McCarthy earns top seed for match play at 2026 USBC Queens
May 17, 2026
FULL RESULTS
LAS VEGAS – Qualifying came to an end at Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, and now a 2026 United States Bowling Congress Queens field that started with 199 athletes has been whittled down to the top 64.
Those athletes will now face two days of three-game, total-pinfall bracket match-play competition on Sunday and Monday, at the conclusion of which five players will advance to the stepladder finals.
The stepladder will begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network, where the winner will receive the coveted tiara and top prize of $60,000.
Because of the five-player stepladder format and live TV broadcast, the top seed will only have to be defeated once during the stepladder finals in order to be denied the 2026 Queens title.
While the No. 1 position for the TV finals is yet to be determined, the top seed for match play went to Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska.
The 2015 Queens runner-up and 2022 U.S. Women’s Open champ earned the top spot by leading this year’s field with a three-day, 15-game qualifying total of 3,561 (a 237.4 average), the third-highest 15-game score in Queens history – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas, holds the record with 3,636.
After posting block totals of 1,180 and 1,166 during Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, McCarthy saved her best for last, using games of 236, 238, 300, 247 and 194 during third-round action on Saturday to tally 1,215 on the day and finish as this year’s qualifying leader.
Valerie Bercier of Muskegon, Michigan, and 2023 third-place finisher Carlene Beyer of Ogdensburg, Wisconsin, tied for second at 3,553. Second-round leader Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, was fourth with 3,550 while Malaysia’s Syazwani Sahar grabbed the final spot in the qualifying top five with a three-day, 15-game total of 3,513.
Defending champion Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee, shot 1,190 during Round 3 on Saturday to qualify in 39th place with 3,327.
Kerry Smith of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and Correen Acuff of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, secured the final two spots in the match-play bracket after tying for 63rd place with 3,270 (a 218 average).
Because Acuff’s highest single-day qualifying block total (1,129) was higher than Smith’s (1,124), Acuff earned the No. 63 seed for match play, and Smith was seeded 64th.
That means Smith, the 2023 PWBA Regional Showdown winner, will draw McCarthy in Round 1 of match play, which is scheduled to begin at noon Eastern on Sunday.
Despite being the favorite on paper, McCarthy won’t be taking anything for granted once bracket play commences.
“Match play is a different ballgame,” McCarthy said. “It’s head-to-head, the lanes are going to break down a little bit differently and the pattern will have been run a few more times. You never really know what you’re going to get once you get to match play, so it’s a whole new tournament.”
McCarthy is hoping that allows her to turn over a new leaf and have a bit more success during this year’s Queens bracket than she’s enjoyed in years past.
“I’ve made the show once during the Queens, but I normally tend to struggle during match play,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know what it is, mental or physical. That’s why I’m just going to try to take it literally one game and match at a time and see where it ends up.”
But even though she’ll do her best to stay focused on the task at hand, like her 63 fellow match-play competitors, McCarthy will be hoping it all ends with the tiara on her head and the check in her hand come Tuesday night.
McCarthy was matter-of-fact when asked how it would feel to become the 2026 Queens champion.
“It would definitely mean a lot to me,” McCarthy said. “Still, I just need to take it one shot at a time and stay in the moment.”
Match play at the 2026 Queens will take place on Sunday and Monday until two athletes are left in the Winners Bracket and four bowlers remain in the Elimination Bracket.
The final two undefeated bowlers in this year’s field will square off for the No. 1 seed for Tuesday’s live TV finals show while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots in the stepladder finals.
All rounds leading up to the stepladder finals at this year’s tournament will be streamed live exclusively on BowlTV.
CLICK HERE for more information on the USBC Queens.
LAS VEGAS – Qualifying came to an end at Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, and now a 2026 United States Bowling Congress Queens field that started with 199 athletes has been whittled down to the top 64.
Those athletes will now face two days of three-game, total-pinfall bracket match-play competition on Sunday and Monday, at the conclusion of which five players will advance to the stepladder finals.
The stepladder will begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network, where the winner will receive the coveted tiara and top prize of $60,000.
Because of the five-player stepladder format and live TV broadcast, the top seed will only have to be defeated once during the stepladder finals in order to be denied the 2026 Queens title.
While the No. 1 position for the TV finals is yet to be determined, the top seed for match play went to Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska.
The 2015 Queens runner-up and 2022 U.S. Women’s Open champ earned the top spot by leading this year’s field with a three-day, 15-game qualifying total of 3,561 (a 237.4 average), the third-highest 15-game score in Queens history – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas, holds the record with 3,636.
After posting block totals of 1,180 and 1,166 during Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, McCarthy saved her best for last, using games of 236, 238, 300, 247 and 194 during third-round action on Saturday to tally 1,215 on the day and finish as this year’s qualifying leader.
Valerie Bercier of Muskegon, Michigan, and 2023 third-place finisher Carlene Beyer of Ogdensburg, Wisconsin, tied for second at 3,553. Second-round leader Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, was fourth with 3,550 while Malaysia’s Syazwani Sahar grabbed the final spot in the qualifying top five with a three-day, 15-game total of 3,513.
Defending champion Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee, shot 1,190 during Round 3 on Saturday to qualify in 39th place with 3,327.
Kerry Smith of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and Correen Acuff of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, secured the final two spots in the match-play bracket after tying for 63rd place with 3,270 (a 218 average).
Because Acuff’s highest single-day qualifying block total (1,129) was higher than Smith’s (1,124), Acuff earned the No. 63 seed for match play, and Smith was seeded 64th.
That means Smith, the 2023 PWBA Regional Showdown winner, will draw McCarthy in Round 1 of match play, which is scheduled to begin at noon Eastern on Sunday.
Despite being the favorite on paper, McCarthy won’t be taking anything for granted once bracket play commences.
“Match play is a different ballgame,” McCarthy said. “It’s head-to-head, the lanes are going to break down a little bit differently and the pattern will have been run a few more times. You never really know what you’re going to get once you get to match play, so it’s a whole new tournament.”
McCarthy is hoping that allows her to turn over a new leaf and have a bit more success during this year’s Queens bracket than she’s enjoyed in years past.
“I’ve made the show once during the Queens, but I normally tend to struggle during match play,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know what it is, mental or physical. That’s why I’m just going to try to take it literally one game and match at a time and see where it ends up.”
But even though she’ll do her best to stay focused on the task at hand, like her 63 fellow match-play competitors, McCarthy will be hoping it all ends with the tiara on her head and the check in her hand come Tuesday night.
McCarthy was matter-of-fact when asked how it would feel to become the 2026 Queens champion.
“It would definitely mean a lot to me,” McCarthy said. “Still, I just need to take it one shot at a time and stay in the moment.”
Match play at the 2026 Queens will take place on Sunday and Monday until two athletes are left in the Winners Bracket and four bowlers remain in the Elimination Bracket.
The final two undefeated bowlers in this year’s field will square off for the No. 1 seed for Tuesday’s live TV finals show while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots in the stepladder finals.
All rounds leading up to the stepladder finals at this year’s tournament will be streamed live exclusively on BowlTV.
CLICK HERE for more information on the USBC Queens.