Ledford prepared to defend Senior Queens title at 2025 event
April 08, 2025
LAS VEGAS – Kathy Ledford of Boise, Idaho, qualified for the match-play bracket at the 2024 edition of the United States Bowling Congress Senior Queens by a single pin, but that was all she needed to go on a run that culminated in her taking home the senior title and tiara.
To do so, she defeated 2023 champion Dana Ausec of Colorado Springs, Colorado, twice during the stepladder finals, as Ausec was the top seed in the double-elimination event. Ledford now has an automatic spot in the bracket for this year’s Senior Queens event, which kicks off Thursday at Sam’s Town Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Ledford knows that she was fortunate to make the match-play bracket in 2024; nevertheless, reaching that point is what she’ll shoot for again this year because she views the match-play portion of the event as a new tournament.
“Once you’re in the final bracket, I just had the mindset of that I was an underdog, and I liked playing that role; it takes the pressure off,” said Ledford. “I know my skills and abilities are way better than what I showed last year, and I look forward to stepping it up this year.”
The right-hander feels prepared for this year’s event despite enduring a small slump in the months prior. To bust out of it, she’s emphasized spare shooting and mental focus while also bowling on Sport oil patterns to prepare for what the Senior Queens pattern might be.
“I’ve been bowling two to three leagues a week on mostly challenge patterns, and I feel pretty confident that I’m going to have a decent showing at least,” Ledford said.
Her confidence is also helped by experiencing a taste of international competition as, in August 2024, Ledford was chosen to compete at the PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships in Reno, Nevada.
Ledford bowled alongside Ausec, 2022 Senior Queens winner Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, and 2025 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame inductee Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, New York. The group, led by Team USA Assistant Coach Andy Diercks, collected nine total medals, including five gold, in Reno. Ledford earned gold in team and silver in doubles with Woessner.
“It was a brand-new level for me,” said Ledford. “Being named to Team USA was a big dream of mine, and I wasn’t sure that door would ever open up for me. It was great to have Andy with us, watching every shot and coaching us up. I think all of us have gotten better since last year.
“I left Reno thinking that, yes, I am elite enough to be on that level. I still have a lot of work to do to get better physically and mentally, but I also see where I stand after PANAM. I really hope I get the opportunity to bowl with the same group of ladies at the (International Bowling Federation) World Senior Championships.”
For the time being, Ledford has her focus on defending her title at this year’s Senior Queens.
The field for this year’s event features 92 of the top female USBC members age 50 and older. Past Senior Queens champions like the aforementioned Woessner and Ausec, Tish Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado (2018), Paula Vidad of Sun City, California (2011), and Char Hammel of Henderson, Nevada (2010), will all be competing this week at Sam’s Town.
While doing so, Liz Johnson and USBC Hall of Famer Lynda Barnes will begin their quests to add a USBC Senior Queens title to their resumes, hoping to join Sandra Postma and Anne Marie Duggan as the only bowlers to win the USBC Queens and USBC Senior Queens.
Competition begins Thursday at noon Eastern with the first of three five-game qualifying blocks. At the conclusion of qualifying, the top 31 players will join Ledford in the double-elimination match-play bracket, which begins Friday at 5 p.m. Eastern.
All matches will be three games with total pinfall determining who advances. Once a player loses a match, they will be sent to the Elimination Bracket to continue their chase for the title. The final two undefeated bowlers in the Winners Bracket will bowl for the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals while the final four remaining in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for seeds No. 3-5.
The event will be streamed live from start to finish on BowlTV. As a true double-elimination format event, the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals will have to be beaten twice in the championship in order to be denied the title.
For more information on the USBC Senior Queens, visit BOWL.com/SeniorQueens.
To do so, she defeated 2023 champion Dana Ausec of Colorado Springs, Colorado, twice during the stepladder finals, as Ausec was the top seed in the double-elimination event. Ledford now has an automatic spot in the bracket for this year’s Senior Queens event, which kicks off Thursday at Sam’s Town Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Ledford knows that she was fortunate to make the match-play bracket in 2024; nevertheless, reaching that point is what she’ll shoot for again this year because she views the match-play portion of the event as a new tournament.
“Once you’re in the final bracket, I just had the mindset of that I was an underdog, and I liked playing that role; it takes the pressure off,” said Ledford. “I know my skills and abilities are way better than what I showed last year, and I look forward to stepping it up this year.”
The right-hander feels prepared for this year’s event despite enduring a small slump in the months prior. To bust out of it, she’s emphasized spare shooting and mental focus while also bowling on Sport oil patterns to prepare for what the Senior Queens pattern might be.
“I’ve been bowling two to three leagues a week on mostly challenge patterns, and I feel pretty confident that I’m going to have a decent showing at least,” Ledford said.
Her confidence is also helped by experiencing a taste of international competition as, in August 2024, Ledford was chosen to compete at the PANAM Bowling Adult, Senior and Super Senior Championships in Reno, Nevada.
Ledford bowled alongside Ausec, 2022 Senior Queens winner Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, and 2025 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame inductee Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, New York. The group, led by Team USA Assistant Coach Andy Diercks, collected nine total medals, including five gold, in Reno. Ledford earned gold in team and silver in doubles with Woessner.
“It was a brand-new level for me,” said Ledford. “Being named to Team USA was a big dream of mine, and I wasn’t sure that door would ever open up for me. It was great to have Andy with us, watching every shot and coaching us up. I think all of us have gotten better since last year.
“I left Reno thinking that, yes, I am elite enough to be on that level. I still have a lot of work to do to get better physically and mentally, but I also see where I stand after PANAM. I really hope I get the opportunity to bowl with the same group of ladies at the (International Bowling Federation) World Senior Championships.”
For the time being, Ledford has her focus on defending her title at this year’s Senior Queens.
The field for this year’s event features 92 of the top female USBC members age 50 and older. Past Senior Queens champions like the aforementioned Woessner and Ausec, Tish Johnson of Colorado Springs, Colorado (2018), Paula Vidad of Sun City, California (2011), and Char Hammel of Henderson, Nevada (2010), will all be competing this week at Sam’s Town.
While doing so, Liz Johnson and USBC Hall of Famer Lynda Barnes will begin their quests to add a USBC Senior Queens title to their resumes, hoping to join Sandra Postma and Anne Marie Duggan as the only bowlers to win the USBC Queens and USBC Senior Queens.
Competition begins Thursday at noon Eastern with the first of three five-game qualifying blocks. At the conclusion of qualifying, the top 31 players will join Ledford in the double-elimination match-play bracket, which begins Friday at 5 p.m. Eastern.
All matches will be three games with total pinfall determining who advances. Once a player loses a match, they will be sent to the Elimination Bracket to continue their chase for the title. The final two undefeated bowlers in the Winners Bracket will bowl for the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals while the final four remaining in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for seeds No. 3-5.
The event will be streamed live from start to finish on BowlTV. As a true double-elimination format event, the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals will have to be beaten twice in the championship in order to be denied the title.
For more information on the USBC Senior Queens, visit BOWL.com/SeniorQueens.