Miles ahead of field in Amethyst All-Events at 2017 Women's Championships
April 30, 2017
By Matt Cannizzaro and Scott Simon
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Robin Miles of Alberta, Minnesota, has found past success at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, but 2017 could be her breakout year on the tournament lanes after a career-best performance this weekend lifted her to the top of the standings in Amethyst All-Events.
The 51-year-old right-hander rolled sets of 512 in team, 492 in doubles and 477 in singles for a 1,481 all-events total at the Raising Cane's River Center.
Along with securing the top spot in all-events, Miles is fourth in Amethyst Singles, 10th in Amethyst Doubles with Brenda Finstad of Annandale, Minnesota, with an 855 total and just outside the top 10 in Sapphire Team.
Denise McConkey of Monticello, Illinois, previously held the lead in Amethyst All-Events with 1,367, while Trudy Pankratz of Somonauk, Illinois, settled between Miles and McConkey with a 1,378 performance Sunday morning.
Miles, who made her ninth USBC Women's Championships appearance this year, kicked off her tournament career at the 2008 in Detroit and had her first run at a Women's Championships title a year later, ultimately finishing third in Division IV All-Events.
After starting her 2017 tournament campaign with a 144 game, Miles admits she didn't have any thoughts of making a run at the all-events leaderboard.
"Well, the whole year, I didn't do very well," Miles said. "But, I have bowled well at the tournament, particularly my second year, and I did bowl a little better in my last month of league."
As her nine games at the River Center progressed, Miles saw satisfying improvement, until the final game of doubles, when she struggled to a 123 effort. She was able to rebound in singles, though, posting games of 149, 168, and 160 to really raise the all-events bar one week into the 79-day event.
"It was a lot different out there than back home in league, because my ball hooks a lot there," said Miles, whose home bowling center is Crystal Lanes in Morris, Minnesota. "All I tried to do was the same thing, over and over."
While Miles was happy with her individual performance Friday and Saturday in Baton Rouge, she was particularly glad to be able to share the success with her team and longtime doubles partner, while her husband was there to share the moment, too.
"We've bowled together since 2006, and ever since I moved, this is our once-a-year get together," Miles said.
Miles also said she'll be watching the tournament scores online as the event rolls on, knowing anything is possible, even though there are others who have the same feeling she does in trying to win a title at the Women's Championships.
Amethyst Singles and All-Events at the Women's Championships is for bowlers with entering averages of 130-144. Amethyst Doubles includes pairs with combined entering averages of 260-289.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. - Robin Miles of Alberta, Minnesota, has found past success at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, but 2017 could be her breakout year on the tournament lanes after a career-best performance this weekend lifted her to the top of the standings in Amethyst All-Events.
The 51-year-old right-hander rolled sets of 512 in team, 492 in doubles and 477 in singles for a 1,481 all-events total at the Raising Cane's River Center.
Along with securing the top spot in all-events, Miles is fourth in Amethyst Singles, 10th in Amethyst Doubles with Brenda Finstad of Annandale, Minnesota, with an 855 total and just outside the top 10 in Sapphire Team.
Denise McConkey of Monticello, Illinois, previously held the lead in Amethyst All-Events with 1,367, while Trudy Pankratz of Somonauk, Illinois, settled between Miles and McConkey with a 1,378 performance Sunday morning.
Miles, who made her ninth USBC Women's Championships appearance this year, kicked off her tournament career at the 2008 in Detroit and had her first run at a Women's Championships title a year later, ultimately finishing third in Division IV All-Events.
After starting her 2017 tournament campaign with a 144 game, Miles admits she didn't have any thoughts of making a run at the all-events leaderboard.
"Well, the whole year, I didn't do very well," Miles said. "But, I have bowled well at the tournament, particularly my second year, and I did bowl a little better in my last month of league."
As her nine games at the River Center progressed, Miles saw satisfying improvement, until the final game of doubles, when she struggled to a 123 effort. She was able to rebound in singles, though, posting games of 149, 168, and 160 to really raise the all-events bar one week into the 79-day event.
"It was a lot different out there than back home in league, because my ball hooks a lot there," said Miles, whose home bowling center is Crystal Lanes in Morris, Minnesota. "All I tried to do was the same thing, over and over."
While Miles was happy with her individual performance Friday and Saturday in Baton Rouge, she was particularly glad to be able to share the success with her team and longtime doubles partner, while her husband was there to share the moment, too.
"We've bowled together since 2006, and ever since I moved, this is our once-a-year get together," Miles said.
Miles also said she'll be watching the tournament scores online as the event rolls on, knowing anything is possible, even though there are others who have the same feeling she does in trying to win a title at the Women's Championships.
Amethyst Singles and All-Events at the Women's Championships is for bowlers with entering averages of 130-144. Amethyst Doubles includes pairs with combined entering averages of 260-289.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women's Championships page.