United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Leanne Hulsenberg (pictured left) of Roseville, Calif., put herself in good position to make a run at her second USBC Queens title as she tied for the second-highest series in match-play history on her way to an undefeated record at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center on Monday.

After qualifying fourth, the 1999 Queens champion defeated Stacey Fehr of Cincinnati, Ohio, 661-573, before beating defending champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 803-698.

Hulsenberg's 803 ties her with Shannon O'Keefe (right) of Arlington, Texas, who rolled 803 at the 2009 Queens in Reno, Nev. Johnson holds the record for the highest match-play set with 806, also shot in the 2009 event.

The 26-time Professional Women's Bowling Association titlist knew she would have her hands full against Johnson and took advantage of what the conditions gave her. She also finds herself in the favorable position of staying out of the contenders bracket during the first day of match play.

"I knew I had to bowl a lot, and she bowled a great match. The breaks just went my way," Hulsenberg said. "The conditions were very favorable. Plus, I can't remember the last time I went win-win to start this tournament. My hip has been bothering me, so the fewer games, the better."

Hulsenberg also is making her return to the Queens after missing out last year. Just days before the tournament was set to begin, she gave birth to her son, Barrett.

"I had Barrett maybe five days before the tournament last year," Hulsenberg said. "My husband took vacation to come here and watch him while I bowl, so I hope to make it worth his while."

The 16-undefeated bowlers remaining will continue their run towards the tiara and $25,000 first-place check.

Hulsenberg is joined in the winners bracket by several past Queens champions, including Anne Marie Duggan of Edmond, Okla. (1994), Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas (2001), Kim Terrell-Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas (2002), Tennelle Milligan of Arlington, Texas (2005), Shannon Pluhowsky of Kettering, Ohio (2006) and Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J. (2007).

Johnson (pictured left) will not become the first competitor to repeat as champion since Katsuko Sugimoto of Tokyo won back-to-back Queens titles in 1981 and 1982, as she was knocked out of the contenders bracket by Brenda Edwards of Mansfield, Texas, 638-620.

Along with Hulsenberg's 803 series, there were three 300 games during match play. Clara Juliana Guerrero (above right) of Pflugerville, Texas, Christine Bator of Warren, Mich., and Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, raised the 2010 tournament total to eight 300 games.

All of Tuesday's match play action will be live streamed on BOWL.com. The action begins at 9 a.m. MDT, and is scheduled to last until 6:30 p.m. MDT.

The championship round of the 2010 Queens will be televised live on ESPN2 on Wednesday, April 28 at 8 p.m. EDT.

 

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2010 USBC Queens Match Play

Double elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall

Opening Round

Winners remain in winners bracket. Losers move to contenders bracket.

Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, def. Rochelle Blake, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 629-591
Alisia Kellow, Louisville, Ky., def. Elysia Current, Wichita, Kan., 664-545
Jamie Martin, Omaha, Neb., def. Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, Singapore, 589-581
Karen Boyd, Plantation, Fla., def. Kendra Gaines, Orlando, 616-551
Amy Stolz, Castle Rock, Colo., def. Amanda Beck, Plano, Texas, 615-583
Jazreel Tan, Singapore, def. Ashly Galante, Palm Harbor, Fla., 654-653
Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, def. Takiko Naganawa, Japan, 696-665
Missy Bellinder, Fullerton, Calif., def. Camille Sykos, El Paso, Texas, 689-610

Tish Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo., def. Megan Kelly, Kettering, Ohio, 679-579
Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, def. Cherie Tan, Singapore, 697-583
Tennelle Milligan, Arlington, Texas, def. Rachel Perez, Maumelle, Ark., 585-569
Geraldine Ng, Singapore, def. Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 639-636
Christine Bator, Warren, Mich., def. Kristal Wilson, Lawrence, Kan., 692-638
Mandy Wilson, Dayton, Ohio, def. Shauna Shannon, Albuquerque, N.M., 577-524
Kim Terrell-Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas, def. Lindsay Baker, Amherst, N.Y., 671-606
Paola Gomez, Weston, Fla., def. Jacqui Reese, Bangor, Pa., 631-519

Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., def. Christina Kinney, Las Vegas, 619-563
Bernice Lim, Singapore, def. Mihoko Matsuoka-Ishikawa, Japan, 707-661
Shannon Pluhowsky, Kettering, Ohio, def. Shayna Ng, Singapore, 699-633
Adrienne Miller, Albuquerque, N.M., def. Jennifer Petrick, Canton, Ohio, 617-594
Clara Guerrero, Pflugerville, Texas, def. Olivia Sandham, Wichita, Kan., 743-637
Aesha Turner, Montgomery, Ala., def. Robin Romeo, Newhall, Calif., 636-596
Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, def. Carol Gianotti, Henderson, Nev., 672-651
Debbie Ayers, El Cajon, Calif., def. Sue Jeziorski, Tonawanda, N.Y., 746-605

Leanne Hulsenberg, Roseville, Calif., def. Stacey Fehr, Cincinnati, 661-573
Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., def. Stefanie Nation, Grand Prairie, Texas, 695-657
Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, Nev., def. Bryanna Caldwell, Tucson, Ariz., 653-560
Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., def. Aumi Guerra, Doral, Fla., 627-554
Emily Maier, Wichita, Kan., def. Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, Sandusky, Ohio, 626-572
Michelle Feldman, Auburn, N.Y., def. Jonquay Armon, Roselle, Ill., 617-606
Anita Manns, Austin, Texas, def. Jessica Baker, Wichita, Kan., 644-638
Kathy Tribbey, Dundee, Ore., def. Kayla Bandy, Danviell, Va., 654-649

 

Winners Bracket - Round 1

Winners remain in winners bracket. Losers move to contenders bracket.

Dorin-Ballard def. Kellow, 683-625
Boyd def. Martin, 716-620
Tan def. Stolz, 591-586
Bellinder def. O'Keefe, 659-626

T. Johnson def. Barnes, 758-709
Milligan def. G. Ng, 684-640
Bator def. M. Wilson, 725-626
Terrell-Kearney def. Gomez, 738-666

Kulick def. Lim, 718-634
Pluhowsky def. Miller, 671-643
Guerrero def. Turner, 631-572
Woessner def. Ayers, 659-654

Hulsenberg def. L. Johnson, 803-698
Duggan def. Macpherson, 720-718
Feldman def. Maier, 666-624
Tribbey def. Manns, 697-595

 

Contenders Bracket - Round 1

Losers eliminated, earn $1,000.

Kinney def. Blake, 629-505
Current def. Matsuoka-Ishikawa, 664-663
Yeong-Nathan def. S. Ng, 690-537
Gaines def. Petrick, 761-638

Beck def. Sandham, 679-607
Romeo def. Galante, 680-628
Gianotti def. Naganawa, 650-554
Jeziorski def. Sykos, 687-667

Kelly def. Fehr, 658-619
Nation def. Tan, 635-570
Perez def. Caldwell, 725-705
Edwards def. Guerra, 690-635

K. Wilson def. Dorin-Lizzi, 722-668
Armon def. Shannon, 738-652
J. Baker def. L. Baker, 752-631
Reese def. Bandy, 714-592

 

Contenders Bracket - Round 2

Losers eliminated, earn $1,200.

Stolz def. Kinney, 659-581
Current def. Kellow, 708-595
Yeong-Nathan def. Gomez, 695-606
G. Ng. def. Gaines, 689-669

Beck def. O'Keefe, 696-655
Martin def. Romeo, 648-615
Barnes def. Gianotti, 792-652
Jeziorski def. M. Wilson, 696-577

Manns def. Kelly, 623-605
Nation def. Macpherson, 731-723
Perez def. Maier, 655-604
Edwards def. L. Johnson, 638-620

K. Wilson def. Turner, 680-578
Armon def Lim, 727-677
Miller def. J. Baker, 632-568
Reese def. Ayers, 664-640