Pictured above: Bernadette Richardson

LAS VEGAS – With only a few days remaining at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, the Sapphire Division has had several new names make their way to the top of the leaderboard.

Bernadette Richardson of Fort Washington, Maryland, had a slow start to her team event at the South Point Bowling Plaza, rolling a 487 series, but she turned things up in doubles and singles, shooting 583 and 611, respectively, to take the Sapphire All-Events lead with a 1,681 total.

“After I didn’t bowl that great in team, I realized that I couldn’t get the ball too far outside,” said Richardson, who made her sixth appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships. “I had to tell myself to stay between five and 10 at the arrows.”

Her new focus for doubles and singles paid off, as she posted two solid sets to take over the lead. The big day also helped her take over second in Sapphire Singles and fourth place in Emerald Doubles with Jamie Robinson of Riverdale, Maryland, with 1,135.

Cindy Schutte of Greenwood, Arkansas, leads Sapphire Singles with 617, and Gina Green of Gilbert, Arizona, and Marites Tubban of Pensacola, Florida, lead Emerald Doubles with 1,176.

“I really want to thank my coach for helping me on my game,” Richardson said. “This is the first time I’ve bowled this well at nationals.”

Richardson had her work cut out for her as well, since Seattle’s Corrine Wise has taken the lead just one squad earlier with a 1,658 total.

Wise was part of the Emerald Team champion at the 2022 Women’s Championships – D Echo Balliett-Legge Team 1 of Seattle with a 1,995 total. They also had taken the lead in the final days of the tournament last year in Addison, Illinois.

Wise had three consistent sets, shooting 560 in team, 540 in doubles and 558 in singles.

“It was exciting to be here as a defending champion with my mom and sister,” said Wise, who won the Emerald Team title alongside Wendi Wise, Chandra Hoover and Sabrina McKinney.

Cristi Dikeou of Fowlerville, Michigan, had held the lead in Sapphire All-Events since April 30 with a 1,652 total.


Pictured above (from left): Ethel "Skeeter" Maxwell, Jennifer Hall, Veronica Graves and Peg Kelly

In team competition, the members of One Foot In The Grave of Mesa, Arizona, pushed up the lead in the Sapphire Division by 40 pins with a team total of 1,884.

Captained by Veronica Graves in her sixth Women’s Championships appearance, the team rolled games of 639, 575 and 670 to take over the top spot. The lead previously was held by Flamingo Floozies 2 of Elk Grove, California, with 1,844.

“We’re feeling awesome,” Graves said. “We can’t believe it.”

Graves bowled a 557 series in the team effort and was joined by Ethel “Skeeter” Maxwell (334), Jennifer Hall (437) and Peg Kelly (556).

“I’m here with some good friends and my daughter, Jennifer, and we just came here to have a good time – this just adds some more fun to our trip,” Graves said. “Peg used to live in Mesa before she moved, and she drove all the way from Delaware to join us.”

The team already is signed up for the 2024 event in Reno, Nevada, and they hope to see a trophy next to their names with only a few days remaining in the 2023 tournament.

The Sapphire Division features bowlers with entering averages of 138-148. Teams in the Sapphire Division have a combined entering average of 544 and below.

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.