6
- September 2015
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
2015 Women's Championships
Concludes in Reno
By
& Aaron Smith
RENO, Nev. -
The 96th
as concluded as
the final shots of the 2015 event made their way down
the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium.
The 82-day tournament kicked off April 10 and wel-
comed nearly 16,000 bowlers for the event's record
10th trip to Reno and seventh visit to the "Taj Mahal of
Tenpins."
The 2015 USBC Women's Championships featured
plenty of highlights on the lanes,
including a late rush at the top
of the leader board in many
categories. All standings are
unofficial and pending final veri-
fication.
Among the new leaders during
the final days were Brooke Bower of Camp Hill, Penn-
sylvania, in Diamond Singles and Jennifer Asplin of
Oakley, California, in Diamond All-Events.
Bower, a former Kutztown University standout, fired a
781 series June 25 to cruise into the top singles spot.
The 22-year-old right-hander finished her second
Women's Championships appearance with games of
257, 257 and 267.
The following day, Asplin made
her own run at the singles lead
before settling into second place
with a 751 performance, but her
overall effort left her at the top of
the standings in Diamond All-
Events with 2,182.
The 39-year-old right-hander added 736 in team and
695 in doubles in her return to the NBS, where she
rolled a 299 and finished seventh in Scratch All-Events
in 2012.
In team competition, Team USA member Shannon
Pluhowsky rolled a 706 series June 19 to help AZ Gals
of Peoria, Arizona, into the lead in Diamond Team with
a 2,717 total.
The team rolled games of 915, 960 and 842, and
Pluhowsky was joined by Megan Withey (682), Megan
Kelly (668) and Brenda Burns (661).
USBC Hall of Famer
Lynda Barnes of Dou-
ble Oak, Texas, and
2005 USBC Queens
champion Tennelle
Milligan of Arlington,
TX, posted the only 1,400 in doubles at the 2015
event, 1,404, on their way into the lead in Diamond
Doubles on May 8.
Milligan led the way with games of 266, 217 and 277
for a 760 series, while Barnes added 194, 234 and
216 for a 644 set.
LaDeena Gray of Eureka, CA,
was the only bowler to hold onto
the lead in multiple events this
year.
The 39-year-old right-hander
had a 554 set to help Eureka's
Harbor Ladies into the Sapphire
Team lead with a 1,942 series,
and she continued strong the following day with 479 in
singles and 441 in doubles for a 1,474 all-events total,
which landed her at the top of the Topaz All-Events
standings.
Along with high scores, participation also was cele-
brated at the NBS this year as seven bowlers joined
the 50-Year Club at the 2015 Women's Champion-
ships, including USBC Hall of Famers Betty Barnes of
Reno and Sylvia Broyles of Spring Branch, Texas.
Joining Barnes and Broyles in reaching milestones
this year were Yvonne Carrel of Buena Park, Califor-
nia; Vivian Harasim of Portage, Michigan; Frances
Plaia of Mandeville, Louisiana; Lucille Strauss of Rich-
mond, Virginia; and Shirley Williams of Corona, NY.
The 2016 Women's Championships will head to Las
Vegas and be held at the new
South Point Bowling Plaza, which
is part of the South Point Hotel
and Casino. The 2016 event will
run from April 9-July 10 (last team
date), marking the tournament's
third visit to Las Vegas, and first
trip since 1983.
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History Made As 2015 USBC
Open Concluded
By
nd Aaron Smith
EL PASO, Texas -
The 2015
ill be remembered
as much for its impact on the tournament's record book
as it will for its top scores and on-lane excitement.
A handful of bowlers added to their legacies on the
championship lanes, while others realized lifelong goals
by winning for the first time.
Matt McNiel of Prior Lake, MN,
made history this year at the El Paso
Convention Center by becoming the
first bowler in 112 years of USBC
Open Championships competition to
win three Regular All-Events titles.
Only four other bowlers, all USBC
Hall of Famers, have won the crown
multiple times.
The 30-year-old left-hander has averaged more than
243 at the Open Championships since his breakout per-
formance in 2010, and that streak includes four wins, 13
top-10 finishes, three 800 series and two perfect games.
This year, McNiel rolled sets of 765 in singles, 734 in
doubles and 727 in team to claim the title with a 2,226
total. He also finished second in Regular Doubles with
Charles Vashaw of Deephaven, Minnesota (1,403), third
in Regular Team as part of Linds Lakers 1 of Minneapo-
lis (3,297) and tied for ninth in Regular Singles.
"This is very overwhelming right now, but it means so
much to me," said McNiel, who also won Regular All-
Events in 2010 and 2012 as well as Regular Doubles in
2012. "I just want to stand out and prove I can compete.
I want to earn the respect of my peers, ultimately, and I
hope this is another step toward that. This tournament is
so special, and this is an absolute dream come true."
Anthony LaCaze of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, earned
his spot in tournament history by becoming the second
bowler to win titles in three consecutive years, helping
Junior Team USA Support 1 of Las Vegas to the Team
All-Events title with a 10,064 total.
(Continued on next page)
