New leaders emerge Saturday at 2023 USBC Women’s Championships
April 30, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Melanie Newton and Amber Borrello
LAS VEGAS – As the standings still are being shaken up during the opening week at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, two friends worked together to sit atop the leaderboard in Ruby Doubles and a first-time participant took over the top spot in Amethyst Singles and All-Events on Saturday.
In Ruby Doubles, Melanie Newton of Wyoming, Michigan, and Amber Borrello of Grand Rapids, Michigan, put together an impressive set at the South Point Bowling Plaza, which featured combined games of 446, 402 and 447 for a total of 1,295.
Stephaine Corbett of Jonesboro, Georgia, and Delene Roberts of Riverdale, Georgia, previously were in first with a total of 1,186.
Borrello rolled games of 226, 219 and 255 for a 700 series, and Newton added 220, 183 and 192 for 595.
Both Newton and Borrello are part of the Greater Grand Rapids USBC Board of Directors, with Newton holding the position of vice president and Borrello as a director.
“It means a lot to be able to represent our city and our association,” said Borrello, who made her 10th USBC Women’s Championships appearance.
Taking the lead came with emotions for Newton and Borrello, since both a third-generation bowlers.
Borrello remembered her grandparents and how proud they would be of this accomplishment.
Newton put their emotions into one statement, “A national accomplishment would just be amazing.”
The fun and celebrations didn’t stop after doubles competition at the Bowling Plaza, as Borrello took her momentum into singles and made a run in the Diamond Division. She put up scores of 255, 199 and 257 for a 711 series to move into fourth for the event.
Michelle Turner of Detroit leads Regular Singles with 734.
Ruby Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 322-349. The Diamond Division includes competitors with entering averages of 175 and above.
Helen Lewis
In the Amethyst Division, Helen Lewis of Oxford, Georgia, put on a show in her first appearance at the Women’s Championships.
Lewis started out with sets of 512 in team and 442 in doubles, and she finished with games of 209, 142 and 196 to take the lead in Amethyst Singles with a 547 series. She posted a nine-game total of 1,501 to coast to the top spot in Amethyst All-Events.
Bridget Joseph of Eunice, Louisiana, previously led both events with 529 and 1,467, respectively.
“My coach and team at home both told me to just stay calm,” Lewis said. “That’s what I tried to do today, and it just worked out.”
When she was asked about seeing her name on top of the leaderboard, Lewis simply stated, “I’m not going to believe it – it feels great.”
The Amethyst Division features bowlers with entering averages of 125-137.
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 – As the standings still are being shaken up during the opening week at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, two friends worked together to sit atop the leaderboard in Ruby Doubles and a first-time participant took over the top spot in Amethyst Singles and All-Events on Saturday.
In Ruby Doubles, Melanie Newton of Wyoming, Michigan, and Amber Borrello of Grand Rapids, Michigan, put together an impressive set at the South Point Bowling Plaza, which featured combined games of 446, 402 and 447 for a total of 1,295.
Stephaine Corbett of Jonesboro, Georgia, and Delene Roberts of Riverdale, Georgia, previously were in first with a total of 1,186.
Borrello rolled games of 226, 219 and 255 for a 700 series, and Newton added 220, 183 and 192 for 595.
Both Newton and Borrello are part of the Greater Grand Rapids USBC Board of Directors, with Newton holding the position of vice president and Borrello as a director.
“It means a lot to be able to represent our city and our association,” said Borrello, who made her 10th USBC Women’s Championships appearance.
Taking the lead came with emotions for Newton and Borrello, since both a third-generation bowlers.
Borrello remembered her grandparents and how proud they would be of this accomplishment.
Newton put their emotions into one statement, “A national accomplishment would just be amazing.”
The fun and celebrations didn’t stop after doubles competition at the Bowling Plaza, as Borrello took her momentum into singles and made a run in the Diamond Division. She put up scores of 255, 199 and 257 for a 711 series to move into fourth for the event.
Michelle Turner of Detroit leads Regular Singles with 734.
Ruby Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 322-349. The Diamond Division includes competitors with entering averages of 175 and above.
Helen Lewis
In the Amethyst Division, Helen Lewis of Oxford, Georgia, put on a show in her first appearance at the Women’s Championships.
Lewis started out with sets of 512 in team and 442 in doubles, and she finished with games of 209, 142 and 196 to take the lead in Amethyst Singles with a 547 series. She posted a nine-game total of 1,501 to coast to the top spot in Amethyst All-Events.
Bridget Joseph of Eunice, Louisiana, previously led both events with 529 and 1,467, respectively.
“My coach and team at home both told me to just stay calm,” Lewis said. “That’s what I tried to do today, and it just worked out.”
When she was asked about seeing her name on top of the leaderboard, Lewis simply stated, “I’m not going to believe it – it feels great.”
The Amethyst Division features bowlers with entering averages of 125-137.
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.