Leaderboard rewritten after thrilling Friday at Women’s Championships
April 29, 2023
Pictured above: Hannah Sancrant
LAS VEGAS – The action-packed opening week at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships has left no shortage of excitement and strikes. For the competitors bowling in Friday’s doubles and singles squads, new heights were reached.
First up on Friday was a pair of lead changes in Topaz All-Events at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
At the end of the day, Hannah Sancrant of Gladwin, Michigan, had her name at the top of the standings with a 1,407 total. Katie Mills of Jacksonville, Florida, had taken the lead during the earlier squad with 1,398. Doris Mixon of Canton, Texas, had started Friday with the lead at 1,365.
Sancrant improved with each set at the Bowling Plaza and put up scores of 440 in team, 468 in doubles and 499 in singles to take the lead. Her performance in singles (142, 170, 187) also moved her into second place. Stephanie Bruner of Kemp, Texas, leads Topaz Singles with 511.
As a first-time participant at the USBC Women’s Championships, Sancrant said, “It was pretty nerve-wracking.”
When she was asked about what it will be like to see her name atop the leaderboard for the first time, Sancrant simply stated, “It will be astonishing.”
The Topaz Division features bowlers with averages of 124 and below.
Margaret Carlson (left) and Wendy Proctor
Next up in the Emerald Division, Margaret Carlson of Madison, Wisconsin, and Wendy Proctor of Brookfield, Wisconsin, combined for a score of 1,152 with games of 403, 406 and 343 to rise to the top of the doubles standings. Yolanda Maldonado and Kennia Santos of Carolina, Puerto Rico, had taken the lead in Emerald Doubles on Thursday with 1,107.
Carlson led the pair with games of 225, 203 and 183 for a 611 series, while Proctor added 178, 203 and 160 for a 541 set.
“In my run during nationals, this is the first time I have really put together one good set and two really good ones,” said Carlson, who made her 10th Women’s Championships appearance.
Carlson and Proctor competed this week as part of the Friendship Squad, which allows bowlers without a full team to combine with other bowlers looking to join the fun at the tournament.
“We are both just so happy to have really done well,” said Proctor, who made her fourth tournament appearance. “If we didn't have the Friendship (Squad) opportunity, we would not have been able to bowl, and we are so grateful for the opportunity.”
Emerald Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 298-321.
Megan Enright
In the Ruby Division, strikes were flying as Megan Enright of Mesa, Arizona, took the lead in both singles and all-events.
Enright put up an impressive set in singles, shooting 243, 228 and 255 for a 726 series. She also had scores of 615 in doubles and 537 in team to cap off her run at the Bowling Plaza with an all-events total of 1,878.
Patricia Lashore of Madison, Wisconsin (634), and Kennia Santos of Carolina, Puerto Rico (1,788), entered Friday as the leaders in Ruby Singles and Ruby All-Events, respectively.
A first timer at the Women’s Championships, Enright stated, “I came in wanting to do the best I could, but I never imagined I would shoot a 700 series.
“I enjoy bowling so much. It’s my escape from reality, so to come here and be able to show up, it just means everything.”
The Ruby Division includes bowlers with averages of 161-174.
Michelle Turner
Finally, in the Diamond Division, Michelle Turner of Detroit put together scores of 244, 227 and 263 for a 734 series to take the singles lead. Rachel Atkins of New Haven, Indiana, was leading Diamond Singles with 727.
Looking at her game plan going into today, Turner said, “Watch your target, stay down and execute your shot.”
Her strategy paid off, as she started her last game of singles with seven strikes. She spared in the eighth frame and added another strike in the ninth. She needed the first strike in the 10th for a chance at the outright lead and was able to deliver in the moment.
“It really means a lot,” Turner said. “I am actually here bowling because of my daughter. She brought me out here, and then this happened.”
The Diamond Division features bowlers with averages of 175 and above.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.
LAS VEGAS – The action-packed opening week at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships has left no shortage of excitement and strikes. For the competitors bowling in Friday’s doubles and singles squads, new heights were reached.
First up on Friday was a pair of lead changes in Topaz All-Events at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
At the end of the day, Hannah Sancrant of Gladwin, Michigan, had her name at the top of the standings with a 1,407 total. Katie Mills of Jacksonville, Florida, had taken the lead during the earlier squad with 1,398. Doris Mixon of Canton, Texas, had started Friday with the lead at 1,365.
Sancrant improved with each set at the Bowling Plaza and put up scores of 440 in team, 468 in doubles and 499 in singles to take the lead. Her performance in singles (142, 170, 187) also moved her into second place. Stephanie Bruner of Kemp, Texas, leads Topaz Singles with 511.
As a first-time participant at the USBC Women’s Championships, Sancrant said, “It was pretty nerve-wracking.”
When she was asked about what it will be like to see her name atop the leaderboard for the first time, Sancrant simply stated, “It will be astonishing.”
The Topaz Division features bowlers with averages of 124 and below.
Margaret Carlson (left) and Wendy Proctor
Next up in the Emerald Division, Margaret Carlson of Madison, Wisconsin, and Wendy Proctor of Brookfield, Wisconsin, combined for a score of 1,152 with games of 403, 406 and 343 to rise to the top of the doubles standings. Yolanda Maldonado and Kennia Santos of Carolina, Puerto Rico, had taken the lead in Emerald Doubles on Thursday with 1,107.
Carlson led the pair with games of 225, 203 and 183 for a 611 series, while Proctor added 178, 203 and 160 for a 541 set.
“In my run during nationals, this is the first time I have really put together one good set and two really good ones,” said Carlson, who made her 10th Women’s Championships appearance.
Carlson and Proctor competed this week as part of the Friendship Squad, which allows bowlers without a full team to combine with other bowlers looking to join the fun at the tournament.
“We are both just so happy to have really done well,” said Proctor, who made her fourth tournament appearance. “If we didn't have the Friendship (Squad) opportunity, we would not have been able to bowl, and we are so grateful for the opportunity.”
Emerald Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 298-321.
Megan Enright
In the Ruby Division, strikes were flying as Megan Enright of Mesa, Arizona, took the lead in both singles and all-events.
Enright put up an impressive set in singles, shooting 243, 228 and 255 for a 726 series. She also had scores of 615 in doubles and 537 in team to cap off her run at the Bowling Plaza with an all-events total of 1,878.
Patricia Lashore of Madison, Wisconsin (634), and Kennia Santos of Carolina, Puerto Rico (1,788), entered Friday as the leaders in Ruby Singles and Ruby All-Events, respectively.
A first timer at the Women’s Championships, Enright stated, “I came in wanting to do the best I could, but I never imagined I would shoot a 700 series.
“I enjoy bowling so much. It’s my escape from reality, so to come here and be able to show up, it just means everything.”
The Ruby Division includes bowlers with averages of 161-174.
Michelle Turner
Finally, in the Diamond Division, Michelle Turner of Detroit put together scores of 244, 227 and 263 for a 734 series to take the singles lead. Rachel Atkins of New Haven, Indiana, was leading Diamond Singles with 727.
Looking at her game plan going into today, Turner said, “Watch your target, stay down and execute your shot.”
Her strategy paid off, as she started her last game of singles with seven strikes. She spared in the eighth frame and added another strike in the ninth. She needed the first strike in the 10th for a chance at the outright lead and was able to deliver in the moment.
“It really means a lot,” Turner said. “I am actually here bowling because of my daughter. She brought me out here, and then this happened.”
The Diamond Division features bowlers with averages of 175 and above.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.