Two divisions get new team leaders at 2018 USBC Women's Championships

By Matt Cannizzaro and Ryne Navarro
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. -
Team scores were on the rise Monday at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, and both the Sapphire Division and Emerald Division saw new leaders atop the standings.

Anderson Agency 2 of Lakeville, Minnesota, got the job done in Sapphire Team with a 1,891 total, which included games of 607, 652 and 632. Docu-Shred 2 of Gering, Nebraska, previously held the lead with 1,802.

Janelle Darling led the way for Anderson Agency 2 with a 546 series, and she was followed by Gina Chov (539), Janet Leviton (454) and Jean Christensen (352).

The quartet has been bowling together for at least 15 years with Darling, Leviton and Christensen bowling together for 31 years.

"We come for girl's week and fun every year, so being on top is kind of shocking, give us some time and it will feel real that we're on top," Chov said.

Darling also found success individually this week at the National Bowling Stadium. She added sets of 452 in doubles and 415 in singles for a 1,413 all-events tally, which is sixth in Amethyst All-Events. Vickie Hensley of Mineral Wells, Texas, leads with 1,491.

Teams in the Sapphire Division have combined entering averages of 574 and below.

SplitPersonalities2018WCForWeb250x140Split Personalities of Littleton, Colorado, posted the new score to beat in Emerald Team, a 2,032 total that included games of 682, 650 and 700.

The performance was led by Cheryl Key's 554 set, and she was joined by Judith Rose (528), Susan Paitel (483) and Deanna Zerr (467).

The lead was threatened 24 hours later by Three State Rollers of Cordova, Tennessee, but the challengers fell short, settling into second place with a 1,981 total.

The week began with Spare Us of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, atop the Emerald Team standings with 1,972.

The members of Split Personalities said they travel to the tournament every year just to enjoy themselves and the game of bowling, and most of the time, it doesn't result in success.

But, this year, they find themselves in an enviable position as the leaders.

"We knew we bowled well," Zerr said. "We all bowled at, or above average, so we thought there was a good chance we could be up in the leaderboard, but being on top makes our trip."

Teams in the Emerald Division have combined entering averages of 575-649.

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