New team leaders in Ruby and Diamond Divisions at Women’s Championships

Pictured above (from left): Delta Fettes, Musetta Shaw, Marcie Bentti and Tracy Adams

LAS VEGAS –
The excitement has not wavered at the South Point Bowling Plaza for the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, as new teams made it to the top of the standings in the Ruby and Diamond Divisions on Saturday.

The Alaska Chicks from Palmer, Alaska, made the trip to Las Vegas to bowl, and the team members made the most out of their experience by taking the lead in Ruby Team with a 2,207 total.

The team started steady at the Bowling Plaza with games of 721 and 713, before finishing with 773 to jump ahead of the 2,168 total posted by VK Wildcards of Stafford, Virginia.

Musetta Shaw led the group with a 643 series and was joined by Tracy Adams (537), Delta Fettes (527) and Marcie Bentti (500).

Bentti, who also was making her 25th USBC Women’s Championships appearance, said, “It’s an awesome feeling to be at the top with these ladies.”

Their long trip to the tournament was made even longer when their flight was delayed in Seattle by three hours, but Bentti believed it was well worth it to see their names at the top of the standings.

Bentti and Adams have seen their names in lights at the Women's Championships in the past after placing second at the 2009 event in Division II Doubles and know that even though it's early in the 2023 tournament, there's always a chance to end up with the win.

The members of Champions Pro Shop at the 2023 USBC Women's Championships
Pictured above (from left): Christy Asher, Susan Heffern, Tori Carter and Pamela Pancoast

Just a few pairs down, the Diamond Team lead was being taken over by Champions Pro Shop of Signal Hill, California.

As a team, the members of Champions Pro Shop rolled games of 828, 913 and 863 on Saturday for a 2,604 total, besting the previous score of 2,569 held by Jami’s Girls 1 of DeWitt, Michigan.

The team features Susan Heffern (683 series), 2012 Scratch Singles champion Pamela Pancoast (671), Tori Carter (640) and two-time winner Christy Asher (610).

Ruby Team features four-player groups with combined entering averages of 600-664. Diamond Team has bowlers with combined entering averages of 665 and above.

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.