Missy Bellinder takes over lead in 2009 U.S. Women's Open after Day Two Qualifying

    08/06/09

    United States

    17 international players among the top 48

    2009WUSOMissyBellinder.jpg2009WUSOTammyBoomershine2.jpgMissy Bellinder (pictured left) of Fullerton, Calif., overtook the lead in the 2009 U.S. Women's Open - A USBC Event after the second day of qualifying at Strike Zone at Sunset Station in Henderson, Nev.

    Bellinder, who was the first woman who joined the PBA, posted a 1758 (219.75) total in Squad B Wednesday morning in the second 8-game block on the PBA Chameleon pattern (day one was on Shark) to lead the 170 -player field with 3598 or an average of 224.88 for 16 games.

    2009WUSOShalinZulkifli.jpg009WUSOCarolynDorinBallard2.jpgFirst-round leader Tammy Boomershine (above right) of North Ogden, Utah, added a 1634 series on Chameleon to the 1948 on Shark which featured the tournament's first 300 game, to sit in second place with 3782 (223.88).

    Shalin Zulkifli (left) is the best of the 59-player international contingent which has invaded the U.S. Women's Open after the WTBA Women's World Championships. The Malaysian is third with 3530 after a 1700 series today.

    USBC Hall of Famer and Team USA member Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (right) remained in fourth place with 3511.

    2009WUSOAmandaFagan.jpg2009WUSOEstherCheahZandraAziela.jpg "I feel really good, and I'm throwing the ball well," said the 27-year-old rBellinder, who is the only woman to claim two PBA regional titles. "I have a lot of experience on these patterns, and I've bowled in a lot of regionals this summer to stay sharp."

    Amanda Fagan (pictured left), wife of PBA champion Michael Fagan, rolled the tournament's second perfecto in the second game of Squad a this afternoon and had the highest series of the day with 1840 (230.00 avg.) Fagan rocketed from 44th to fifth place with 3491. The right picture shows Malaysia's Esther Cheah and Zandra Aziela (l-r).

    2009WCAnnMareePutneyCarolGianotti.jpg2009WUSOChaMiJungLeeSunHee.jpg"The Chameleon is the one I struggle on the most, and the Shark is next," Bellinder said. "Those are out of the way, and I bowled well on them, so I'm happy about that. I'm taking each day one at a time and trying not to look at the big picture yet. If I can bowl well each day that would have to put me near the top overall."


    2009WUSOVeronicaLantto.jpg2009WUSOBrendaEdwards.jpgAfter 16 of 24 qualifying games, the international bowlers are well represented among the top 48, who will survive the first cut. Ann-Maree Putney (above left with Caril Gianotti, right), Australia, a World and World Cup champion, topped Bellinder in the morning squad with 1796 en route to climb from 30th to sixth place with 3474.

    Cha Mi-Jung (above right with Lee Sun-Hee, right), Korea, the first woman who rolled a perfect game at WTBA World Championships (1999) posted a 1715 8-game series to sit in19th place with 3433. Sweden's Veronica Lantto (left), fiancée of Finnish two-hander Osku Palermaa, who made it to match play in the PBA Motor City Open in Detroit, is 11th with 3432.

    12th place belongs to USBC Open Championships Regular Doubles champion Brenda Edwards (above right), Mansfield, Texas, with 3429.

    2009WUSOColombia.jpg2009WUSOAumiGuerra.jpgMaria Jose Rodriguez (third from the right with the Colombian national team), who had the sole 300 game at last week's WTBA Women's World Championships had the third-best 1749 total in Squad A behind Fagan and Liz Johnson (1765) leaped from 36th into 15th place with 3414.

    Aumi Guerra (right), Dominican Republic, finished her set with a 255 game to leap seven spots into 16th place with 3403. Places 23 and 24 belong to Isabelle Sacco, France and Clara Juliana Guerrero, Colombia, with 3326 and 3323, resp.

    2009WUSOStefanieNationClaraGuerrero2.jpg2009WUSOLauraRhoney.jpgGuerrero (All Event, Masters) and her room mate on the PBA Women's Series Tour, Team USA's Stefanie Nation (singles), pictured left, right to left, won all three individual gold medals at the Women's World Championships last week. Nation is currently 21st with 3360.

    Another nine international players are positioned between 28th and 48th place: 28. Patricia Luoto, Germany, 3302; 29. Laura Rhoney (right), Scotland, 3293; 32. Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 3290; 38. Zandra Aziela, Malaysia, 3280; 39. Karen Marcano, Venezuela, 3279; 40. Zara Glover (belo left, with Kirsten Penny, right), England, 3277; 43. Maxine Nable, Australia, 3270; 45. Sharon Koh, Malaysia, 3261; and 48. Paola Gomez (below right), Colombia, sister of Andres Gomez, who joined Palermaa in the top 24 in the PBA event in Detroit, with 3238.

    2009WUSOZaraGloverKirstenPenny2.jpg2009WUSOPaolaGomez.jpgThe 2009 U.S. Women's Open continues on Thursday with squads at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Las Vegas time on the Cheetah pattern.

    The U.S. Women's Open, which has an entry fee of $350, is open to any USBC female member and features a prize fund of $150,000. Kim Terrell-Kearney (13th, 3424) is the defending champion and will be looking to claim the coveted title for the third time. She also won the event in 2001.

    All 170 players including 59 players from outside the U.S. representing 18 countries from all over the world were split into two squads, A and B, to bowl three eight-game qualifying blocks over three days (Aug. 4-6).

    2009WUSONianFlack.jpg2009WUSORobinOrlikowski2.jpgPictured left is Nina Flack, Sweden, and on the right side, Robin Orlikowski, Canada.

    Each 8-game block will be bowled on a different PBA Experience lane pattern. The first block will be bowled on Shark, the second on Chameleon and the third on Cheetah.

    After the qualifying is over, the field is cut to the top 48 players, who will bowl an additional 16 games on Friday Aug. 7.

    The top 12 players after 40 games will advance to the televised, single-game, match-play portion with the top four players receiving a first-round bye directly into the quarterfinals. The winner will receive the $25,000 first-place check.

    2009WUSOJanineGabel.jpg2009WUSOSaraVargas.jpgPictured left is Janine Gabel, Germany, and on the right side, Sara Vargas, Colombia.

    Any competitor who rolls a 300 game on one of the first four TV shows will receive a $25,000 bonus, while a perfect game in the semifinals or championship match (the fifth show), will earn $100,000.

    The Professional Bowlers Association Women's Tour Trials, a simultaneous event gives the bowlers a chance to qualify for the seven-event PBA Women's Series. A total of 43 players have paid the additional entry fee for the Women's Tour Trials.

    The top 12 of those 43 will join the six champions from last season - Michelle Feldman, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Stefanie Nation, Jodi Woessner, Wendy Macpherson and Liz Johnson - as exempt players for the 2009-10 PBA Women's Series.

     


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    2009 U.S. Women's Open - Standings after Qualifying Round Two (Squad A and B)


    Round 1 on Shark, Round 2 on Chameleon and Round 3 on Cheetah. The top 48 after 24 games will advance.

     


    2009 U.S. Women's Open - Qualifying Round One (Squad A and B)


    8 games on the Chameleon pattern

     


    2009 U.S. Women's Open - Qualifying Round Two (Squad A only)


    8 games on the Chameleon pattern

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