プロボウリング情報
2013/09/25

 

松元利幸選手　優勝！

 9/14（土）に飯塚第一ボウル（福岡）にて承認大会・三池丹揮プロデビュー30周年記念大会が開催され、松元利幸選手が優勝されましたのでご報告致します。

大会にはプロ14名、アマチュア80名が参加して3Gトータルピンで競われました。

大会終了後は会場を移して記念パーティーが開かれ、福岡県内はもとより遠くは東京、埼玉、大阪、広島、佐賀、熊本とたくさんの方々においで頂き、プロ30年の節目を祝って頂きました。

 

2013/09/23

 

姫路 麗、東海初制覇！

最後の一投に想いを乗せて

「もう優勝することはないと思ってた」。

昨年の全日本女子でもぎ取ったTV生中継パーフェクトによる逆転優勝は、姫路 麗にとってまさに魂を削るようにして得た勝利。闘争心を燃やし尽くしてもう後は優勝することはないだろう―そう考える姫路を、しかし勝利の女神は手放しませんでした。

全日本女子以降、「負けたくない、勝ちたい」と願う気持ちが薄れていたと言う姫路。その言葉とは裏腹に、予選では快調に飛ばして首位につきます。

しかし準決勝シュートアウトではレーンに捕まってしまい、舟本 舞に100ピン以上の差を付けられて首位から転落。予選での貯金に助けられ、ワイルドカードでの決勝グループラウンドロビン進出となりました。

各グループ4人ずつで対戦し、第Ⅰグループからは予選前半の59位からステージを重ねるごとに順位を上げた吉田真由美、第Ⅱグループは女王・松永裕美を倒した今大会のダークホース、菊地 葵、第Ⅲグループは長縄多禧子が勝ち抜け。そして第Ⅳグループは「一番苦しんだ」という準決勝シュートアウトを乗り越えて調子を取り戻した姫路が、グループラウンドロビン16名中ただ一人4勝0敗の成績で決勝シュートアウト進出を決めました。

二人合わせて18勝の吉田と姫路、初優勝を賭けた長縄と菊地。対照的な4名の戦いは、ターキーで滑り出した菊地が一歩リード。序盤は吉田・姫路・長縄の3名が菊地を追いかける展開となりますが、中盤で長縄の3フレーム連続のオープンを出して脱落。6フレーム目にオープンを出した菊地も一歩後退し、ターキーを決めて最後まで食らいついて行きましたがノーミスを守る二人にとうとう追いつく事叶わず、菊地の3位が確定します。

全日本女子プロ選手権大会の再来となった吉田と姫路の優勝決定戦。

吉田にとっても忘れられない敗北を勝利で塗り替えたいところでしたが、最初のターキー以降ストライクが繋がりません。

一方で勝利の女神は姫路を眠ったままにさせてはくれず、「すべて薄めに行ってしまった」と語りながらも姫路が3フレーム目から5連続ストライクに成功。吉田も丹念にスペアを取りながら追いますが、あと一歩のところで姫路の背中に届かず、リベンジはお預けとなってしまいます。

姫路自身にとっては望外の、しかし勝利の女神に愛される者に相応しい勝利をあげて、今日が誕生日の愛娘に捧げる8勝目となりました！

 

 

 

 

 

2013/09/22

 

 

 

座間美子

 

2013/09/21

 

 

座間美子

 

 

姫路　麗

 

2013/09/19

 

西村美紀が連覇達成！

9/1（日）に承認大会・第15回記念2013山形オープンファミリーカップが開催され、2012年大会でも優勝した西村美紀が連覇を果たしました。

プロ24名、アマチュア120名合計144名が参加し、予選6Gに続いて決勝トーナメントが行われ、姫路 麗、吉田真由美、西村の今をときめく女子トッププロ3名にくわえて地元東北の清水俊彦らプロ4名とアマチュア選手4名ずつの計8名で優勝決定戦3Gを投球。西村の連覇、そして親友・姫路とのワンツーフィニッシュを決めました。

 

2013/09/13

 

キム・スンイン、念願の初優勝！

世界を舞台に初優勝！

日米韓の三つ巴、三湖コリアンカップが今年も無事閉幕致しました。

今年は試合形式が大きく変更され、準決勝は1・2回戦が2G先取、3・4回戦は3G先取の勝ち抜きトーナメントが行われ、KPBAからはキム・スンイン、コリアンカップ史上初の女子ファイナリストとなったハン・ソルの2名、PBAからは両手投げの雄オスクゥー・パレマ、そしてJPBAからは加藤祐哉がファイナルステージ進出を決めました。

