," McCarthy said. "The lanes will be different tomorrow, and match play is a completely different format. My focus is just to stay present, trust what I've been seeing, and take it one match at a time."
McCarthy said the lower-scoring environment placed an emphasis on staying focused throughout the day and avoiding costly mistakes.
"Just because I didn't cash in the last event, I still felt like I was throwing the ball well," McCarthy said. "I knew this week was going to be a little different, and that helped my mindset coming in."
With a first-round bye secured, McCarthy will now turn her attention to Monday's match-play rounds.
"The lanes always play a little bit differently on Day 2, and that's to be expected," McCarthy said. "I'll just have to see how things develop and make good adjustments as the day goes on."
One of the biggest moves of the day belonged to Brooke Roberts of Port Orange, Florida, who climbed from 57th at the start of the second qualifying round to 17th with 2,574. Roberts shot 245, 257 and 298 for an 800 series over her final three games of qualifying.
“I didn’t start very well and spares were terrible the first three games,” said Roberts. “I changed balls, found hook and hold and we were great.”
Roberts has won two PWBA Regional titles since 2025 and made the jump to the National Tour full-time this season.
“I came into the season wanting to see how I compare to the ladies out here on the National Tour and I think I’ve found a place for myself here,” Roberts said, who is joined by other players trying to make their own mark on the PWBA Tour like Kayla Verstraete. “It’s nice to have her behind me since my parents can’t make it, there’s always someone cheering me on and we’re bouncing ideas off of each other.”
With the format becoming head-to-head matches tomorrow, Roberts knows that she’ll have to be at her best against the best.
“I’m going to get a good night’s sleep, a good breakfast and take it one shot at a time while also making my spares.”
The best-of-three games match-play bracket starts Monday morning at 9 a.m. Eastern with the Round of 24, where the winners advance to the Round of 16 and will be joined by those who earned a first-round bye at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. All matches through the Round of 8 will be best-of-three games. After the Round of 8, the four winners and highest-seeded loser will be seeded for the stepladder finals Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
For more information on the PWBA Lilac City Open and PWBA Summer Series – Rochester, click HERE.
Bracket
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – In the final event of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Summer Series in Rochester, New York, Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska, led the field at the PWBA Lilac City Open on Sunday.
McCarthy shot a 12-game qualifying total of 2,688 as the field of 87 is cut to the top 24 for bracket-style match play, and will be one of eight to earn a first-round bye into the Round of 16. Others earning a bye include Singapore’s Cherie Tan (2,677); Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee (2,663); Canada’s Felicia Wong (2,655); Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane (2,641); Liz Johnson of Orlando, Florida (2,637); Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan (2,629); and Sweden’s Nora Johansson (2,621) after winning a one-game roll off, 205-193, to break a tie with Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania.
"Today was definitely a grind, but I felt like I stayed patient and made good decisions throughout the day," McCarthy said. "The scores weren't as high as some of the previous events, so every shot mattered a little more."
The final match play spot went to Olivia Farwell of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, with 2,536, who will face Runk in the Round of 24.
Despite leading the field, McCarthy said she's not looking too far ahead as match play begins Monday.
"Every day out here is a new challenge," McCarthy said. "The lanes will be different tomorrow, and match play is a completely different format. My focus is just to stay present, trust what I've been seeing, and take it one match at a time."
McCarthy said the lower-scoring environment placed an emphasis on staying focused throughout the day and avoiding costly mistakes.
"Just because I didn't cash in the last event, I still felt like I was throwing the ball well," McCarthy said. "I knew this week was going to be a little different, and that helped my mindset coming in."
With a first-round bye secured, McCarthy will now turn her attention to Monday's match-play rounds.
"The lanes always play a little bit differently on Day 2, and that's to be expected," McCarthy said. "I'll just have to see how things develop and make good adjustments as the day goes on."
One of the biggest moves of the day belonged to Brooke Roberts of Port Orange, Florida, who climbed from 57th at the start of the second qualifying round to 17th with 2,574. Roberts shot 245, 257 and 298 for an 800 series over her final three games of qualifying.
“I didn’t start very well and spares were terrible the first three games,” said Roberts. “I changed balls, found hook and hold and we were great.”
Roberts has won two PWBA Regional titles since 2025 and made the jump to the National Tour full-time this season.
“I came into the season wanting to see how I compare to the ladies out here on the National Tour and I think I’ve found a place for myself here,” Roberts said, who is joined by other players trying to make their own mark on the PWBA Tour like Kayla Verstraete. “It’s nice to have her behind me since my parents can’t make it, there’s always someone cheering me on and we’re bouncing ideas off of each other.”
With the format becoming head-to-head matches tomorrow, Roberts knows that she’ll have to be at her best against the best.
“I’m going to get a good night’s sleep, a good breakfast and take it one shot at a time while also making my spares.”
The best-of-three games match-play bracket starts Monday morning at 9 a.m. Eastern with the Round of 24, where the winners advance to the Round of 16 and will be joined by those who earned a first-round bye at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. All matches through the Round of 8 will be best-of-three games. After the Round of 8, the four winners and highest-seeded loser will be seeded for the stepladder finals Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
For more information on the PWBA Lilac City Open and PWBA Summer Series – Rochester, click HERE.