LAS VEGAS – For some bowlers, seeing the year-to-year improvement at an event like the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships is an accomplishment by itself, and for Karen Moore, her continued growth in the sport has landed her at the top of the leaderboard at the 2023 event.

Moore, of O’Fallon, Missouri, was able to put together a great set in Sapphire Singles, rolling games of 228, 220 and 159 for a 607 series to take the top spot at the South Point Bowling Plaza.

Ann Glock of Cambridge, Wisconsin, previously led Sapphire Singles with 597.

“I bowled really well last year for the first time ever, and it feels good now to be at the top this year,” Moore said.

It marked Moore’s first 600 series at the USBC Women’s Championships in her 17 years of bowling the tournament. She thinks she had a few nerves during her third game, but it was enough to get there.

After three early opens in Game 3, she was able to stay clean starting from the sixth frame, and a spare in her final frame locked up the lead and the chance for her 600.

“One of my teammates asked me if I was ready for my first 600 series here, and I think my knees buckled,” Moore said with a laugh.

Knowing that her name is at the top right now brings a lot of emotions for Moore, who said, “I’ll probably take a picture of it and have a few tears – it’s just so wonderful.”

Sapphire Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 138-148.

The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.

Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.