The 103rd edition of the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships got underway Sunday at the South Point Bowling Plaza as the first of more than 4,200 teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers took to the lanes for the 2023 event.
The tournament returned to South Point for the first time since 2016 and marks the event’s fourth visit to Las Vegas, which also included trips in 1973 and 1983.
The 53 teams on Sunday’s opening squad were able to enjoy the tournament’s opening ceremony before starting their competition, which featured entertainment, several speakers, a ribbon-cutting presentation and the ceremonial first ball and Mass Ball Shot.
Speakers included Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Chief Operating Officer Brian Yost, Las Vegas Events President Tim Keener, South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa General Manager Ryan Growney and USBC President Melissa McDaniel.
The first grand marshal team of the 2023 event also was selected to lead out this year’s opening squad to the lanes, and the members of Flip Flops of Gun Barrel City, Texas, were chosen for the honor.
One of the members of the team, Karol Smith of Canton, Texas, also earned the chance to roll the ceremonial first shot of the tournament in front of fellow bowlers, spectators and local and bowling dignitaries.
“It was really cool to throw out the first ball of the tournament,” said Smith, who knocked over nine pins during her ceremonial delivery and made her seventh USBC Women’s Championships appearance.
In the Emerald Division, the members of Iowa 7 of Waterloo, Iowa, put together a strong showing to set the early pace with a 2,056 total.
The team rolled games of 738, 714 and 604 to take the early lead. Emerald Team features four-player teams with combined entering averages of 545-599.
Kristi Reidy led the way for Iowa 7 with a 587 series and was joined at the Bowling Plaza by Teresa Carriere (565), Teri Jennings (482) and Shirley Bloodsworth (422).
The 2023 Women’s Championships will run for 71 consecutive days at the Bowling Plaza and conclude July 2.
The tournament is one of the world’s largest participatory sporting events for women and will bring bowlers, family and friends from across the country and world to compete and have fun on the championship lanes.
Bowlers will participate in team, doubles and singles competition over their two days at South Point, and their nine-game total for all three events will determine their all-events score.
The 2023 Women’s Championships will feature four average-based divisions for team competition (Diamond, Ruby, Emerald and Sapphire) and six divisions for doubles, singles and all-events (Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst and Topaz).
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.
For more information on the USBC Women’s Championships, visit BOWL.com/WomensChamp.
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