Johnson again top seed at USBC Senior Queens
May 18, 2015
GREEN BAY, Wis. - For the third consecutive year, United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Tish Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, will bowl for the title at the USBC Senior Queens.
The 52-year-old left-hander still is searching for her first win at the event, however, and she'll try a new strategy during this year's stepladder finals Tuesday at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.
The stepladder finals will be broadcast live on BowlTV on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Johnson flawlessly rolled through the double-elimination match-play bracket at the 2015 Senior Queens with a 5-0 record, and she needs to win just one more game to claim the tiara and $3,000 of the $20,600 prize fund.
"It's just one game, so anything can happen, but I'm going to try a different strategy this time and see if it works," said Johnson, who has back-to-back runner-up finishes and a fourth-place effort in three previous Senior Queens appearances. "I'm the only one on my side of the lane, so I'm not going to practice too much on the TV pair. I think I bowled too much on it last year, so this time, I'll throw a few shots to get loose, but I'll spend more time on the practice pair."
Johnson qualified seventh this week with a 193 average through 15 games of qualifying, but she gained momentum as match play progressed, averaging 210 in her five matches.
She claimed her spot in the final with a 622-569 win against defending champion Robin Romeo of Newhall, California, who now will enter the stepladder finals as the second seed.
Romeo was the high qualifier this week by more than 80 pins and cruised through match play before running into Johnson.
The other three finalists emerged from the elimination bracket, with four bowlers battling in the final round for three spots in the stepladder. Mandy Wilson of Dayton, Ohio, rolled a 637 series to claim the No. 3 seed and was followed by 2010 Senior Queens champion Char Hammel of Las Vegas (575) and Lisa Wasson of Murphy, Texas (523). Carole Jones of Englewood, Colorado, shot 502 and was eliminated, finishing sixth overall.
Johnson also is a member of the newly re-launched Professional Women's Bowling Association, which kicked off its first season in more than a dozen years this week at the USBC Queens, held simultaneously with the Senior Queens.
With the two tournaments being held together, Johnson chose to compete in Senior Queens because it is part of the Senior Women's Triple Crown Series presented by The Orleans. She recently finished second at the first stop of the Triple Crown Series, the National Golden Ladies Classic in March.
The top 10 players in the Triple Crown standings, which combines qualifying totals from all the National Golden Ladies Classic, the Senior Queens and the U.S. Women's Open, will take part in the Triple Crown Shoot-Out presented by The Orleans.
The Triple Crown Shoot-Out will be held after the U.S. Women's Open qualifying rounds Sept. 4 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
The Senior Queens is open to all female USBC members age 50 and older.
The 52-year-old left-hander still is searching for her first win at the event, however, and she'll try a new strategy during this year's stepladder finals Tuesday at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.The stepladder finals will be broadcast live on BowlTV on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Johnson flawlessly rolled through the double-elimination match-play bracket at the 2015 Senior Queens with a 5-0 record, and she needs to win just one more game to claim the tiara and $3,000 of the $20,600 prize fund.
"It's just one game, so anything can happen, but I'm going to try a different strategy this time and see if it works," said Johnson, who has back-to-back runner-up finishes and a fourth-place effort in three previous Senior Queens appearances. "I'm the only one on my side of the lane, so I'm not going to practice too much on the TV pair. I think I bowled too much on it last year, so this time, I'll throw a few shots to get loose, but I'll spend more time on the practice pair."
Johnson qualified seventh this week with a 193 average through 15 games of qualifying, but she gained momentum as match play progressed, averaging 210 in her five matches.
She claimed her spot in the final with a 622-569 win against defending champion Robin Romeo of Newhall, California, who now will enter the stepladder finals as the second seed.
Romeo was the high qualifier this week by more than 80 pins and cruised through match play before running into Johnson.
The other three finalists emerged from the elimination bracket, with four bowlers battling in the final round for three spots in the stepladder. Mandy Wilson of Dayton, Ohio, rolled a 637 series to claim the No. 3 seed and was followed by 2010 Senior Queens champion Char Hammel of Las Vegas (575) and Lisa Wasson of Murphy, Texas (523). Carole Jones of Englewood, Colorado, shot 502 and was eliminated, finishing sixth overall.
Johnson also is a member of the newly re-launched Professional Women's Bowling Association, which kicked off its first season in more than a dozen years this week at the USBC Queens, held simultaneously with the Senior Queens.
With the two tournaments being held together, Johnson chose to compete in Senior Queens because it is part of the Senior Women's Triple Crown Series presented by The Orleans. She recently finished second at the first stop of the Triple Crown Series, the National Golden Ladies Classic in March.
The top 10 players in the Triple Crown standings, which combines qualifying totals from all the National Golden Ladies Classic, the Senior Queens and the U.S. Women's Open, will take part in the Triple Crown Shoot-Out presented by The Orleans.
The Triple Crown Shoot-Out will be held after the U.S. Women's Open qualifying rounds Sept. 4 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
The Senior Queens is open to all female USBC members age 50 and older.