Carolyn Dorin-Ballard leads USBC Queens after first day

    04/25/10

    2010 USBC Queens

    Singapore's Shayna Ng and Jessica Baker roll 300 in first 5-game block

    2010EBT05CarolynDorinBallard4.jpgUnited States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard (pictured left) of Keller, Texas, rolled 1,224 for five games to take the lead in the opening round of the 2010 USBC Queens.

    The 2001 Queens champion shot games of 213, 277, 245, 230 and 259 to pace the field. Debbie Ayers of El Cajon, Calif., who led after the first round of qualifying, is currently sitting in second with 1,219, while Jessica Baker of Wichita, Kan., rolled one of the two 300 games on the day to end up in third with 1,215.

    USBC Hall of Famer and 1999 Queens champion Leanne Hulsenberg of Roseville, Calif., and 2007 Queens champion Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., round of the top five with matching totals of 1,204.

    Dorin-Ballard knew she had to take advantage of what the lanes were offering after watching the first squad earlier Saturday afternoon at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.

    "From the first squad, I saw that the lanes were very scoreable," said Dorin-Ballard, who was a 20-time titlist on the PWBA tour. "I wanted to make sure I executed and had the right ball in my hands. I knew I had to keep up with the field."

    Dorin-Ballard knows the challenges that lie ahead as a past champion. She looks to put herself in the same place during Sunday's second qualifying round.

    "I was working on my game coming in, and just have to keep at it," she said. "I want to develop the same feel, the same timing on every shot. I need to go out there tomorrow and get as many pins as I can."

    Although the coveted tiara and $25,000 first-place check is the main reason the top professional and amateur female competitors made their way to El Paso, Dorin-Ballard also looks forward to this event for a chance to see many familiar faces.

    "I love coming to this tournament," she said. "We always bowl in the Women's Championships right before, so I get to bowl with some of my friends and my sister, who I don't get too see very often. So it really sets the tone for a good week. It almost feels like the old days seeing so many people I know. I just hope my ball keeps striking more than everyone else."

    Shayna Ng of Singapore joined Baker by rolling the tournament's first 300 in her first game of qualifying. She ended the day with an 1,190 total, putting her in seventh place.

    Sunday's second round will consist of another five games, with the field being cut to the top 79. Monday will feature an additional five games of qualifying before the field is cut to the top 63, as defending champion Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., will join the field as they head into the double-elimination match play bracket. The championship round will be televised live on ESPN2 on Wednesday, April 28 at 8 p.m. EDT.

     


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    2010 USBC Queens - First Round Qualifying


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