By Tony Contini and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - As competitors from across the country prepare for their trips to the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, many know they'll have to bring their best to take home one of the coveted gemstone trophies awarded in each average-based division.

At the National Bowling Stadium on Monday, three groups looked to give their fellow competitors scores to chase, and their names now appear at the top of the Sapphire Doubles, Amethyst Doubles and Diamond Team standings.

Pam Pehl of Juda, Wisconsin, and Patsy Steiner of Darlington, Wisconsin, were the first to make their moves as they pushed the Sapphire Doubles lead to 1,036.

Up next was Gail Davis of Albany, Georgia, and Ruby Wiley of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who cruised to the top spot in Amethyst Doubles with 995.

Finally, Bowlieve of Orlando, Florida, added to its celebration plan for this week, posting a noteworthy number in Diamond Team with 2,471.

Pehl led the effort in Sapphire Doubles with a 577 series, and Steiner added 459 as the lead changed hands for the third consecutive day. Patricia Bryson of Newnan, Georgia, and Robin Wimmer of Maricopa, Arizona, took the lead Sunday with 1,023.

When several members of Pehl and Steiner's group were unable to make the trip to Reno, they ended up being matched up as doubles partner for the first time.

"I thought we all were pretty confident," said Pehl, a 49-year-old right-hander who made her seventh appearance at the USBC Women's Championships. "We just got on fire today."

Steiner, a 74-year-old right-hander, credited their performance to staying relaxed and the positivity of the bowlers around them at The Taj Mahal of Tenpins.

"We back each other up," said Steiner, who celebrated her 38th appearance. "Everybody around us was so nice, and they'd congratulate you and slap your hand."

Both Pehl and Steiner are confident after their performance and already excited for the 2019 Women's Championships, which will take place in Wichita, Kansas.

Steiner also knows she wants Pehl as a doubles partner during the tournament's 100th edition at Northrock Lanes.

Sapphire Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 290-319.

Davis and Wiley kept pace with each other on the way to the Topaz Doubles lead, with Davis posting 505 and Wiley adding 490.

Throughout the set, Davis and Wiley kept things easy as they made jokes to ease the tension. They also exchanged words of encouragement along the way, noting when one of them was falling behind, she'd asked the other to hold her up.

Generally, they don't mind if their scores are low, as long as they're trying and looking out for one another.

"If one of us doesn't bowl well, we never get mad," said Davis, a 67-year-old right-hander.

On Monday, they didn't have to worry about their scores being low as they relied on their spare games.

"Strikes will come," said Wiley, a 73-year-old right-hander. "The biggest thing is working on your spares."

Both Davis and Wiley enjoy the Women's Championships for the opportunity to meet new people, and they enjoy the camaraderie shared as everyone works together. Davis made her third tournament appearance this week, while Wiley celebrated her 10th trip.

Whether they are winning or losing on the lanes, however, they are filled with confidence and ready to give encouragement, no matter the score.

"One thing I can say is that I've never lost confidence," Wiley said. "I always believe I can do it, but it just worked out tonight."

Amethyst Doubles features bowlers with entering averages of 260-289.

Led by Taylor Bulthuis' 676 series, Bowlieve used games of 841, 812 and 818 to roll to the top spot by more than 300 pins. Four-time Women's Championships titlist Kendra Gaines added 635 to the effort and was joined by 2008 Classic Team champion Leslie Bohn (582) and Samantha Curry (578).

Gaines and Bulthuis already had big plans for their trips to Reno prior to hitting the lanes Monday.

Gaines will be inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame in the Outstanding USBC Performance category Wednesday at the nearby Grand Sierra Resort as part of the USBC Convention, and Bulthuis returned to the Women's Championships as the defending Diamond Singles champion.

"I'm very thankful that my team decided to bowl with me this week," said Gaines, who bowled the first 800 series (812 in team) in tournament history at the 2000 event, also held at the NBS. "I was definitely looking forward to coming out here for the hall of fame induction and hoped to also be able to bowl at the Women's Championships. I sent them a message asking if they wanted to bowl this week, they all said yes. It's so cool to come out here and set the early lead, and I know there's a long way to go, but I'm so happy to do it with my friends and have a great time. I know there will probably be some laughter, some crying and a whole lot of fond memories over the next few days, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Bulthuis rolled games of 278, 226 and 242 for a 746 series at the Raising Cane's River Center last year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to capture her first Women's Championships title.

The 24-year-old right-hander's return to the event included getting presented her championship trophy, and she'll be back on the lanes Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern to put her title on the line.

"I know it's real, but I guess it still hasn't hit me yet," said Bulthuis, who won an Intercollegiate Team Championships title with Webber International in 2016. "Last year's experience was great, and it's an honor to bowl again with these ladies. I'm a little nervous about tomorrow, but also really excited because I know what I need to do. I'm glad I got the feel for how it is today, and I'll have my teammates behind me again as an extra set of eyes. We're there for each other, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Diamond Team consists of bowlers with combined entering averages of 725 and above.

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