TVファイナルは1Gを投げるごとにスコア最下位が脱落するイルミネーター方式が採用され、4位決定戦ではKPBA女子2012年ポイントランキング1位にして、2013年9月現在でも首位を守るハンがターキーで滑り出すもその後ストライクを繋げることができず、8フレーム目のオープンが致命傷となり脱落。しかし準決勝でマイク・フェーガンや11回大会王者のティム・マックを次々と撃破するなど、男子トッププロ達を相手に互角以上の戦いを見せたハンの名は強烈な印象を与えてくれました。

パレマ、キム、加藤の3名による3位決定戦はパレマとキムが順調にスコアを伸ばす一方、加藤が1・2フレームをオープンにしてしまい、大きく出遅れた後も右レーンに捕まってしまいストライクを繋げられません。2年前の東海オープンで初優勝を目前にしながら敗れた対戦相手・児島都史を倒してのTVファイナル進出でしたが、加藤もここで敗退。初優勝は再びお預けとなりました。

4位決定戦から熾烈なトップ争いを繰り広げて来たパレマとキム。とうとう2人だけの一騎打ちへ突入。両者ストライクでスタートを切りましたが、3フレーム目にパレマがスプリットからオープンに。キムも6フレーム目でオープンを出し、一旦ワンマークまで差を詰めましたが、キムが7フレーム目から気迫のオールウェー。右レーンに捕まったパレマを圧倒的に突き放します。

プロ入り16年目、今年の開幕戦では初優勝を賭けたジョン・テハとの戦いに敗れ、涙を呑んだキム。準決勝でそのリベンジを果たし、ワールドワイドの戦いで念願の初優勝を手に入れました！

 

2013/09/12

 

 

 

 

天野景之　優勝！

さる9/8（日）に津グランドボウル（三重）にて開催されました、承認大会・第9回ペプシコーラ杯争奪三重オープンで天野景之が優勝しましたのでご報告致します。

予選では谷川章子が2個のパーフェクトと800シリーズを同時に達成するなどハイレベルな戦いが繰り広げられました。決勝シュートアウトでは天野が東海地区の名だたるプロを次々撃破、優勝決定戦は矢野武矩 選手との一騎打ちとなり、ワンマーク差の接戦を制して優勝致しました。

 

2013/09/11

 

 

Mike Fagan

 

2013/09/10

 

 

Mike Fagan

 

2013/09/07

 

阿部聖水、悲願の初優勝を果たす！

涙もろさは人の3倍、号泣が止まらない

波乱含みの男子と比較すれば、優勝争いの常連たちが上位をがっちりと固めて抜きつ抜かれつのデッドヒートを繰り広げた女子大会。決勝ラウンドロビンには準決勝で首位を奪った阿部聖水を筆頭に、小林あゆみ、西村美紀、松永裕美、吉田真由美、長谷川真実らのシードプロが続き、地元京都の応援を背負う北條真紀子、そして予選24位通過から飛び込んできた小林よしみの顔ぶれが揃いました。

ラウンドロビンでも首位を守り抜いた阿部が決勝ステップラダーへトップシードで進出を決め、女王の貫禄を見せつけて後半から巻き返した吉田、松永が後に続きます。

阿部にしてみれば、吉田は今年3月の関西オープン3位決定戦で敗れた相手。松永に至っては7月のグリコセブンティーンアイス杯で優勝を持って行かれてしまったとあって、どちらにしても越えなければならない高い壁。そんな吉田と松永の3位決定戦は、吉田が2フレーム目をオープンとするも続く3フレーム目から7連続ストライクを決め、松永もターキーを重ねて粘り腰を見せる熱い接戦の末、吉田が13ピン差で松永を下します。

吉田は2年ぶりの大会V2、阿部は悲願の初優勝をかけた優勝決定戦は、吉田のストライクからスタート。4フレーム目を両者ともにオープンとし、中盤まで阿部がかろうじてワンマーク差をつけてリードします。

しかし後半7・8フレームで吉田がダブルを決めて阿部に1ピン差で逆転。10フレ勝負に持ち込まれ、9フレーム目からターキーに繋げた阿部が初優勝への距離を縮めますが、阿部の3投目がファールまたはガターとなり、吉田がパンチアウトすれば再び1ピン差の大どんでん返しとなる状況に。

