New singles leader, 300 game highlight Sunday at 2023 Women’s Championships
May 08, 2023
Pictured above: Alice Efendic
LAS VEGAS – Bowlers often dream of their first 300 game or shooting their highest series. For Alice Efendic and Christina Harper, their dreams became reality on one of bowling’s biggest stages.
Efendic, of Thornton, Colorado, strung together 12 strikes during her second game of doubles Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza for the first 300 game of the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships.
“As soon as I let go of that last ball in the 10th, I said to myself that it felt good and looked good,” said Efendic, who made her third USBC Women’s Championships appearance.
Each of her three shots in the 10th frame looked good to those watching at the Bowling Plaza, and it marked a strong comeback after some early struggles Sunday. She started doubles with 146 before making her run in Game 2. She finished with 199 for a 645 series and paired with Rachel Pearson of Westminster, Colorado, for 1,130 in Ruby Doubles.
Efendic’s 300 is recorded as the 39th perfect game in the 103 years of competition at the Women’s Championships. However, while the tournament has seen numerous 300s rolled throughout its history, this 300 was special to Efendic because it was her first one.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” said Efendic, who added sets of 600 in singles and 577 in team for an all-events total of 1,822. “I still can’t believe I did it.”
Christina Harper
Harper, of Jackson Center, Ohio, never could have imagined the series she shot to put herself into the lead of Amethyst Singles at the 2023 event.
She rolled games of 201, 167 and 208 to finish with 576, her highest series to date. Deidre Zick of South Weber, Utah, previously led with 563.
Harper threw a strike in the 10th frame of her last game of singles to lock up the score.
“This was my highest series ever,” Harper said. “I’m so glad I was able to accomplish it here at nationals.”
Making her first appearance at the Women’s Championships, Harper gave some insight on her mindset throughout competition at South Point.
“I just had to readjust how I was throwing the ball and learn the lane conditions,” Harper said. “It’s been something I have been working on the last couple of years, and I was ready to do it.”
The Amethyst Division features bowlers with entering averages of 125-137.
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.
LAS VEGAS – Bowlers often dream of their first 300 game or shooting their highest series. For Alice Efendic and Christina Harper, their dreams became reality on one of bowling’s biggest stages.
Efendic, of Thornton, Colorado, strung together 12 strikes during her second game of doubles Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza for the first 300 game of the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships.
“As soon as I let go of that last ball in the 10th, I said to myself that it felt good and looked good,” said Efendic, who made her third USBC Women’s Championships appearance.
Each of her three shots in the 10th frame looked good to those watching at the Bowling Plaza, and it marked a strong comeback after some early struggles Sunday. She started doubles with 146 before making her run in Game 2. She finished with 199 for a 645 series and paired with Rachel Pearson of Westminster, Colorado, for 1,130 in Ruby Doubles.
Efendic’s 300 is recorded as the 39th perfect game in the 103 years of competition at the Women’s Championships. However, while the tournament has seen numerous 300s rolled throughout its history, this 300 was special to Efendic because it was her first one.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” said Efendic, who added sets of 600 in singles and 577 in team for an all-events total of 1,822. “I still can’t believe I did it.”
Christina Harper
Harper, of Jackson Center, Ohio, never could have imagined the series she shot to put herself into the lead of Amethyst Singles at the 2023 event.
She rolled games of 201, 167 and 208 to finish with 576, her highest series to date. Deidre Zick of South Weber, Utah, previously led with 563.
Harper threw a strike in the 10th frame of her last game of singles to lock up the score.
“This was my highest series ever,” Harper said. “I’m so glad I was able to accomplish it here at nationals.”
Making her first appearance at the Women’s Championships, Harper gave some insight on her mindset throughout competition at South Point.
“I just had to readjust how I was throwing the ball and learn the lane conditions,” Harper said. “It’s been something I have been working on the last couple of years, and I was ready to do it.”
The Amethyst Division features bowlers with entering averages of 125-137.
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.