Two Michigan bowlers earned top qualifier honors in Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series presented by BOWL.COM Tour Qualifying Rounds Thursday at the PBA World Series of Bowling at Thunderbowl Lanes.

Lindsay Baker (pictured left) of Grand Blanc finished first in the Viper Championship TQR, and Christine Bator of Warren, finished first in the Chameleon Championship TQR to earn berths in those championships. The Women's Series Viper Championship begins Saturday and the Chameleon Championship will be conducted Aug. 18-20.

Baker, 23, who was a three-time All-American bowling for the University of Nebraska, led the Viper qualifier with a 1,512 seven-game pinfall (216 average).

"I spent a lot of time analyzing other players and what kind of ball reaction they were getting, and making sure I stayed mentally tough," Baker said. "With just seven games you have to stay focused."

Finishing second in the Viper TQR and also earning a berth in the Viper Championship was Hall of Famer Cheryl Daniels of West Bloomfield, just 12 pins back with 1,500.

Daniels who has 10 professional women's titles has never won in Detroit.

"I haven't had a major bowling title here so it would be great to win one of these Women's Series events," she said. "I've been practicing pretty intensely the last couple of months to get ready."

In the Chameleon Championship, Bator (pictured right) finished first with a 1,527 seven-game pinfall (218.1 average).

"I had a few nerves but I enjoy competing with bowlers who are better than me because that's the only way you're going to get better," said the 19-year-old Bator who is a member of USBC's Junior Team USA.

Bator has won seven gold medals in the last two years in the Pan-American Bowling Confederation (PABCON) Youth Championships.

Finishing second in the Chameleon TQR and earning a spot in the Chameleon Championship was former Team USA and Junior Team USA member Joy Esterson of Annapolis, Md. with 1,489.

 

PBA Women's Series Viper Championship Tour Qualifying Round

Seven game totals. Top two advance to PBA Women's Series Viper Championship Saturday.

1, Lindsay Baker, Grand Blanc, Mich., 1,512
2, Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich., 1,500
3, Cha Mi Jung, South Korea, 1,470, $800
4, Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., 1,425, $500
5, Lee Sun-Hee, South Korea, 1,418, $300
6, Tracy Pietrucha, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 1,404
7, Adrienne Miller, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 1,402
8, Christine Bator, Warren, Mich., 1,360
9, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 1,343
9, Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., 1,343
11, Trisha Reid, Columbus, Ohio, 1,332
12, Lindsey Siegel, Gurnee, Ill., 1,266
13, Andrea Lucente, Youngstown, Ohio, 1,250
14, Veronica Lantto, Sweden, 1,247
15, Kristine Bailey, Sanford, Mich., 1,218
16, Susan Mineo, Austintown, Ohio, 1,211
17, Kim Cox, Southfield, Mich., 1,209
18, Jessica Helwi, St. Charles, Mo., 1,195
19, Sandra Schultz, Macomb, Mich., 1,129
20, Kathleen Bishop, Westland, Mich., 1,095
21, Sydni Wisniewski, Orlando, Fla., 943

 

PBA Women's Series Chameleon Championship Tour Qualifying Round

Seven game totals. Top two advance to PBA Women's Series Chameleon Championship Aug. 18-20.

1, Christine Bator, Warren, Mich., 1,527
2, Joy Esterson, Annapolis, Md., 1,489
3, Lindsey Siegel, Gurnee, Ill., 1,472, $800
4, Lindsay Baker, Waterford, Mich., 1,468, $500
5, Trisha Reid, Columbus, Ohio, 1,405
6, Cha Mi-Jung, South Korea, 1,389
7, Cheryl Daniels, West Bloomfield, Mich., 1,367
8, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 1,365
9, Adrienne Miller, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 1,357
10, Lisa Bishop, Belleville, Mich., 1,353
10, Lee Sun-Hee, South Korea, 1,353
12, Darlene Dysart, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1,328
13, Tracy Pietrucha, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 1,323
14, Veronica Lantto, Sweden, 1,314
15, Sandra Schultz, Macomb, Mich., 1,310
16, Jessica Helwi, St. Charles, Mo., 1,301
17, Susan Mineo, Austintown, Ohio, 1,250
18, Andrea Lucente, Youngstown, Ohio, 1,246
19, Sydni Wisniewski, Orlando, Fla., 1,177