最後の最後まで気を抜けない真剣勝負、「もう負けたくない」の一心で投げた阿部の最後のボールは8ピンカウント。対する吉田は10番ピンに最後まで嫌われてパンチアウトならず、阿部の優勝が確定しました。

何度もあと一歩のところで初優勝を逃し、たくさんの口惜し涙を流して来た阿部。プロ入り12年目の今日、ようやく喜びの涙を流しました！

 

鈴木博喜、天国の愛妻に捧げる初優勝！

初優勝に浮かぶ感無量の微笑み

スポーツの秋到来を告げる第8回MKチャリティカップが本日、4日間にわたる激闘の幕を下ろしました。

6個のパーフェクトに2個の800シリーズが達成され、順位の変動もめまぐるしかった男子大会では、予選2位通過のディフェンディングチャンピオン・平山陽一が準決勝で脱落するなど大番狂わせがある一方、準決勝通過者8名中、圏外から追い上げた者が半数という激戦の展開に。

しかし決勝ラウンドロビンでは一転して上位陣がほぼ固定され、8名の中で最年長の大ベテラン・山崎行夫がトップシードで決勝ステップラダーへ進出。その後へ小林哲也と鈴木博喜が続きました。

決勝ステップラダー3位決定戦、2フレーム目をオープンにして出遅れた鈴木に対し、ダブルからスコアを繋げる小林がリードを取ります。鈴木も中盤にターキーで追いますが、それをかわすように小林も終盤7フレーム目からのターキーを決め、9フレーム時点でその差はツーマーク。ほぼ小林が勝利かと思われましたが、10フレーム1投目で7番ピンをタップした小林は2投目でまさかのファール。215ピンで終了となってしまいます。そしてこの好機にパンチアウトを決めた鈴木が小林に追いつき、ワンショットプレーオフに突入。両者とも1投目はストライクに成功、先投げの鈴木が2投目もストライクを決めました。そして小林の2投目、無情にも3番ピンを残してしまい、軍配は鈴木にあがりました。

昨年のROUND1CUPで自己最高の4位入賞を果たし、今年初めてのシード権を獲得。優しげな風貌のうちに熱い闘志を秘めて山崎との対戦に臨んだ鈴木は、ターキーからスタート。オープンで滑り出した後もストライクが続かない山崎を5フレーム目からの7連続ストライクであっという間に突き放し、99ピン差という圧倒的大差で完勝。一度は引退も考えながらもプロ入り16年目にして掴んだ悲願の初優勝、今は天国にある愛妻・道恵夫人も喜んでくれていることでしょう。おめでとう、鈴木博喜！

 

 

阿部聖水

 

山崎行夫

 

 

阿部聖水

 

 

小林哲也

 

2013/09/06

 

 

小林あゆみ

 

 

小林哲也

 

2013/09/05

 

　【USBC】　USBC Queens　【Finals】

Latvia's Diana Zavjalova became the first foreign player in more than two decades to win the United States Bowling Congress Queens as she defeated USBC Hall of Famer Leanne Hulsenberg of North Ogden, Utah, 190-160, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center on Thursday night.

The 22-year-old right-hander was the first No. 1 seed since 2009 to secure the title, and she did so in her first USBC Queens appearance. Hall of famer Carol Gianotti of Australia was the last foreign player to claim the coveted crown, doing so in 1989, two years before Zavjalova was born.

"There are just so many feelings right now, but excitement is at the top of the list," said Zavjalova, who earned $20,000 and the traditional Queens tiara. "This is the first time I have bowled in this event, I was the leader and I was able to beat a hall of famer. I'm living my dream. I just can't believe it."

Zavjalova has been successful under the television lights before, helping Webber International to the women's title at the 2012 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, but the experience is much different when you're out there alone.

Despite being nervous, Zavjalova felt confident with her first few shots, though the 10 pin didn't agree. After missing one in the second frame, she was able to refocus, and the pins started to cooperate.

"I was mad on the inside, but I knew I had to let it go," said Zavjalova, who struck in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames to put the game out of reach. "I started fresh after the open, and even though I left another 10 pin, I made it and kept trying to throw good shots."

Hulsenberg, who has made more than 100 television appearances in her career, threw 15 strikes in her first two matches but was plagued with poor carry in the finale. The 1999 Queens champion missed two single-pin spares late in the game to ultimately cost her a chance at becoming the ninth bowler in history with two Queens victories. She took home $10,000 for the runner-up finish Thursday.

