Minnesota bowler races to top spot at 2016 Women's Championships
April 14, 2016
LAS VEGAS - Short-track racing is a way of life for Marlana Ayers of Plymouth, Minnesota, and she moved into the fast lane at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, taking the lead Wednesday in Amethyst Singles and All-Events.
The 35-year-old right-hander started her singles set with games of 185 and 144, but she saved her best for last at the South Point Bowling Plaza as she rolled six strikes in a seven-frame stretch on her way to a 223 finish for a 552 set.
Ayers added 436 in team and 426 in doubles for a 1,414 all-events tally, which puts her in a tie at the top of the leaderboard with Cathy Moultrie of Clinton Township, Michigan.
"When I started the third game with an open, I thought I was going to tank the last game," said Ayers, who bowls regularly at Minneapolis' New Hope Bowl. "I moved over a little bit, found a spot and just kept hitting my mark. We come to this event to have a good time and get together for a girls' weekend, but being able to put together some good scores is a bonus."
Ayers works as part of the crew of the Wolff Motorsports No. 32 car that competes locally at the Elko Speedway as well as in the Great Northern Sportsman Series, and she knows the importance, whether in racing or bowling, of being in front of the field as she hopes her totals can hold until the 2016 USBC Women's Championships concludes July 11.
"We race weekly in Minnesota, and it's always better to be in the lead," said Ayers, who made her third Women's Championships appearance.
The racing team is family-owned and operated, and the family ties also helped Ayers into the sport of bowling, and eventually to the Women's Championships.
"Bowling has been around me for as a long as I can remember," Ayers said. "It's in my family, and they really got me into it. They always post pictures and have a lot of fun coming to the Women's Championships, and I couldn't pass it up."
Amethyst Singles and All-Events features bowlers with entering averages between 130-144.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 35-year-old right-hander started her singles set with games of 185 and 144, but she saved her best for last at the South Point Bowling Plaza as she rolled six strikes in a seven-frame stretch on her way to a 223 finish for a 552 set.
Ayers added 436 in team and 426 in doubles for a 1,414 all-events tally, which puts her in a tie at the top of the leaderboard with Cathy Moultrie of Clinton Township, Michigan.
"When I started the third game with an open, I thought I was going to tank the last game," said Ayers, who bowls regularly at Minneapolis' New Hope Bowl. "I moved over a little bit, found a spot and just kept hitting my mark. We come to this event to have a good time and get together for a girls' weekend, but being able to put together some good scores is a bonus."
Ayers works as part of the crew of the Wolff Motorsports No. 32 car that competes locally at the Elko Speedway as well as in the Great Northern Sportsman Series, and she knows the importance, whether in racing or bowling, of being in front of the field as she hopes her totals can hold until the 2016 USBC Women's Championships concludes July 11.
"We race weekly in Minnesota, and it's always better to be in the lead," said Ayers, who made her third Women's Championships appearance.
The racing team is family-owned and operated, and the family ties also helped Ayers into the sport of bowling, and eventually to the Women's Championships.
"Bowling has been around me for as a long as I can remember," Ayers said. "It's in my family, and they really got me into it. They always post pictures and have a lot of fun coming to the Women's Championships, and I couldn't pass it up."
Amethyst Singles and All-Events features bowlers with entering averages between 130-144.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.