New leaders in Sapphire Doubles at USBC Women's Championships
June 16, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - Debbie Kennedy of Elkton, Md., and Shirley Barnes of Wilmington, Del., have developed a friendship through the sport of bowling and worked together to roll into the Sapphire Doubles lead at the 2010 USBC Women's Championships on Tuesday.
The duo combined for a 1,088 series to surpass Rebecca Uraine and Norine Lehar of Tucson, Ariz., who held the lead since April 13 with 1,068. Kennedy rolled a scratch series of 616, the first 600 series of her bowling career, while Barnes added 439. They received an additional 11 pins of handicap per game.
Kennedy and Barnes have been friends for as long as they can remember, beginning with their first encounter on the lanes. That friendship extended to the Women's Championships in 2000 as Barnes joined Kennedy's group on the tournament lanes. Now, they find themselves less than three weeks away from sharing a national title.
"We met through bowling and have been friends ever since," said Barnes, who competed in her 11th Women's Championships. "Win, lose or draw, we'll always be friends. We look forward to this tournament each year, but to leave in the lead is a blessing for both of us."
During their run into the lead, neither bowler had a below-average game. Kennedy, who had an entering average of 160, came out of the gates with games of 222 and 219 before finishing with 175.
She was surprised by her performance in doubles, after struggling to a 413 scratch series during her team event Monday.
"I've never had a 600 before, and I certainly didn't think I'd get my first one after the way I bowled in team," said Kennedy, who made her 14th Women's Championships appearance. "I was very surprised by that, and then I was shocked to find out we were in the lead. We've never been close to anything like this."
Although they live in different states, Kennedy and Barnes really live only 20 miles apart. This gives them the opportunity bowl tournaments together as well as plan for their annual Women's Championships excursion.
Both enjoy the opportunity to travel to new host cities and see what the areas have to offer. They were impressed by El Paso and the transformation of the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center into a state-of-the-art bowling facility.
"Everybody has been so nice, and the weather and restaurants have just been great," said Kennedy, who bowls regularly at Elk Lanes in Elkton. "The venue is definitely different then we are used to, but I guess it worked out well for us."
Kennedy and Barnes now look forward to seeing if they can add their names to the record books as Women's Championships titlists. The 2010 event wraps up on July 4.
"It would be the highlight of my bowling career," said Barnes, who bowls at Pleasant Hill Bowling Lanes in Newport, Del. "If someone else beats us, at least we can say we had the top spot for a little bit. If we do win, I can tell everybody I went to Texas for the first time in my life and won a national championship."
Kennedy finished the 2010 event with a 508 scratch series in singles for a 1,717 all-events total in the Ruby Division, which includes 20 pins of handicap per game. Barnes added 420 in team and 415 in singles for a 1,463 all-events total in the Sapphire Division, which includes 21 pins of handicap per game.
Sapphire Doubles includes bowlers with combined averages of 299 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 300.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The duo combined for a 1,088 series to surpass Rebecca Uraine and Norine Lehar of Tucson, Ariz., who held the lead since April 13 with 1,068. Kennedy rolled a scratch series of 616, the first 600 series of her bowling career, while Barnes added 439. They received an additional 11 pins of handicap per game.
Kennedy and Barnes have been friends for as long as they can remember, beginning with their first encounter on the lanes. That friendship extended to the Women's Championships in 2000 as Barnes joined Kennedy's group on the tournament lanes. Now, they find themselves less than three weeks away from sharing a national title.
"We met through bowling and have been friends ever since," said Barnes, who competed in her 11th Women's Championships. "Win, lose or draw, we'll always be friends. We look forward to this tournament each year, but to leave in the lead is a blessing for both of us."
During their run into the lead, neither bowler had a below-average game. Kennedy, who had an entering average of 160, came out of the gates with games of 222 and 219 before finishing with 175.
She was surprised by her performance in doubles, after struggling to a 413 scratch series during her team event Monday.
"I've never had a 600 before, and I certainly didn't think I'd get my first one after the way I bowled in team," said Kennedy, who made her 14th Women's Championships appearance. "I was very surprised by that, and then I was shocked to find out we were in the lead. We've never been close to anything like this."
Although they live in different states, Kennedy and Barnes really live only 20 miles apart. This gives them the opportunity bowl tournaments together as well as plan for their annual Women's Championships excursion.
Both enjoy the opportunity to travel to new host cities and see what the areas have to offer. They were impressed by El Paso and the transformation of the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center into a state-of-the-art bowling facility.
"Everybody has been so nice, and the weather and restaurants have just been great," said Kennedy, who bowls regularly at Elk Lanes in Elkton. "The venue is definitely different then we are used to, but I guess it worked out well for us."
Kennedy and Barnes now look forward to seeing if they can add their names to the record books as Women's Championships titlists. The 2010 event wraps up on July 4.
"It would be the highlight of my bowling career," said Barnes, who bowls at Pleasant Hill Bowling Lanes in Newport, Del. "If someone else beats us, at least we can say we had the top spot for a little bit. If we do win, I can tell everybody I went to Texas for the first time in my life and won a national championship."
Kennedy finished the 2010 event with a 508 scratch series in singles for a 1,717 all-events total in the Ruby Division, which includes 20 pins of handicap per game. Barnes added 420 in team and 415 in singles for a 1,463 all-events total in the Sapphire Division, which includes 21 pins of handicap per game.
Sapphire Doubles includes bowlers with combined averages of 299 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 300.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.