In the semifinal, Hulsenberg struck eight times as she defeated Shayna Ng of Singapore, 249-172. Ng, who was never lower than second in the standings all week, left splits in the fourth and fifth frames and wasn't able to recover.

Hulsenberg started her first game on TV since winning the 2011 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a missed 7 pin before getting comfortable. She then rattled off a string of five strikes to build a 30-pin lead over Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, and advanced to the semifinal with a 235-184 win.

In the evening's opening match, Higgins trailed after six frames but made a late charge with three consecutive strikes and cruised past USBC Hall of Famer and two-time Queens champion Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 205-173.

The Queens is open to any female USBC member, and with this year's event coming just after the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships, the field included 202 players representing 15 countries.

Other international Queens winners include Kazue Inahashi of Tokyo in 1984 and Katsuko Sugimoto, also from Tokyo, in 1981 and 1982.

 

長谷川真美

 

千葉鉄也

 

2013/09/04

 

Diana Zavjalova of Latvia made a huge statement in her United States Bowling Congress Queens debut this week, and she's now one game away from the biggest win of her bowling career.

The 22-year-old right-hander averaged more than 234 on the way to a 6-0 match-play record at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, including a 688-628 win against Singapore's Shayna Ng on Wednesday to secure the top spot.

Ng was the top qualifier heading into match play and now is the second seed for the TV show, which will be taped Thursday night at 10 p.m. EDT and air on ESPN2 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

"I started the week with a great block on the burn but then struggled on the fresh," Zavjalova said. "I tried a few different balls and surfaces and continued to struggle, but I figured it out by the time match play started, and that was the perfect time. Once I found my look and started winning matches, my confidence was through the roof."

Zavjalova and Ng will be joined by USBC Hall of Famer and 1999 Queens winner Leanne Hulsenberg of North Ogden, Utah (No. 3), former Team USA member Jennifer Higgins of Westerville, Ohio (No. 4) and USBC Hall of Famer and two-time Queens champion Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas (No. 5), who all battled through the elimination bracket.

The last three spots in the stepladder were filled through a shootout round with the final four players in the elimination bracket bowling three games. Total pinfall determined who would advance and in what order. Former Wichita State star Jazreel Tan of Singapore was eliminated.

Zavjalova's run at the Queens came after a confidence-boosting performance at the recent World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships, also held at Sunset Station, where she earned an all-events bronze medal.

Despite being exhausted, Zavjalova is excited about the possibility of becoming the first foreign Queens champion since Australia's Carol Gianotti in 1989.

"Honestly, I'm speechless right now, but if you ask me again tomorrow, I might have a different answer," said Zavjalova, who helped Webber International to a win at the 2012 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. "It has been a long three weeks here, and I'm exhausted, but I'm excited and speechless at the same time. This is a dream come true."

The 2013 Queens champion will take home the $20,000 top prize, and a perfect game in the championship match will earn the player an additional $10,000 from Storm Bowling Products.

The Queens is open to any female USBC member, and with this year's event coming just after the WTBA World Championships, the field included 202 players representing 15 countries.

A limited number of tickets for the televised finals are available for $25. Call 702-547-7467 for more information.

 

 

藤井信人

今年実免でプロ入りの藤井信人（52期）がトップで本大会進出！

1G目中村智、2G目田中慶吾、3G目川村直樹が300達成！

 

2013/09/03

 

United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, already knows how to win, but she recently committed herself to learning how to win differently.

The accomplished right-hander has been working hard at adding dimensions to her game that will allow her to remain competitive as the sport of bowling continues to change, and her efforts proved to be successful Tuesday as she rolled through her first two matches at the 2013 USBC Queens.

Dorin-Ballard is one of 16 players still undefeated at the prestigious event, and her match-play journey began with a rematch of last year's championship game, where Diandra Asbaty of Chicago denied her a second Queens title.

This time, Dorin-Ballard prevailed with a 662-551 victory, sending the defending champion straight to the elimination bracket, a challenge she also accepted last year when she defeated 2011 champion Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, Calif., to secure her spot on the TV show.

"I didn't even realize the scenario until Diandra said something," said Dorin-Ballard, who also defeated international star Clara Guerrero, 675-549, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center on Tuesday. "At this event, you try your best during qualifying, and who you face in the bracket is just luck of the draw. The field keeps getting stronger, so no matter who you get, it's going to be a challenge."

