USBC Women's Championships concludes 88-day run

CANTON, Mich. - The 92nd United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships drew to a close Sunday at Super Bowl Lanes concluding the 88-day event which crowned champions in 20 events.

With the help of a tournament high 752 series by Kari Watson, the Bohn Zone Chicks, won Classic Team with a 3,171 total. Other team performances included Kristin Nieter (632), Leslie Bohn (628), Chrissie Kent (589) and Laura Starbuck (570).

Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., the 2007 U.S. Women's Open Champion,  added another title to an already impressive resume. She won Classic All-Events with a 2,113 total, resulting  from her scores of 699 for team, 708 in doubles, and 706 for singles.

Corrine Ham of Cocoa, Fla., has waited over 15 years for a Women's Championship crown and it  finally came. Ham moved into the lead in Classic Singles on April 25 with a 736 series (278, 236, 222) to beat Jennifer Murphy of  Clarksville, Tenn., by one pin.

"I have goose bumps right now. This is one of the highest honors I have ever received and by far the most exciting," said Ham. "I can't say I practiced physically more this year than in the past, but I can say I practiced more mentally. My mind was in it the whole time. It feels great to finally say all of the hard work has paid off."

Wisconsin bowlers Gina Daroszewski and Jill Albrecht earned the Classic Doubles crown with their 1,445 total. Daroszewski, of Franklin, fired a 748 series (233, 267, 248), while Albrecht, of Wind Lake, shot 697 (192, 259, 246). Their combined second game of 526 placed them third overall for highest doubles team game in the history of the USBC Women's Championships.

Team High Hopes from La Mesa, Calif., won Division I team with 2,696. The team was led by Sunae Moree (662), followed by Maria Bacos (562), Jeanie Schmidt (516), Amy Gottlieb (501) and Wendy Brown (455). 

Illinois natives Betty Tucker of Chicago and Lila Newman-Davis of Dolton won Division 1 Doubles with a 1,227 total. Newman-Davis had a 615 series while Tucker contributed 612.

Michelle Stahl's 657 in Division 1 Singles landed the Hillsborough, N.J., resident top honors, with a 191, 198, and 268 series. Kannapolis, N.C.'s Janet Smith secured a strong All-Events finish with her 1,820 total (585, 596, 639). 

For complete standings for the Women's Championships (Classic, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 4), visit http://www.usbcwomenschampionships.com/.  Results are unofficial pedning verification of averages. 

A field of 7,330 five-player teams competed (more 36,500 bowlers) plus other friends and family members who poured an estimated $40 million into the Detroit area economy. Those bowlers came from all 50 states and a record nine foreign countries.

Countries in addition to the U.S. represented in the Women's Championships were: Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom. 

Two notable records were set by seniors. Mini Tvaska, 90, of St. Petersburg, Fla., broke the participation record by attending her 62nd consecutive Women's Championship. Emma Hendrickson, 99, of Morris County, N.J., tied the record for oldest participant in tournament history. She matched Ethel Brunnick of Santa Monica, Calif., who competed at 99 in 1987.

The high individual game of the tournament was a 297 shot by Jen Richter of Sheboygan, Wis., which was shot on May 23.

Presenting sponsors for the 2008 USBC Women's Championships are Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus Reno in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Shop Canton, Greektown Casino, ABC AirTrans, Max & Erma's Restaurant, Bacardi, Miller Brewing Company, CaraMagno Foods and the Michigan Lottery. 

The USBC Women's Championships moves to Reno, Nev. in 2009.