Kulick takes opening round lead

FORT WORTH, Texas - Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., took the opening round lead Friday after eight games of qualifying at the 2010 U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event.

Kulick shot 1,838, an average of 229.75, at Cityview Lanes and leads a field of 100 of the best amateur and professional women bowlers in the world. Cherie Tan of Singapore is second at 1,820.

A little over a week after winning the USBC Queens in El Paso, Texas, Kulick found herself atop the standings yet again. She made history in January by becoming the first woman to win a Professional Bowlers Association Tour title at the Tournament of Champions.

"The success is still continuing, and I just have to keep bowling the way I have been," Kulick said. "Ironically, my mother read my horoscope to me this morning and it said to try not to be too perfect. So I took that to heart today."

Kulick opened the day with her lowest game, 172, before rebounding to shoot games of 257, 216, 249, 204, 256, 236 and 248. She said she will have a better game plan at the start of play Saturday morning.

"I need to get out of the gates a little quicker tomorrow," Kulick said. "The lanes transitioned a little faster than I thought they would the first game, so I will have to watch for that tomorrow."

Three local players sit in third, fourth and fifth positions. Tennelle Milligan of Arlington, Texas, is third at 1,775, Shannon O'Keefe, also of Arlington, is fourth with 1,759 and Amanda Beck of Plano, Texas, is fifth at 1,753.

Qualifying will continue with two more eight-game blocks Saturday and Sunday before the field is cut to the top 24 for round robin match play, which will consist of 24 total games Monday and Tuesday. All qualifying and match-play rounds will be broadcast live on BOWL.com.

After match play, the top five players after 48 games, including bonus pins, will advance to the championship round at the International Training and Research Center in Arlington for the live ESPN2-televised finals at 8 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 12.