Johnson takes lead after Day 2 of qualifying at 2025 U.S. Women's Open
June 14, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. – After the second day of qualifying at the U.S. Women’s Open at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska, Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas, now holds the overall lead with a 16-game total of 3,398 after managing to tame the fully flat, 38-foot oil condition that was laid out.
Johnson had an eight-game set Friday of 1,655 to propel her to the lead, with Day 1 leader Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah, holding second overall with 3,392 and Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, third with 3,372. Maryssa Carey of Hobart, Indiana (3,347), and Colombia’s Rocio Restrepo (3,344) round out the top five through 16 games.
Positions six through 10 are held by Missy Parkin of San Clemente, California (3,336), Singapore’s New Hui Fen (3,334), Kayla Pashina of Otsego, Minnesota (3,326), Malaysia’s Gillian Lim (3,322) and Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri (3,293).
For the second day in a row, there is a tie for the 36th and final spot before the first cut, this time between Malaysia’s Siti Rahman and Jaelle Hamman of Jarrell, Texas, with a total of 3,117.
Johnson knows all too well how grueling the U.S. Women’s Open can be as she made last year’s telecast, finishing in fourth place.
“Each day is basically its own tournament the way I approach it,” Johnson said. “It comes down to executing and making smart decisions like trusting what you’re seeing, committing to each shot as well.”
Johnson knows that making the show last year doesn’t guarantee anything for this year, but knows that the experience will prove invaluable no matter what happens.
“Last year was last year and this year is brand new everything, but at the same time, that experience most definitely helps,” said Johnson. “For me it’s about being present on every shot and making the best shot I can.”
That presence vaulted her to the lead, and like Boomershine the day before, Johnson talked about taking some time off to be with her family two weeks ago by not bowling the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Summer Series in Cleveland before return to the PWBA Tour for the PWBA Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open in Waterloo, Iowa.
“I decided to go back home and spend time with my family to recharge,” said Johnson, who has two kids that just went on summer break. “The tour season is tough for me because when I’m gone is when they are home, so when I saw the schedule I decided to take that week off and spend time with them. They may not realize what I’m doing, but in my heart I knew it was the right thing to do.
“Being a mom has absolutely changed my perspective on bowling in general. I come out here with just the joy of doing what I love to do, which to compete. (My kids) give me purpose and everything I do is for them, they watch the feed back home and it’s fun to know that I have a village that supports me no matter what.”
Johnson and the rest of C Squad kick off the third day of qualifying Saturday at 9 a.m. Eastern before A Squad takes over at 2 p.m. Eastern. B Squad will take the lanes at 7 p.m. Eastern before the top 36 advance to the final qualifying block on Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
The top 24 after the fourth round of qualifying will start the first of three rounds of round-robin match play that evening at 6 p.m. Eastern. Match play concludes Monday after the next two rounds at 11 a.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Eastern, with the top five advancing to Tuesday’s stepladder finals, live on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. to determine who takes home the green jacket, eagle trophy and $60,000 top prize.
All rounds of competition leading up to the stepladder finals will be streamed live on BowlTV.
For more information on the U.S. Women’s Open, visit BOWL.com/u-s-women-s-open.
Johnson had an eight-game set Friday of 1,655 to propel her to the lead, with Day 1 leader Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah, holding second overall with 3,392 and Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, third with 3,372. Maryssa Carey of Hobart, Indiana (3,347), and Colombia’s Rocio Restrepo (3,344) round out the top five through 16 games.
Positions six through 10 are held by Missy Parkin of San Clemente, California (3,336), Singapore’s New Hui Fen (3,334), Kayla Pashina of Otsego, Minnesota (3,326), Malaysia’s Gillian Lim (3,322) and Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri (3,293).
For the second day in a row, there is a tie for the 36th and final spot before the first cut, this time between Malaysia’s Siti Rahman and Jaelle Hamman of Jarrell, Texas, with a total of 3,117.
Johnson knows all too well how grueling the U.S. Women’s Open can be as she made last year’s telecast, finishing in fourth place.
“Each day is basically its own tournament the way I approach it,” Johnson said. “It comes down to executing and making smart decisions like trusting what you’re seeing, committing to each shot as well.”
Johnson knows that making the show last year doesn’t guarantee anything for this year, but knows that the experience will prove invaluable no matter what happens.
“Last year was last year and this year is brand new everything, but at the same time, that experience most definitely helps,” said Johnson. “For me it’s about being present on every shot and making the best shot I can.”
That presence vaulted her to the lead, and like Boomershine the day before, Johnson talked about taking some time off to be with her family two weeks ago by not bowling the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Summer Series in Cleveland before return to the PWBA Tour for the PWBA Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open in Waterloo, Iowa.
“I decided to go back home and spend time with my family to recharge,” said Johnson, who has two kids that just went on summer break. “The tour season is tough for me because when I’m gone is when they are home, so when I saw the schedule I decided to take that week off and spend time with them. They may not realize what I’m doing, but in my heart I knew it was the right thing to do.
“Being a mom has absolutely changed my perspective on bowling in general. I come out here with just the joy of doing what I love to do, which to compete. (My kids) give me purpose and everything I do is for them, they watch the feed back home and it’s fun to know that I have a village that supports me no matter what.”
Johnson and the rest of C Squad kick off the third day of qualifying Saturday at 9 a.m. Eastern before A Squad takes over at 2 p.m. Eastern. B Squad will take the lanes at 7 p.m. Eastern before the top 36 advance to the final qualifying block on Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
The top 24 after the fourth round of qualifying will start the first of three rounds of round-robin match play that evening at 6 p.m. Eastern. Match play concludes Monday after the next two rounds at 11 a.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Eastern, with the top five advancing to Tuesday’s stepladder finals, live on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. to determine who takes home the green jacket, eagle trophy and $60,000 top prize.
All rounds of competition leading up to the stepladder finals will be streamed live on BowlTV.
For more information on the U.S. Women’s Open, visit BOWL.com/u-s-women-s-open.