By Aaron Smith and Tony Contini
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - Margo Beck of Richmond, Virginia, overcame her struggles at the National Bowling Stadium this week and found her way into the lead in Ruby All-Events at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.

The 52-year-old right-hander used sets of 618 in singles, 608 in doubles and 539 in team for a 1,765 total. She also moved into second place in Ruby Singles and a tie for second place in Diamond Doubles with Vickie Rengers (1,228).

Loree Meyer of Pueblo, Colorado, previously held the top spot in Ruby All-Events with 1,726, Linda Kilgore of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, leads Ruby Singles with 620 and USBC Hall of Famer Kendra Gaines of Orlando, Florida, and Taylor Bulthuis of Coral Springs, Florida, lead Diamond Doubles with 1,276.

When Beck found out the 2018 event was heading back to the NBS, she was worried.

"I didn't want to go back," said Beck, who made her ninth USBC Women's Championships appearance. "I've never done well here."

The Stadium's 78 lanes of crashing pins certainly can be intimidating, and her previous two visits to the Taj Mahal of Tenpins did not turn out as well as she would have liked.

"The space is so high and wide, it sounds very different compared to league play back home," Beck said. "When you've been doing it for 40 years, you can usually walk away and know what you left."

As Beck got closer to the all-events lead, she also was making a run at the top spot in singles, and she had a close eye on the scores.

After starting singles with games of 219 and 216, she knew what she needed to get to the number, but she finished with 183, leaving her two pins short.

"I knew I needed 185 the last game," Beck said. "My arm was killing me, though. I had to put a lot behind the ball."

Beck said most of her success came from being prepared and then taking advantage of what the lanes were giving her. She brought the right equipment, and she thought the lane conditions were conducive to her style.

"The lanes didn't dry out on me as much as they typically do," Beck said. "I had to use an aggressive ball, but I was able to successfully adjust from yesterday."

Beck also noted she typically gets upset with herself and loses focus during tournaments. She knew she was doing well during doubles and singles and didn't want to miss the opportunity.

"I sometimes have a short fuse on the lanes," Beck said. "But today, I let that go. I was on my best behavior."

She said she loves the pace of doubles and singles. It helps her maintain her shot and stay on track.

"I felt good," Beck said. "I knew if I remained focused I could get myself back to where I need to be. This is unusual for me, and I am pleasantly pleased."

Ruby Singles and Ruby All-Events include bowlers with entering averages of 175-189. Diamond Doubles includes pairs with combined entering averages of 380 and above.

On Friday, Nancy Burrow of Conway, Arkansas, proved what a difference a year can make as she rebounded from an injury at the 2017 Women's Championships to take the lead at the 2018 edition of the event.

The 41-year-old right-hander bowled relatively pain-free for the first time in nearly a year and took the lead in Diamond Singles with games of 204, 238 and 257 for a 699 series. Nicole Haffely of Hillsboro, North Dakota, previously held the lead with 632.

During her first frame of singles last year at the Raising Cane's River Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Burrow slid and fell backward.

"We were right in front of Center Desk," Burrow said. "I popped my ACL and tore my meniscus. My knee was bothering me so much, I decided to back away and give it some time to heal."

After having surgery, Burrow didn't roll a bowling ball for three months. She never was big on practicing, but she usually warms up as she gets a few games under her belt, which proved to be the case in her singles event this week as she improved each game.

She also was proud of her doubles effort Friday at the NBS, where she recorded three clean games on the way to a 653 series to move into the top 10 in Diamond Doubles with Stephanie Eubanks of Little Rock, Arkansas, with a 1,152 total.

Burrow finished with a 1,942 all-events total and sits in second place in the Diamond All-Events behind Bulthuis, who leads with 1,952. Burrow had 590 in team this week.

Burrow likes to keep the mood light while she's competing, and she implemented the right ball choice and strategy on her way to the top of the standings.

"I like to be able to talk and laugh with people while we're out here," said Burrow, who made her 24th Women's Championships appearance. "I was fortunate to be crossing with some ladies who really didn't interfere with the area I was playing."

The 2019 Women's Championships in Wichita, Kansas, will serve as two special celebrations for Burrow. As she prepares to receive her 25-year plaque for participation, her mother, Carolyn Evans, will be recognized for her 55th tournament appearance.

"It was all about getting here and getting her 54th tournament in," Burrow said. "Now, we are good for Wichita."

Burrow and her mother have bowled on the same team or as doubles partners every year she's competed. Evans was feeling a little under the weather and only participated in the team event this time, but she still was there to support and cheer on her daughter.

"There were some tears because she found out before I did," Burrow said. "She's watched every ball I've thrown in tournament play. Absolutely, she's proud."

Diamond Singles features competitors with entering averages of 190 and above.

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