The list of undefeated players includes Dorin-Ballard's next opponent, top-qualifier Shayna Ng of Singapore, four additional international standouts, five Queens champions, four of whom are USBC Hall of Famers, and three current Team USA members, so the road ahead won't be an easy one.

But, along with adding the physical tools required to combat the new lane oils, bowling balls and incredible talent of up-and-coming players, Dorin-Ballard has re-invented her outlook on the game, too.

"I want to make the most of these opportunities while I still can, and that has meant a lot of physical changes and practice, but I've also been training myself to relax more," said Dorin-Ballard, who won the Queens in 2001. "When I leave here tonight, I'm going to leave the bowling here. In the past, I'd spend the night thinking about ball layouts, changing surfaces and a game plan for tomorrow. Now, I am going to spend time with friends catching up on what's going on in our lives, not on the lanes."

Asbaty is one of 16 bowlers alive in the elimination bracket after wins against Singapore's Jasmine Yeong-Nathan (649-587) and Deanna Carrillo of Montebello, Calif., 749-579.

Match play will continue Wednesday at noon EDT live on BOWL.com's BowlTV. The final five players will advance to the televised stepladder finals, which will be taped Thursday at 10 p.m. Eastern and air on ESPN2 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

The 2013 Queens champion will take home the $20,000 top prize, and a perfect game in the championship match will earn the player an additional $10,000 from Storm Bowling Products.

The Queens is open to any female USBC member, and with this year's event coming just after the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships, the field included 202 players representing 15 countries.

Competitors at this year's Queens also had another opportunity to cash in through the USBC Shoot-Out, a special event with a $4,000 prize fund.

Four players from four divisions advanced to the Shoot-Out based on their qualifying scores - Shayna Ng (international), Katie Thornton of Babson Park, Fla. (collegiate/youth), Kim Yioulos of Rochester, N.Y. (new bowlers) and Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah (all other bowlers).

The Shoot-Out's $2,000 top prize went to Boomershine, who defeated Thornton, 212-187. Thornton earned $1,000. In the semifinals, Boomershine topped Yioulos, 213-191, while Thornton downed Ng, 166-148. Yioulos and Ng each took home $500.

The qualifying and match-play portions of the Queens are open to the public at no charge, and a limited number of tickets for the televised finals are available for $25. Call 702-547-7467 for more information.

 

2013/09/02

 

Singapore's Shayna Ng quickly is making a name for herself on the international bowling scene, and after two consistent days at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, her name is atop the standings at the 2013 United States Bowling Congress Queens presented by Storm.

The 23-year-old right-hander shot 289 in her final qualifying game Monday to set the pace for the 67 players who advanced to the cashers round, which will begin Tuesday at noon EDT live on BOWL.com's BowlTV.

Ng started the day in second place with 1,206 and added 1,149 to finish qualifying with a 10-game total of 2,355, a 235.5 average. Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah, is second with 2,298 and Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, is third with 2,284. It took a score of 2,021 to reach the cashers round.

"The Queens is a pretty prestigious event, so doing well means a lot, but it's still so early in the tournament," Ng said. "Even though I'm the leader now, there are many more rounds to go, and anything can happen. I am going to take baby steps from here and focus on one round at a time."

Ng has been in the Las Vegas area for nearly three weeks, and her stellar performance at the USBC Queens is coming after a disappointing run for her and her teammates at the recent 2013 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships.

The group will be well-represented on the lanes Tuesday, however, as seven of the eight Queens entrants from Singapore advanced to the third round. Geraldine Ng is ninth, followed by Wichita State star Jazreel Tan (13th), Daphne Tan (36th), Cherie Tan (T40th), Bernice Lim (42nd) and 2008 QubicaAMF World Cup champion Jasmine Yeong-Nathan (58th).

"Coming right from a tournament that was as challenging as the World Championships helped us, and we're really just trying to prove ourselves at the Queens," said Ng, whose breakout year includes a win at the 2012 World Cup and a victory over two-time Queens winner Kelly Kulick at the 2013 International Bowling Championships supported by DHC, a World Bowling Tour major. "The Queens pattern seems to be a little more forgiving, and I've been able to match up well thanks to the right equipment and a good range of balls in my arsenal."

All 67 cashers will bowl an additional five games Tuesday morning, and the top 63 competitors after 15 games will join defending champion Diandra Asbaty of Chicago for double-elimination match-play, which will begin Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT. Asbaty finished the day tied for 37th place with 2,093. Should she not qualify for match play, she automatically will earn the 64th seed.

