New leaders in four events at 2019 USBC Women's Championships
May 31, 2019
By Ethan Resh and Christian Seaborn
USBC Communications
WICHITA, Kan. - In an exciting run over the course of just a few hours, new leaders emerged in four events at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
Starting Thursday evening at Northrock Lanes, Chris Lafko of Simi Valley, California, took over the top spot in Topaz Singles (530 series) and Topaz All-Events (1,425 total), while Rosie Martinez and Sheri Sexton of Bloomfield, New Mexico, ascended to the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day after moving into the lead in Sapphire Doubles (1,099).
On Friday, Wendy Esco of Phenix City, Alabama, and Dottie Swenson of Cataula, Georgia, made their run to the lead in Amethyst Doubles with a 1,005 total.
Lafko rolled to the lead in two events on the strength of her singles set, rolling games of 163, 214 and 153. She added sets of 468 in team and 427 in doubles to move into the all-events lead by 91 pins.
Carol Sharp of Albuquerque, New Mexico, previously led Topaz Singles with 505, and Danielle Bassett of Greencastle, Indiana, led Topaz All-Events with 1,334.
Lafko was surprised to hear that her performance was enough to put her into the lead in two events.
"This was amazing," Lafko said. "I did not expect for this to happen at all. This was such an incredible experience, and I'm still in shock."
Topaz Singles and All-Events includes bowlers with entering averages of 129 and below.
Martinez and Sexton had just helped their team, 4 for Fun, move into the lead in Sapphire Team on Wednesday at Northrock Lanes and put together another strong effort Thursday.
Sexton led the pair with games of 179, 247 and 186 for a 612 series, while Martinez bounced back from a 130 start to roll games of 178 and 179 for 487. Brittany and Tiffany Friars of Greencastle, Indiana, previously led Sapphire Doubles with 1,090.
"What an incredible two days," Martinez said. "We were so happy last night to take the team lead, which makes this even more incredible."
Martinez led the team effort Wednesday as 4 for Fun finished with a 1,859 score. Sexton bounced back after not performing as well as she would have liked during her team effort, and she was excited to be able to share the experience with one of her best friends.
The other members of 4 for Fun are Beth Gillitzer and Nelita Wilson.
"What an amazing time this week," said Sexton, who made her 14th USBC Women's Championships appearance. "I love all of my girls so much, and I am just so happy after these last two days."
Sapphire Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.
Esco and Swenson were over average each game on the way to the Amethyst Doubles lead. Esco paced the team with games of 160, 204 and 169 for a 533 series, and Swenson added 159, 162 and 151 for a 472 total.
Jamie Bunten of Fillmore, Indiana, and June Reed of Cloverdale, Indiana, previously led with 983.
Esco and Swenson travel to the Women's Championships to have a good time, and Friday's performance helped enhance another great trip to the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
"We always come to Nationals for the fun of it," Swenson said. "Moving into the top spot is the icing on the cake."
Amethyst Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 260-289.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
WICHITA, Kan. - In an exciting run over the course of just a few hours, new leaders emerged in four events at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
Starting Thursday evening at Northrock Lanes, Chris Lafko of Simi Valley, California, took over the top spot in Topaz Singles (530 series) and Topaz All-Events (1,425 total), while Rosie Martinez and Sheri Sexton of Bloomfield, New Mexico, ascended to the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day after moving into the lead in Sapphire Doubles (1,099).
On Friday, Wendy Esco of Phenix City, Alabama, and Dottie Swenson of Cataula, Georgia, made their run to the lead in Amethyst Doubles with a 1,005 total.
Lafko rolled to the lead in two events on the strength of her singles set, rolling games of 163, 214 and 153. She added sets of 468 in team and 427 in doubles to move into the all-events lead by 91 pins.
Carol Sharp of Albuquerque, New Mexico, previously led Topaz Singles with 505, and Danielle Bassett of Greencastle, Indiana, led Topaz All-Events with 1,334.
Lafko was surprised to hear that her performance was enough to put her into the lead in two events.
"This was amazing," Lafko said. "I did not expect for this to happen at all. This was such an incredible experience, and I'm still in shock."
Topaz Singles and All-Events includes bowlers with entering averages of 129 and below.
Martinez and Sexton had just helped their team, 4 for Fun, move into the lead in Sapphire Team on Wednesday at Northrock Lanes and put together another strong effort Thursday.Sexton led the pair with games of 179, 247 and 186 for a 612 series, while Martinez bounced back from a 130 start to roll games of 178 and 179 for 487. Brittany and Tiffany Friars of Greencastle, Indiana, previously led Sapphire Doubles with 1,090.
"What an incredible two days," Martinez said. "We were so happy last night to take the team lead, which makes this even more incredible."
Martinez led the team effort Wednesday as 4 for Fun finished with a 1,859 score. Sexton bounced back after not performing as well as she would have liked during her team effort, and she was excited to be able to share the experience with one of her best friends.
The other members of 4 for Fun are Beth Gillitzer and Nelita Wilson.
"What an amazing time this week," said Sexton, who made her 14th USBC Women's Championships appearance. "I love all of my girls so much, and I am just so happy after these last two days."
Sapphire Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.
Esco and Swenson were over average each game on the way to the Amethyst Doubles lead. Esco paced the team with games of 160, 204 and 169 for a 533 series, and Swenson added 159, 162 and 151 for a 472 total. Jamie Bunten of Fillmore, Indiana, and June Reed of Cloverdale, Indiana, previously led with 983.
Esco and Swenson travel to the Women's Championships to have a good time, and Friday's performance helped enhance another great trip to the world's largest participatory sporting event for women.
"We always come to Nationals for the fun of it," Swenson said. "Moving into the top spot is the icing on the cake."
Amethyst Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 260-289.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.