Doubles standings shaken up at 2018 USBC Women's Championships
April 22, 2018
By Tony Contini and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - The standings at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships have seen plenty of changes in the tournament's opening days.
At the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday, the Sapphire and Topaz Divisions saw new leaders emerge in doubles, which was made extra special because it gave longtime friends the chance to share the spotlight.
Patricia Bryson of Newnan, Georgia, and Robin Wimmer of Maricopa, Arizona, moved into the lead in Sapphire Doubles on the strength of a strong second game. They finished with a 1,023 total.
Laurie Johnson of Kemp, Texas, and Tina Jennings of Seven Points, Texas, were consistent in their effort on the way to the lead in Topaz Doubles with 862.
Bryson and Wimmer averaged more than 200 as a team in Game 2 on Sunday, shooting 209 and 193, respectively. Wimmer added bookend games of 160 and 175 for a 528 series, while Bryson had 130 and 156 for a 495 total. MiYoung Kim of Edmond, Oklahoma, and JungShin Kim of Woodward, Oklahoma, previously held the lead with 1,007.
Bryson, a 70-year-old right-hander, started this year's event feeling under the weather and wasn't sure she'd be able to finish all nine games, but her teammate believes that mindset helped push her to the strong second game, which included seven strikes.
"It kind of clicked for me the past two days," said Bryson, who made her ninth appearance at the USBC Women's Championships. "I don't usually bowl this well."
Wimmer, a 56-year-old right-hander, felt the need to keep up with her partner's stellar performance.
"I'm tickled I bowled really well in doubles for her," said Wimmer, who made her 12th trip to the Women's Championships. "You want to bowl well for your partner. I think that goes for every doubles pair."
Bowling and friendship are synonymous for Bryson and Wimmer, who have enjoyed many memorable moments together on the lanes. When Wimmer moved to Arizona, they used the tournament as an opportunity to continue that tradition.
They enjoy the chance to encourage each other on the lanes, but both were surprised to find out their score was enough to place them at the top of the standings.
"It's a surprise, and a good one," Wimmer said. "I've got four leagues I can start bragging to."
Sapphire Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.
Jennings, a 49-year-old right-hander, posted games of 138, 159 and 142 for a 439 series, and Johnson, a 44-year-old right-hander, wasn't far behind with games of 150, 116 and 157 for a 423 set. Rose George of Tavares, Florida, and Bonnie Killian of Yalaha, Florida, previously held the lead in Topaz Doubles with 837.
Johnson and Jennings have been friends for more than 20 years but only started bowling about five years ago when Johnson was asked to join a league. Jennings quickly joined, as well, and the two are a part of a tight-knit group that bowls together at Seven Points' Tip-Top Lanes.
They were part of a five-team group from the center that competed this week in Reno.
"Everything we do is a group effort," said Jennings, who made her second Women's Championships appearance. "They're just as happy as we are. This is a really close group."
After enjoying Saturday's opening ceremony, Johnson's start to competition Sunday did not start out as planned as she injured a finger on her bowling hand, but she persevered in her six games of doubles and singles.
"During the seventh frame of my first game, I went up there like normal, and I felt my finger pop," said Johnson, who made her tournament debut this week at the NBS. "I had to ice it the rest of the way."
The group already is signed up and looking forward to the 100th edition of the Women's Championships next year in Wichita, Kansas, and the thought of potentially returning as a defending champion brought out the same response from Jennings and Johnson.
"It's totally awesome," Jennings said.
Topaz Doubles features doubles teams with combined entering averages of 259 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - The standings at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships have seen plenty of changes in the tournament's opening days.
At the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday, the Sapphire and Topaz Divisions saw new leaders emerge in doubles, which was made extra special because it gave longtime friends the chance to share the spotlight.
Patricia Bryson of Newnan, Georgia, and Robin Wimmer of Maricopa, Arizona, moved into the lead in Sapphire Doubles on the strength of a strong second game. They finished with a 1,023 total.
Laurie Johnson of Kemp, Texas, and Tina Jennings of Seven Points, Texas, were consistent in their effort on the way to the lead in Topaz Doubles with 862.
Bryson and Wimmer averaged more than 200 as a team in Game 2 on Sunday, shooting 209 and 193, respectively. Wimmer added bookend games of 160 and 175 for a 528 series, while Bryson had 130 and 156 for a 495 total. MiYoung Kim of Edmond, Oklahoma, and JungShin Kim of Woodward, Oklahoma, previously held the lead with 1,007.
Bryson, a 70-year-old right-hander, started this year's event feeling under the weather and wasn't sure she'd be able to finish all nine games, but her teammate believes that mindset helped push her to the strong second game, which included seven strikes.
"It kind of clicked for me the past two days," said Bryson, who made her ninth appearance at the USBC Women's Championships. "I don't usually bowl this well."
Wimmer, a 56-year-old right-hander, felt the need to keep up with her partner's stellar performance.
"I'm tickled I bowled really well in doubles for her," said Wimmer, who made her 12th trip to the Women's Championships. "You want to bowl well for your partner. I think that goes for every doubles pair."
Bowling and friendship are synonymous for Bryson and Wimmer, who have enjoyed many memorable moments together on the lanes. When Wimmer moved to Arizona, they used the tournament as an opportunity to continue that tradition.
They enjoy the chance to encourage each other on the lanes, but both were surprised to find out their score was enough to place them at the top of the standings.
"It's a surprise, and a good one," Wimmer said. "I've got four leagues I can start bragging to."
Sapphire Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.
Jennings, a 49-year-old right-hander, posted games of 138, 159 and 142 for a 439 series, and Johnson, a 44-year-old right-hander, wasn't far behind with games of 150, 116 and 157 for a 423 set. Rose George of Tavares, Florida, and Bonnie Killian of Yalaha, Florida, previously held the lead in Topaz Doubles with 837.Johnson and Jennings have been friends for more than 20 years but only started bowling about five years ago when Johnson was asked to join a league. Jennings quickly joined, as well, and the two are a part of a tight-knit group that bowls together at Seven Points' Tip-Top Lanes.
They were part of a five-team group from the center that competed this week in Reno.
"Everything we do is a group effort," said Jennings, who made her second Women's Championships appearance. "They're just as happy as we are. This is a really close group."
After enjoying Saturday's opening ceremony, Johnson's start to competition Sunday did not start out as planned as she injured a finger on her bowling hand, but she persevered in her six games of doubles and singles.
"During the seventh frame of my first game, I went up there like normal, and I felt my finger pop," said Johnson, who made her tournament debut this week at the NBS. "I had to ice it the rest of the way."
The group already is signed up and looking forward to the 100th edition of the Women's Championships next year in Wichita, Kansas, and the thought of potentially returning as a defending champion brought out the same response from Jennings and Johnson.
"It's totally awesome," Jennings said.
Topaz Doubles features doubles teams with combined entering averages of 259 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.