California team ties for Sapphire lead at 2024 USBC Women’s Championships

RENO, Nev. – The members of Team Purpureus of Campbell, California, showed purpose by donning a dark shade of purple while competing at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships on Saturday, but now they’re seeing blue after tying for the lead in the Sapphire Division at the 2024 event.

Team Purpureus started off Game 1 at the National Bowling Stadium with a total score of 582. They followed it up in Game 2 with 660. In Game 3, they rallied together to get to a score of 649 to tie Prairie Pals II of Bennett, Colorado, with a total of 1,891.

The group needed a final strike in the last frame and got their wish, when anchor bowler Cheryl Rule ruled it as such.

Rule helped her team the most with a high score of 530. She rolled 159 in Game 1 and followed that up with a fantastic score of 202 in Game 2. In Game 3, she bowled a total score of 169.

This was the first time Team Purpureus – featuring Paulette Petro, Jennifer Young, Kathy Nguyen and Rule – bowled together as a team. They truly found their purpose in the end.

“It means the world and is very unexpected,” Nguyen said. “We as a team are just really thrilled and speechless at the same time.”

Petro had an overall score of 430 for her team event. She rolled 136 in Game 1 and followed up in Game 2 with a score of 138. She saved her best game for last with a score of 156 to compliment her team.

Young helped her team’s cause with a series of 411. She had 122 in Game 1, 141 in Game 2 and finished strong with her best game, a total score of 148.

Nguyen did very well in her first tournament appearance with a series of 520. She bowled 165 in Game 1 and fired a score of 179 in Game 2. In Game 3, she bowled a solid score of 176.

“I did not expect for us to take the overall team lead – this is my first Women’s Championships appearance,” Nguyen said. “It’s amazing and very surprising at the same time.”

The journey to the lead was a great experience for the members of Team Purpureus.

“I am just really grateful and appreciate the chance to bowl with such amazing women, especially since this is my first time meeting them,” Nguyen said.

Sapphire Team features four-player groups with combined entering averages of 540 and below.

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