Match play will continue Wednesday, and the final five players will advance to the televised stepladder finals, which will be taped Sept. 5 at 10 p.m. EDT and air on ESPN2 on Sept. 8 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. The winner will take home the $20,000 top prize, and a perfect game in the championship match will earn the player an additional $10,000 from Storm Bowling Products.

The Queens is open to any female USBC member, and with this year's event coming just after the WTBA World Championships, the field included 202 players representing 15 countries.

Competitors at this year's Queens also have another opportunity to cash in through the USBC Shoot-Out, a special event following Queens qualifying with a $4,000 prize fund.

Four players will advance to the Shoot-Out based on qualifying scores with the high player from each of the following categories earning spots: international players, collegiate/youth players, players who have not competed in the Queens in the past four years and all others. Tournament rules will dictate the category in which each player competes.

The Shoot-Out will consist of a four-person bracket with one-game matches determining the winner of each match. The special event will be broadcast live on BowlTV.

The qualifying and match-play portions of the Queens are open to the public at no charge, and a limited number of tickets for the televised finals are available for $25. Call 702-547-7467 for more information.

 

2013/09/01

 

With help from her Team USA teammates, coaches and friends at home, Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., was able to work through recent timing issues and find her way to the top of the standings after the first round of qualifying at the 2013 United States Bowling Congress Queens.

The 2009 USBC Queens champion averaged more than 242 on the way to a 1,211 five-game total Sunday at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. She closed with a 246 game to edge Singapore's Shayna Ng, who is second with 1,206. Team USA member Brittni Hamilton of Webster, N.Y., and Amy Stolz of Larkspur, Colo., are tied for third with 1,199, while opening-squad leader Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah, is fifth with 1,178.

Johnson struggled with her timing at the recent World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships, also held at Sunset Station, but finished strong with a bronze medal in Masters competition and a silver-medal effort in team before turning her attention to the Queens.

There wasn't much time to regroup between tournaments, but helpful insight from those who know her game best allowed her to make the most of her Queens practice session Saturday. While others were practicing across the 72-lane bowling center and getting comfortable with the Sport Bowling-certified lane condition, Johnson stayed on one pair of lanes and focused on her timing.

"Last week was a good week, but it was disappointing because I felt like I could've bowled better than I did," Johnson said. "We all stuck together as a team, but at the same time, you're always your own worst critic. Not having any time off probably ended up being a good thing because I feel like the more games I bowl, the sharper I get."

Johnson proved her endurance in July as she conquered a grueling lane condition and long format to win the 2013 Lipton Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, her third U.S. Women's Open title. Now, she's in a comfortable position at the Queens but knows there's a long way to go in a unique format where anything can happen.

"This event is a grind, but this is just the beginning," Johnson said. "Everything changes for match play, and the pins you earned go away. The most important thing is to take it one day at a time and get there. Then, you just focus on each opponent."

Qualifying will continue with five more games Monday, before the field is cut to the top 67 for five additional games Tuesday. After 15 games, the top 63 competitors will join defending champion Diandra Asbaty of Chicago for double-elimination match-play, which will begin Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT. Asbaty finished the first day in a tie for 56th place with 1,029. Should she not qualify for match play, she automatically will earn the 64th seed.

Match play will continue Wednesday, and the final five players will advance to the televised stepladder finals, which will be taped Sept. 5 at 10 p.m. EDT. The winner will take home the $20,000 top prize, and a perfect game in the championship match will earn the player an additional $10,000 from Storm Bowling Products.

The Queens is open to any female USBC member, and with this year's event coming just after the WTBA World Championships, the field includes 202 players representing 15 countries.

Competitors at this year's Queens also have another opportunity to cash in through the USBC Shoot-Out, a special event following Queens qualifying with a $4,000 prize fund.

Four players will advance to the Shoot-Out based on qualifying scores with the high player from each of the following categories earning spots: international players, collegiate/youth players, players who have not competed in the Queens in the past four years and all others. Tournament rules will dictate the category in which each player competes.

The Shoot-Out will consist of a four-person bracket with one-game matches determining the winner of each match. The special event will be broadcast live on BOWL.com's BowlTV.

The qualifying and match-play portions of the Queens are open to the public at no charge, and a limited number of tickets for the televised finals are available for $25. Call 702-547-7467 for more information.