Liz Johnson leads after first day at 2013 USBC Queens
09/01/13
With help from her Team USA teammates, coaches and friends at home, Liz Johnson (pictured left) 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 Queen.
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 (right), 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. After the first round, the international bowlers have ten players in the top 20 and twenty players in the top 64.
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.
Diandra Asbaty ready to defend USBC Queens title
Top 64 of 202 players with position, hometown and 5-game total
Complete Results
1, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,211
2, Shayna Ng, Singapore, 1,206
3, Brittni Hamilton, Webster, N.Y., 1,199
3, Amy Stolz, Larkspur, Colo., 1,199
5, Lindsay Boomershine, Brigham City, Utah, 1,178
6, Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,176
7, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 1,163
8, Geraldine Ng, Singapore, 1,162
9, Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,137
9, Char Hammel, Las Vegas, 1,137
11, Bernice Lim, Singapore, 1,129
12, Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic, 1,112
13, Jovan Blankenfeld, San Antonio, Texas, 1,110
14, Mariana Ayala, Puerto Rico, 1,109
15, Joyce Biondo, Carpentersville, Ill., 1,102
16, Shauna Shannon, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,101
17, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, Singapore, 1,095
18, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 1,093
18, Karen Marcano, Venezuela, 1,093
20, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 1,088
21, Katie Sopp, Circle Pines, Minn., 1,085
22, Stefanie Nation, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1,084
22, Jennifer Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 1,084
22, Leanne Hulsenberg, North Ogden, Utah, 1,084
25, Sandra Andersson, Sweden, 1,079
26, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,078
27, Rachel Perez, Maumelle, Ark., 1,075
28, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 1,071
29, Carol Gianotti, Australia, 1,070
30, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 1,068
30, Josie Earnest, Nashville, Tenn., 1,068
32, Cassandra Leuthold, Black Hawk, S.D., 1,063
33, Daphne Tan, Singapore, 1,061
34, Maria Rodriguez, Colombia, 1,060
34, Bryanna Caldwell, Tucson, Ariz., 1,060
36, Anneli Blomquist, Sweden, 1,059
37, Debbie Ayers, La Mesa, Calif., 1,058
37, Sabrina Duncan-Rose, Bellaire, Texas, 1,058
39, Patricia Luoto, Germany, 1,057
40, Deanna Carrillo, Montebello, Calif., 1,055
40, Kayla Johnson, Washington, Ill., 1,055
40, Kristie Leong, Daly City, Calif., 1,055
43, Catherine Rawsthorne, Federal Way, Wash., 1,053
44, Kim Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1,052
45, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 1,050
46, Tracie Ball, Coos Bay, Ore., 1,045
46, Rocio Restrepo, Colombia, 1,045
48, Kim Yioulos, Rochester, N.Y., 1,044
49, Colleen Insko, Canada, 1,041
50, Brandy Silva, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,039
51, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 1,038
52, Samantha Kelly, Arlington Heights , Ill., 1,035
53, Lisa Beeksma, Pensacola, Fla, 1,034
53, Emily Fagan, Hurst, Texas, 1034
55, Danielle Schilling, Ventura, Calif., 1,033
56, Cherie Tan, Singapore, 1,029
56, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, Ill., 1,029
58, Melissa Stewart, Port St. Lucie, Fla., 1,026
59, Katie Thornton, Babson Park, Fla., 1,025
60, Kristina Mickelson, Ord, Neb., 1,019
60, Jenny Brown, Lake Wales, Fla., 1,019
62, Kayla Bandy, Pikeville, Ky., 1,016
62, Bianca Flanagan, Australia, 1,016
62, Laura Beuthner, Germany, 1,016
2013 USBC Queens
With help from her Team USA teammates, coaches and friends at home, Liz Johnson (pictured left) 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 Queen.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 (right), 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. After the first round, the international bowlers have ten players in the top 20 and twenty players in the top 64.
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.
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Diandra Asbaty ready to defend USBC Queens title
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2013 USBC Queens - First Round Results
Top 64 of 202 players with position, hometown and 5-game total
Complete Results
1, Liz Johnson, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 1,211
2, Shayna Ng, Singapore, 1,206
3, Brittni Hamilton, Webster, N.Y., 1,199
3, Amy Stolz, Larkspur, Colo., 1,199
5, Lindsay Boomershine, Brigham City, Utah, 1,178
6, Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,176
7, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 1,163
8, Geraldine Ng, Singapore, 1,162
9, Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,137
9, Char Hammel, Las Vegas, 1,137
11, Bernice Lim, Singapore, 1,129
12, Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic, 1,112
13, Jovan Blankenfeld, San Antonio, Texas, 1,110
14, Mariana Ayala, Puerto Rico, 1,109
15, Joyce Biondo, Carpentersville, Ill., 1,102
16, Shauna Shannon, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,101
17, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, Singapore, 1,095
18, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 1,093
18, Karen Marcano, Venezuela, 1,093
20, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 1,088
21, Katie Sopp, Circle Pines, Minn., 1,085
22, Stefanie Nation, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1,084
22, Jennifer Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 1,084
22, Leanne Hulsenberg, North Ogden, Utah, 1,084
25, Sandra Andersson, Sweden, 1,079
26, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,078
27, Rachel Perez, Maumelle, Ark., 1,075
28, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 1,071
29, Carol Gianotti, Australia, 1,070
30, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 1,068
30, Josie Earnest, Nashville, Tenn., 1,068
32, Cassandra Leuthold, Black Hawk, S.D., 1,063
33, Daphne Tan, Singapore, 1,061
34, Maria Rodriguez, Colombia, 1,060
34, Bryanna Caldwell, Tucson, Ariz., 1,060
36, Anneli Blomquist, Sweden, 1,059
37, Debbie Ayers, La Mesa, Calif., 1,058
37, Sabrina Duncan-Rose, Bellaire, Texas, 1,058
39, Patricia Luoto, Germany, 1,057
40, Deanna Carrillo, Montebello, Calif., 1,055
40, Kayla Johnson, Washington, Ill., 1,055
40, Kristie Leong, Daly City, Calif., 1,055
43, Catherine Rawsthorne, Federal Way, Wash., 1,053
44, Kim Kearney, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1,052
45, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 1,050
46, Tracie Ball, Coos Bay, Ore., 1,045
46, Rocio Restrepo, Colombia, 1,045
48, Kim Yioulos, Rochester, N.Y., 1,044
49, Colleen Insko, Canada, 1,041
50, Brandy Silva, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,039
51, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 1,038
52, Samantha Kelly, Arlington Heights , Ill., 1,035
53, Lisa Beeksma, Pensacola, Fla, 1,034
53, Emily Fagan, Hurst, Texas, 1034
55, Danielle Schilling, Ventura, Calif., 1,033
56, Cherie Tan, Singapore, 1,029
56, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, Ill., 1,029
58, Melissa Stewart, Port St. Lucie, Fla., 1,026
59, Katie Thornton, Babson Park, Fla., 1,025
60, Kristina Mickelson, Ord, Neb., 1,019
60, Jenny Brown, Lake Wales, Fla., 1,019
62, Kayla Bandy, Pikeville, Ky., 1,016
62, Bianca Flanagan, Australia, 1,016
62, Laura Beuthner, Germany, 1,016
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