Arizona bowlers roll into top five in Diamond Doubles at USBC Women's Championships
May 26, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - Lisa Cross of Chandler, Ariz., and Brenda Downs of Gilbert, Ariz., began their friendship with a city tournament doubles title 14 years ago and nearly put themselves in position to win a doubles championship on the grandest stage in women's bowling this week at the 2010 USBC Women's Championships.
The two combined for a 1,253 scratch doubles total, and an additional 68 pins of handicap per game helped them into third place in Diamond Doubles with 1,457 at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center on Monday evening. Cross led the pair with a 654 scratch series, and Downs added 599. Renee Graham of Seat Pleasant, Md., and Felicia Thorpe of Temple Hills, Md., lead Diamond Doubles with 1,484.
Diamond Doubles is made up of bowlers with combined averages of 360 and above, with handicap based on 100 percent of 440. Cross and Downs entered the tournament with a combined average of 372.
The two first met at the 1996 Mesa Metropolitan USBC Women's City Tournament when they were randomly paired up to bowl doubles. They ended up claiming the doubles title and have bowled together ever since.
This week, they were excited to share another triumph on the lanes.
"Our first thought was that maybe we cracked the top 10," said Cross, who bowled in her 16th Women's Championships. "When our lane monitor congratulated us and told us we were in third, we started jumping up and down. When we looked at the leaderboard, we saw names like Kelly Kulick and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard in our division, so to be alongside them is just awesome."
Several weeks prior to their trip to El Paso, Downs faced a few injuries that nearly left her sidelined for the 2010 event. Despite a torn left hamstring and separated right shoulder, she was able to rehab and make it to Sun City with Cross.
"This is actually my first time back to bowling since the injuries," said Downs, who competed in her 17th Women's Championships. "I knew I had to at least get through doubles. We have such a great time bowling league and tournaments together, so I knew I couldn't let her down."
Cross and Downs now plan to keep tabs on their place in the top five as the tournament winds down.
"I may check everyday, maybe even twice," Downs said. "If we can stay in the top three, it would be huge, but even being in the top 10 is amazing."
Cross added a 661 series in team and 551 in singles for a 1,962 all-events total, and Downs rolled 559 in singles and 476 in team to finish at 1,742. All scores include handicap.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The two combined for a 1,253 scratch doubles total, and an additional 68 pins of handicap per game helped them into third place in Diamond Doubles with 1,457 at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center on Monday evening. Cross led the pair with a 654 scratch series, and Downs added 599. Renee Graham of Seat Pleasant, Md., and Felicia Thorpe of Temple Hills, Md., lead Diamond Doubles with 1,484.
Diamond Doubles is made up of bowlers with combined averages of 360 and above, with handicap based on 100 percent of 440. Cross and Downs entered the tournament with a combined average of 372.
The two first met at the 1996 Mesa Metropolitan USBC Women's City Tournament when they were randomly paired up to bowl doubles. They ended up claiming the doubles title and have bowled together ever since.
This week, they were excited to share another triumph on the lanes.
"Our first thought was that maybe we cracked the top 10," said Cross, who bowled in her 16th Women's Championships. "When our lane monitor congratulated us and told us we were in third, we started jumping up and down. When we looked at the leaderboard, we saw names like Kelly Kulick and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard in our division, so to be alongside them is just awesome."
Several weeks prior to their trip to El Paso, Downs faced a few injuries that nearly left her sidelined for the 2010 event. Despite a torn left hamstring and separated right shoulder, she was able to rehab and make it to Sun City with Cross.
"This is actually my first time back to bowling since the injuries," said Downs, who competed in her 17th Women's Championships. "I knew I had to at least get through doubles. We have such a great time bowling league and tournaments together, so I knew I couldn't let her down."
Cross and Downs now plan to keep tabs on their place in the top five as the tournament winds down.
"I may check everyday, maybe even twice," Downs said. "If we can stay in the top three, it would be huge, but even being in the top 10 is amazing."
Cross added a 661 series in team and 551 in singles for a 1,962 all-events total, and Downs rolled 559 in singles and 476 in team to finish at 1,742. All scores include handicap.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.