New leaders in Topaz, Emerald Divisions at 2023 USBC Women’s Championships
June 28, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Omayra Feliciano and Yasmine Herbawi
LAS VEGAS – With less than a week left to go at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, there still are plenty of opportunities for competitors to make a run at taking home one of the coveted gemstone trophies presented to the tournament champions.
There have been two recent lead changes at the South Point Bowling Plaza, with new names finding their way to the top of the standings in Topaz Doubles and Emerald Singles.
In Topaz Doubles, Yasmine Herbawi of Cleveland and Omayra Feliciano of Chicago rolled combined scores of 292, 351 and 315 for a 958 total to jump ahead of the previous leaders – Margaret Query and Janet Hoy of Maxwell, New Mexico – by 24 pins (934).
Feliciano led the effort with games of 148, 194 and 171 for a 513 series, with Herbawi contributing 144, 157 and 144 for 445.
“There is a lot going through our minds right now,” said Feliciano, who made her 15th appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships. Herbawi was making her debut at the tournament.
Feliciano also is a member of the Captain’s Club at the tournament and brought six teams to Las Vegas to bowl the Women’s Championships.
It's been an emotional couple of months for Feliciano, who explained that her husband passed away in February.
“I believe he was helping us tonight,” Feliciano said. “Yasmine has been my best friend for a while, and she has been awesome during this rough time.”
Both Feliciano and Herbawi are hopeful they’ll be able to take home the title with less than a week to go at the 2023 tournament.
“We’re excited and nervous,” Feliciano said.
Topaz Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 249 and below.
Maria Miller
For Las Vegas’ Maria Miller, she was making her dreams a reality as she struck her way to the top of the leaderboard in Emerald Singles.
Miller rolled impressive games of 234, 245 and 171 for a series of 650.
Cindy Carter of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, had held the lead since May 1 with 645.
“I bowled the USBC Senior Queens in April, and I ended up in last,” Miller said. “I didn’t get disappointed in myself. I just said I’ll try and try again. So, I said I’d try my best at the Women’s Championships and follow my dreams. I did it without even knowing it.”
Miller, who made just her second appearance at the Women’s Championships, took up bowling five years ago after retiring in 2012. She has since dedicated herself to the sport and loves to learn all that bowling has to offer.
“I have nothing else to do because I am retired, so I discovered bowling here in Las Vegas and learned how to bowl,” Miller said. “I just keep on improving and learning all about bowling.”
Watching the competitors on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour has helped Miller learn more about the sport, too, and she loves to attend and cheer on all her favorite professionals when they come to Las Vegas.
Miller hopes to share her success on the lanes with her two grandsons as well after introducing them to the sport.
“My two grandsons are hooked on bowling,” Miller said. “I told them if I can do it, then they can do it, too.”
Emerald Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 149-160.
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 – With less than a week left to go at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, there still are plenty of opportunities for competitors to make a run at taking home one of the coveted gemstone trophies presented to the tournament champions.
There have been two recent lead changes at the South Point Bowling Plaza, with new names finding their way to the top of the standings in Topaz Doubles and Emerald Singles.
In Topaz Doubles, Yasmine Herbawi of Cleveland and Omayra Feliciano of Chicago rolled combined scores of 292, 351 and 315 for a 958 total to jump ahead of the previous leaders – Margaret Query and Janet Hoy of Maxwell, New Mexico – by 24 pins (934).
Feliciano led the effort with games of 148, 194 and 171 for a 513 series, with Herbawi contributing 144, 157 and 144 for 445.
“There is a lot going through our minds right now,” said Feliciano, who made her 15th appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships. Herbawi was making her debut at the tournament.
Feliciano also is a member of the Captain’s Club at the tournament and brought six teams to Las Vegas to bowl the Women’s Championships.
It's been an emotional couple of months for Feliciano, who explained that her husband passed away in February.
“I believe he was helping us tonight,” Feliciano said. “Yasmine has been my best friend for a while, and she has been awesome during this rough time.”
Both Feliciano and Herbawi are hopeful they’ll be able to take home the title with less than a week to go at the 2023 tournament.
“We’re excited and nervous,” Feliciano said.
Topaz Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 249 and below.
Maria Miller
For Las Vegas’ Maria Miller, she was making her dreams a reality as she struck her way to the top of the leaderboard in Emerald Singles.
Miller rolled impressive games of 234, 245 and 171 for a series of 650.
Cindy Carter of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, had held the lead since May 1 with 645.
“I bowled the USBC Senior Queens in April, and I ended up in last,” Miller said. “I didn’t get disappointed in myself. I just said I’ll try and try again. So, I said I’d try my best at the Women’s Championships and follow my dreams. I did it without even knowing it.”
Miller, who made just her second appearance at the Women’s Championships, took up bowling five years ago after retiring in 2012. She has since dedicated herself to the sport and loves to learn all that bowling has to offer.
“I have nothing else to do because I am retired, so I discovered bowling here in Las Vegas and learned how to bowl,” Miller said. “I just keep on improving and learning all about bowling.”
Watching the competitors on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour has helped Miller learn more about the sport, too, and she loves to attend and cheer on all her favorite professionals when they come to Las Vegas.
Miller hopes to share her success on the lanes with her two grandsons as well after introducing them to the sport.
“My two grandsons are hooked on bowling,” Miller said. “I told them if I can do it, then they can do it, too.”
Emerald Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 149-160.
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.