SYRACUSE, N.Y. - With the start of the 2011 USBC Queens just days away, the top female bowlers in the world are making their way to Syracuse, and many are taking advantage of the opportunity to compete in the USBC Women's Championships while they're in town.

This week often produces a lot of excitement and high scores at the Women's Championships, and local standout Michelle Feldman of nearby Auburn, N.Y., got things started as she helped Aleta Sill's Bowling World of Livonia, Mich., set the bar in Scratch Team with a 3,224 total at the Oncenter Convention Center on Wednesday.

Feldman, a four-time champion at the Women's Championships, including the 2009 Classic Singles title with a record score of 816, got off to a slow start Wednesday but finished strong with a 256 game for a 608 series.

"I didn't feel like I bowled that well, but I'm glad we were able to make it into the lead," said Feldman, who collected 12 Professional Women's Bowling Association titles before the organization closed its doors in 2003. "It was pretty laid back tonight and a lot of fun, but I'm hoping that, personally, I'm able to perform a little better this week at the Queens."

Former Team USA member Kristal Wilson posted games of 236, 246 and 246 to lead the team with a 728 series and was followed by Shannon Pluhowsky (700), Feldman, Aleta Sill (596) and Megan Kelly (592).

Pluhowsky, an 11-time Team USA member and 2006 Queens champion, wasn't originally scheduled to bowl with the team, but became available when two members of her own team, USBC Hall of Famers Leanne Hulsenberg and Kim Terrell-Kearney, were delayed by weather and couldn't make their 6 p.m. squad time.

Since competitors at the Women's Championships are able to bowl team twice, the 28-year-old left-hander and her original team were able to reschedule for Thursday morning.

At the other side of the 48-lane set-up at the Oncenter, Team 23321 set the pace in Diamond Team with a 3,225 total, edging out Aleta Sill's Bowling World, which didn't receive any handicap.

Shauna Shannon led the way for Team 23321 with a 681 series and was followed by Team USA member Bryanna Caldwell (657), Tiffany Lebahn (651), Brandy Silva (643) and Jennifer Creno (545). The group finished with a 3,177 scratch total, which is second in Scratch Team, but an additional 16 pins of handicap per game lifted them into the Diamond lead.

"This was a last minute team," Caldwell said. "We were all substitutes from all corners of the country who were looking to bowl and came together when we got to town."

Silva got off to a slow start with a 135 game, but bounced back with 279 and 229.

"We didn't even know if we'd have enough people for a team until an hour before," Silva said. "It was a real adventure getting us all together. We didn't even really know each other, but we really hit it off."

Competition at the Women's Championships will continue until July 3, when it ends its 88-day run, but the event will take a brief hiatus for the Queens and USBC Senior Queens from April 23-27.

Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.