Veteran Hulsenberg makes big move at 2016 U.S. Women’s Open
August 04, 2016
Standings: Round 3
ADDISON, Ill. – Having endured the grueling format of a U.S. Women’s Open on more than a few occasions, Leanne Hulsenberg knows the importance of not getting too high or too low.
In Thursday’s third round of qualifying at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open, Hulsenberg, of Pleasant View, Utah, leaned on her experience to produce the second-highest block of the day at Stardust Bowl, moving up 22 spots into a tie for sixth place at the third major of the 2016 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season.
Indonesia’s Tannya Roumimper held a slim lead over Singapore’s Shayna Ng most of the day but saw it slip away after a 164 effort in the final game. Ng leads with a 5,013 pinfall total for the 24 games and is followed by Roumimper at 4,988 and Colombia native Rocio Restrepo in third place at 4,977.
Singapore’s Hui Fen New, who has made two TV shows this season, is fourth at 4,972, while first-round leader Amanda Greene of Romney, West Virginia, is fifth at 4,953.
Hulsenberg shares the sixth spot, along with Jodi Woessner of Oregon Ohio.
“The first three days have been like three different shots, and I don’t think anyone has thrown the same ball or played the same angle, or been doing the same thing each day,” said Hulsenberg, who won the 2011 title when the finals were held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “I love the U.S. Open. I would bowl the U.S. Open every week if I could. But, we’re not even halfway there.”
Hulsenberg shot 242 to close out her day, using her fourth ball of the day.
“The lanes were different, but in a good way for me,” said Hulsenberg, a 2008 United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame inductee. “I think my many years of experience in the U.S. Open have helped me stay on a pretty even keel. I knew I had a good shot so I really, really, really tried to focus because I thought this might not be here tomorrow, and I tried to get everything I could tonight.”
The high block of the day belonged to Colombia native Rocio Restrepo, who had a 1,737 pinfall total for the eight games to move into third place. She easily would have been in the top 10 after Wednesday, except her final game was a 137 that dropped her to 18th. It also made her more determined going into Thursday’s round.
“That’s not the way you want to finish a block,” Restrepo said. “But, it really helped me today to actually focus more and not take for granted some of the shots. Yesterday, when I had the opportunity to run big games, I actually ended up shooting 200s or 210s because I didn’t strike out, so I made sure today to take my time. Today, I was determined to make a run and bowl my butt off.”
The 142-player field was cut to the top third at the end of Thursday’s qualifying round, and one of the final spots went to Shannon O’Keefe of O’Fallon, Illinois.
O’Keefe has won two individual titles this year and last week at the PBA/PWBA Striking against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles, she teamed with Professional Bowlers Association star Bill O’Neill to win the title for the second consecutive year.
Heading into the U.S. Women’s Open, she came down with cold-like symptoms and didn’t even know if she would be able to make it through the 24 games of qualifying. She knew that as physically demanding it would be, it also would be a mental test.
“For me, making the cut today adds to my level of confidence because it shows I never really count myself out of it,” said O’Keefe, the runner-up at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open. “I had a really rough day or two but came out and did the best I could. I went plus-13 today, but I feel like I bowled much better. I figured out something physically, and it really helped. Bowling all summer, week in and week out, has helped me see those little things sooner.”
The U.S. Women’s Open continues Friday with eight additional qualifying games before the field is cut to the top 24 for round-robin match play to determine the five finalists for Sunday’s stepladder, which will be televised live on CBS Sports Network at noon Eastern.
All qualifying and match-play rounds of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open are being broadcast live on Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit XtraFrame.TV.
ADDISON, Ill. – Having endured the grueling format of a U.S. Women’s Open on more than a few occasions, Leanne Hulsenberg knows the importance of not getting too high or too low.
In Thursday’s third round of qualifying at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open, Hulsenberg, of Pleasant View, Utah, leaned on her experience to produce the second-highest block of the day at Stardust Bowl, moving up 22 spots into a tie for sixth place at the third major of the 2016 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season.
Indonesia’s Tannya Roumimper held a slim lead over Singapore’s Shayna Ng most of the day but saw it slip away after a 164 effort in the final game. Ng leads with a 5,013 pinfall total for the 24 games and is followed by Roumimper at 4,988 and Colombia native Rocio Restrepo in third place at 4,977.
Singapore’s Hui Fen New, who has made two TV shows this season, is fourth at 4,972, while first-round leader Amanda Greene of Romney, West Virginia, is fifth at 4,953.
Hulsenberg shares the sixth spot, along with Jodi Woessner of Oregon Ohio.
“The first three days have been like three different shots, and I don’t think anyone has thrown the same ball or played the same angle, or been doing the same thing each day,” said Hulsenberg, who won the 2011 title when the finals were held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “I love the U.S. Open. I would bowl the U.S. Open every week if I could. But, we’re not even halfway there.”
Hulsenberg shot 242 to close out her day, using her fourth ball of the day.
“The lanes were different, but in a good way for me,” said Hulsenberg, a 2008 United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame inductee. “I think my many years of experience in the U.S. Open have helped me stay on a pretty even keel. I knew I had a good shot so I really, really, really tried to focus because I thought this might not be here tomorrow, and I tried to get everything I could tonight.”
The high block of the day belonged to Colombia native Rocio Restrepo, who had a 1,737 pinfall total for the eight games to move into third place. She easily would have been in the top 10 after Wednesday, except her final game was a 137 that dropped her to 18th. It also made her more determined going into Thursday’s round.
“That’s not the way you want to finish a block,” Restrepo said. “But, it really helped me today to actually focus more and not take for granted some of the shots. Yesterday, when I had the opportunity to run big games, I actually ended up shooting 200s or 210s because I didn’t strike out, so I made sure today to take my time. Today, I was determined to make a run and bowl my butt off.”
The 142-player field was cut to the top third at the end of Thursday’s qualifying round, and one of the final spots went to Shannon O’Keefe of O’Fallon, Illinois.
O’Keefe has won two individual titles this year and last week at the PBA/PWBA Striking against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles, she teamed with Professional Bowlers Association star Bill O’Neill to win the title for the second consecutive year.
Heading into the U.S. Women’s Open, she came down with cold-like symptoms and didn’t even know if she would be able to make it through the 24 games of qualifying. She knew that as physically demanding it would be, it also would be a mental test.
“For me, making the cut today adds to my level of confidence because it shows I never really count myself out of it,” said O’Keefe, the runner-up at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open. “I had a really rough day or two but came out and did the best I could. I went plus-13 today, but I feel like I bowled much better. I figured out something physically, and it really helped. Bowling all summer, week in and week out, has helped me see those little things sooner.”
The U.S. Women’s Open continues Friday with eight additional qualifying games before the field is cut to the top 24 for round-robin match play to determine the five finalists for Sunday’s stepladder, which will be televised live on CBS Sports Network at noon Eastern.
All qualifying and match-play rounds of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open are being broadcast live on Xtra Frame. For subscription information, visit XtraFrame.TV.