LAS VEGAS – With the temperature rising and summer quickly approaching, the scoring pace at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships also has been heating up with three recent lead changes at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The tournament brings many to one of bowling’s biggest stages to compete, and for Sarah Brund of Enid, Oklahoma, she was able to put together the performance of a lifetime to see her name at the top of the leaderboard in Emerald All-Events.
Brund put up impressive sets of 647 in doubles, 611 in team and 546 in singles to take the top spot with 1,804.
Cindy Carter of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, previously held the lead at 1,731.
“This means a lot,” Brund said of her performance at the USBC Women’s Championships. “Bowling has been my life and has brought so many opportunities to me and my family’s lives.”
Brund averaged just over 200 for her nine-game total series at the Bowling Plaza. It’s a feat that has been in the making for some time now, but she just needed an extra boost of confidence.
“In years past, I haven’t had a good showing here, and I would put so much pressure on myself because I know what I am capable of doing,” Brund said. “This just proves that if I can focus and do what I need to do, then I’ll be fine.”
She also can remember her 10th tournament appearance for another reason. During Game 2 of doubles, Brund started off with seven consecutive strikes.
“I think I did get a bit excited in the eighth frame and tugged the ball a bit, but all I had to do was come back and make my adjustments,” Brund said.
Her 242 finish gave her all the confidence she needed to remain cool, calm and collected as she rolled her way to the top.
The Emerald Division features bowlers with entering averages of 149-160.
Janet Hoy and Margaret Query
In Topaz Doubles, both Janet Hoy and Margaret Query of Maxwell, New Mexico, put up the sets of their careers as they took over the top spot.
The duo put on a show and were led by first-time participant Hoy, who rolled games of 127, 141 and 204 for a 472 series. Query wasn’t far behind, adding in games of 180, 170 and 112 for a 462 total. The pair finished with a set of 934.
Susan Kelt of Cornish, Maine, and Jennifer Pelletier of Westbrook, Maine, had held the lead since May 5 with a total of 926.
While they are no strangers to Las Vegas and the luck Sin City brings, Hoy and Query were surprised to find out they had snagged the top spot in doubles. Hoy’s strike in the 10th frame was all the luck they needed to sit atop the standings.
“I’m just absolutely surprised at all of this,” Hoy said. “This also is my first time here (at the South Point Bowling Plaza), and the lanes were great to us.”
“I’ve bowled this tournament before, but this was just really fun,” added Query, who made her fifth Women’s Championships appearance.
Topaz Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 249 and below.
Sarah Bettger
Over in the Ruby Division, Sarah Bettger of Lincoln, Nebraska, put on a striking show as she made her way to the top of the all-events standings.
Bettger started with 618 in team and 538 in doubles before destroying the pins in singles with a 723 set. She finished her tournament run with 1,879 to get to the lead by one pin.
“I’m very emotional, and this is super exciting,” Bettger said. “I could not have done it without all of my family and friends here.”
Bettger’s singles set included games of 264, 225 and 234, which also propelled her into second in Ruby Singles.
Having her support system behind her and cousin pushing her to strive for success was the boost she needed after her doubles set.
“I had my cousin pushing me, and I said to myself, ‘I know I can do this,’” Bettger said. “I know I am a team player, but I wanted to do this for myself.”
This performance and tournament experience means something truly special to Bettger, as it allows her to still remember her grandmother.
“My grandmother got me into bowling when I was 4,” Bettger said. “She used to come out and bowl nationals, and then she passed away. So, we keep on continuing to come and, in a way, it’s like I did this for her.”
Ruby All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 161-174.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.