First-timers find success at 2015 USBC Women's
June 21, 2015
By Jessica Gilgor and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Senli Chu of San Francisco and Michele McLaughlin of Redwood City, California, are familiar with the National Bowling Stadium, having competed in various tournaments at the 78-lane venue, but their appearance this weekend was their first at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The two took advantage of their experience at the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins" as they moved into the lead in Ruby Doubles with a 1,191 total on Saturday. Anne Hjelmberg of Naperville, Illinois, and Katrina Raysby of Lombard, Illinois, previously held the lead with 1,172.
"We didn't know we took the lead until we started singles," said Chu, a 37-year-old left-hander. "I didn't know how to read the scoreboard, and my husband told us we shot 1,191. After that, we watched for it to scroll on the leaderboard."
Chu put together games of 244, 183 and 199 to lead the way with a 626 series, while McLaughlin followed with games of 148, 246 and 171 for a 565 set.
"We always want to bowl well, and we came in to bowl well," said McLaughlin, a 32-year-old right-hander. "She held me up the first game, I held her up the second game and we each had a decent final game to keep us in it."
As first-timers at the world's largest participatory sporting event for women, the camaraderie found at the USBC Women's Championships was not lost on the new leaders, who were overwhelmed by the forging of friendships.
"This is a serious tournament, and it's all about the women bowlers and women's power," said Chu, who regularly bowls at Bel Mateo Bowl in San Mateo, California. "At the team event, it was overwhelming because we didn't know that the bowlers exchanged gifts with each other to remember them by."
Saturday also saw new leaders in Topaz Doubles, as fellow first-time participant Susan Russell of Baytown, Texas, teamed with Kaye Poulson of Redlands, California, to move to the top of the leaderboard with a 970 total.
Kristin Caldwell of Mount Vernon, Washington, and Kara Bonnema of Anacortes, Washington, previously held the Topaz lead with 930.
Poulson, a 33-year Women's Championships veteran, led the effort with games of 157, 190 and 155 for a 502 total, and Russell added 156, 163 and 149 for 468.
"I'm totally excited," said Russell, a 42-year-old right-hander. "I'm surprised, as I figured I would have been more nervous bowling here."
Russell almost did not bowl in the event due to a miscalculation in the number of team members with her group.
"The group I came with had an uneven number of bowlers, and we didn't know until we arrived," Russell said. "I stepped back as they were the original team, and then I ended up bowling when Kaye needed a partner. We had such great chemistry. We were right behind each other, matching shots, all the way."
With their Women's Championships debuts behind them, all three first-timers already are looking forward to the 2016 event at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
"I'm ready to go for next year," Russell said. "I knew the day I got here I would be coming back."
Ruby Doubles features bowlers with a combined entering average of 350-379, while Topaz Doubles is for pairs with averages of 259 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Senli Chu of San Francisco and Michele McLaughlin of Redwood City, California, are familiar with the National Bowling Stadium, having competed in various tournaments at the 78-lane venue, but their appearance this weekend was their first at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The two took advantage of their experience at the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins" as they moved into the lead in Ruby Doubles with a 1,191 total on Saturday. Anne Hjelmberg of Naperville, Illinois, and Katrina Raysby of Lombard, Illinois, previously held the lead with 1,172.
"We didn't know we took the lead until we started singles," said Chu, a 37-year-old left-hander. "I didn't know how to read the scoreboard, and my husband told us we shot 1,191. After that, we watched for it to scroll on the leaderboard."
Chu put together games of 244, 183 and 199 to lead the way with a 626 series, while McLaughlin followed with games of 148, 246 and 171 for a 565 set.
"We always want to bowl well, and we came in to bowl well," said McLaughlin, a 32-year-old right-hander. "She held me up the first game, I held her up the second game and we each had a decent final game to keep us in it."
As first-timers at the world's largest participatory sporting event for women, the camaraderie found at the USBC Women's Championships was not lost on the new leaders, who were overwhelmed by the forging of friendships.
"This is a serious tournament, and it's all about the women bowlers and women's power," said Chu, who regularly bowls at Bel Mateo Bowl in San Mateo, California. "At the team event, it was overwhelming because we didn't know that the bowlers exchanged gifts with each other to remember them by."
Saturday also saw new leaders in Topaz Doubles, as fellow first-time participant Susan Russell of Baytown, Texas, teamed with Kaye Poulson of Redlands, California, to move to the top of the leaderboard with a 970 total.
Kristin Caldwell of Mount Vernon, Washington, and Kara Bonnema of Anacortes, Washington, previously held the Topaz lead with 930.
Poulson, a 33-year Women's Championships veteran, led the effort with games of 157, 190 and 155 for a 502 total, and Russell added 156, 163 and 149 for 468.
"I'm totally excited," said Russell, a 42-year-old right-hander. "I'm surprised, as I figured I would have been more nervous bowling here."Russell almost did not bowl in the event due to a miscalculation in the number of team members with her group.
"The group I came with had an uneven number of bowlers, and we didn't know until we arrived," Russell said. "I stepped back as they were the original team, and then I ended up bowling when Kaye needed a partner. We had such great chemistry. We were right behind each other, matching shots, all the way."
With their Women's Championships debuts behind them, all three first-timers already are looking forward to the 2016 event at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
"I'm ready to go for next year," Russell said. "I knew the day I got here I would be coming back."
Ruby Doubles features bowlers with a combined entering average of 350-379, while Topaz Doubles is for pairs with averages of 259 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.