Utah pair takes Amethyst lead at 2018 USBC Women's Championships

By Christian Seaborn and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev.
- Laura Smith of Glenwood, Utah, and Lisa Lott of Elsinore, Utah, have been on a roll since starting their trip to the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, and their ride continued Sunday as they moved into the lead in Amethyst Doubles.

Smith led the way at the National Bowling Stadium with games of 167, 184 and 200 for a 551 series, and Lott added games of 184, 165 and 111 for a 460 set to give the pair a 1,011 total. Gail Davis of Albany, Georgia, and Ruby Wiley of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, had been leading Amethyst Doubles since April 23 with 995.

Lott, a first-time USBC Women's Championships participant, was in a state of disbelief to hear their score was enough to take over the top spot.

"I had no idea what I was getting into," Lott said. "I thought we were close, but taking the lead was more than I could have imagined. I was shocked getting the news."

Smith, who made her seventh consecutive tournament appearance, had set a goal of bowling her first 200 game on the championship lanes. She got there during her final game of doubles with a spare to start her final frame and an eight count on her fill ball.

In order to reach the lead, either Smith or Lott needed a mark in the 10th frame of the third game, and both players delivered spares.

"I accomplished that today," Smith said. "Taking over the lead in our division just added so much more."

All signs pointed to a strong performance at the Women's Championships for Smith and Lott, as they continued to run into good fortune on their way to and while in Reno.

"We were right behind first class on the flight here, and we were upgraded for our rental car because they didn't have any of the cars we had arranged for," Lott said. "Then, while we were going out to dinner at Eldorado, I decided to play a five-number Keno spot and all five numbers were called. And now, taking the lead at the tournament. The whole trip has just been magical."

Amethyst Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 260-289.

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