Iowa's Brittany Smith leads after Day 1 of qualifying at 2025 USBC Queens
May 16, 2025
Qualifying Results through Round 1
LAS VEGAS – Brittany Smith of Van Meter, Iowa, averaged nearly 240 for five games and holds the overall lead after Day 1 of qualifying at the United States Bowling Congress Queens, contested at Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Smith had a consistent first day of qualifying, shooting games of 246, 225, 236, 247 and 245 for a five-game total of 1,199 during A Squad. Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, is just behind in second place with 1,195. Malaysia’s Siti Rahman (1,187), Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova (1,171) and Singapore’s New Hui Fen (1,167) round out the top five, respectively.
Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania, and Ashley Rucker of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, are in a tie for sixth with 1,163, with Amber MacLeod of Brick, New Jersey (1,158), Missy Parkin of San Clemente, California (1,156), and Malaysia’s Gillian Lim (1,152) holding spots eight through 10.
Defending champion Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio, is in 19th place with 1,131, while the cut line is at 1,072, held by Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois, and Singapore’s Cherie Tan.
Smith is keeping her momentum going from last week’s Professional Women’s Bowling Association Go Bowling Topeka Open after finishing in the top 12.
“We got a lot of games in last weekend which was good practice,” said Smith. “I’m not used to bowling that many games right now, so it was good momentum for this week.”
The Iowan competitor is in good position to make her seventh appearance into the match-play bracket since 2015 when the PWBA Tour relaunched. She has been juggling bowling and a busy family life, making practice time hard to come by.
“I have a full-time job, two kids at home and a pregnant wife,” said Smith, referring to her wife Sarah, who is also competing at the USBC Queens this week. “We get into the bowling centers as much as we can, little bit of league as well. I think we got practice about three days (before Topeka).”
While her kids are not here this week, they were ever present in Topeka, keeping the spirits high.
“It was a lot of fun to be able to turn around and look at their smiles after bad shots,” said Smith. “It keeps me out of that bad mental block when things are going on, so it’s nice knowing they are back home watching and cheering us on each shot.”
Smith and the rest of A Squad return at 4 p.m. Eastern for their second five-game block of qualifying following B Squad who begin the day at noon Eastern.
Following Saturday’s final qualifying block, the top 63 qualifiers plus Martin will move on to the double-elimination match-play bracket starting Sunday, where each bout will be a three-game total-pinfall match.
The final two remaining in the Winner’s Bracket will bowl each other for the No. 1 seed for Tuesday’s live TV finals show, while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots on the show.
The stepladder finals will begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network, where the winner will receive the coveted tiara and top prize of $60,000. All competition leading up to the televised finals will be streamed live only on BowlTV.
LAS VEGAS – Brittany Smith of Van Meter, Iowa, averaged nearly 240 for five games and holds the overall lead after Day 1 of qualifying at the United States Bowling Congress Queens, contested at Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Smith had a consistent first day of qualifying, shooting games of 246, 225, 236, 247 and 245 for a five-game total of 1,199 during A Squad. Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, is just behind in second place with 1,195. Malaysia’s Siti Rahman (1,187), Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova (1,171) and Singapore’s New Hui Fen (1,167) round out the top five, respectively.
Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania, and Ashley Rucker of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, are in a tie for sixth with 1,163, with Amber MacLeod of Brick, New Jersey (1,158), Missy Parkin of San Clemente, California (1,156), and Malaysia’s Gillian Lim (1,152) holding spots eight through 10.
Defending champion Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio, is in 19th place with 1,131, while the cut line is at 1,072, held by Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois, and Singapore’s Cherie Tan.
Smith is keeping her momentum going from last week’s Professional Women’s Bowling Association Go Bowling Topeka Open after finishing in the top 12.
“We got a lot of games in last weekend which was good practice,” said Smith. “I’m not used to bowling that many games right now, so it was good momentum for this week.”
The Iowan competitor is in good position to make her seventh appearance into the match-play bracket since 2015 when the PWBA Tour relaunched. She has been juggling bowling and a busy family life, making practice time hard to come by.
“I have a full-time job, two kids at home and a pregnant wife,” said Smith, referring to her wife Sarah, who is also competing at the USBC Queens this week. “We get into the bowling centers as much as we can, little bit of league as well. I think we got practice about three days (before Topeka).”
While her kids are not here this week, they were ever present in Topeka, keeping the spirits high.
“It was a lot of fun to be able to turn around and look at their smiles after bad shots,” said Smith. “It keeps me out of that bad mental block when things are going on, so it’s nice knowing they are back home watching and cheering us on each shot.”
Smith and the rest of A Squad return at 4 p.m. Eastern for their second five-game block of qualifying following B Squad who begin the day at noon Eastern.
Following Saturday’s final qualifying block, the top 63 qualifiers plus Martin will move on to the double-elimination match-play bracket starting Sunday, where each bout will be a three-game total-pinfall match.
The final two remaining in the Winner’s Bracket will bowl each other for the No. 1 seed for Tuesday’s live TV finals show, while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots on the show.
The stepladder finals will begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network, where the winner will receive the coveted tiara and top prize of $60,000. All competition leading up to the televised finals will be streamed live only on BowlTV.