Only 16 Remain in Contention at the 2025 USBC Senior Queens

LAS VEGAS – Qualifying at the 2025 United States Bowling Congress Senior Queens in Las Vegas ended Friday afternoon and match play started soon after, as only 16 competitors now remain for the title at Sam’s Town Bowling Center.

Eight bowlers went 2-0 in the double-elimination match-play bracket: Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, New York; Canada’s Jill Friis; Rina Sabo of Bennett, Colorado; Lynda Barnes of Denton, Texas; Char Hammel of Henderson, Nevada; Germany’s Anette Fineiss; Raelyn Hazen of Roy, Utah; and Jody Scheerer of Orlando, Florida.

Over in the Elimination Bracket, these eight bowlers have a longer road to make it to the stepladder finals but have as good of a chance as everyone else to win the event: Linda Walbaum of Brighton, Colorado; Kristin McEntee of Whiting, Indiana; Carol Norman of Houston; Shandy Simchen of Tacoma, Washington; Dana Ausec of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Beth Owen-Cipielewski of Bradenton, Florida; Lana Mink of Kapolei, Hawaii; and defending champion Kathy Ledford of Boise, Idaho.

Johnson, who qualified as the top overall seed into match play and is undefeated in the bracket thus far, her debut at the Senior Queens is going as well as she could have hoped for.

“It feels good to be at the top, no matter what the level,” said the USBC Hall of Famer. “It’s great being able to compete with some of the ladies that I used to bowl against and are familiar with, especially here bowling at Sam’s Town and it gives me a little confidence for tomorrow.”

For Johnson, the key to her success has been staying patient between blocks and letting the scores come to her while still staying on top of the transition. That mindset helped during the second match where she found herself down early but continued to grind it out until she came out a winner.

“I found a good look (in Round 1) and the next round I went to the pair next to me and it was totally different and a little bit of a struggle,” she said. “Tried not to worry about breaks going either way and fortunately found a look after moving in. I kept my legs underneath me because when I get lost I tend to pop up, it helped me get through the match.”

Being able to catch up with some of the bowlers that she used to compete against during the original Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour has been a highlight amid the competition.

“I crossed next to Jody Scheerer and we bowled together back on tour in the 90s and catching up with her,” said Johnson. “It’s really crazy because we used to do this 25 years ago, it’s kind of déjà vu in a way. It’s a lot of fun being out here competing with the other ladies.”

If Johnson wins her first match on Saturday, she potentially has a matchup with Lynda Barnes, another competitor that Johnson crossed with during the original PWBA Tour. Barnes and Johnson could make Senior Queens history if either one wins, as they would join Sandra Postma and Anne Marie Duggen as the only bowlers to win USBC Queens and USBC Senior Queens titles.

If Char Hammel were to win it all, it would be her second win at the Senior Queens event, 15 years after her first and become the oldest to win the event at age 70.

All 16 bowlers will return at noon Eastern Saturday to continue match play and the stepladder finals for the final five competitors is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Eastern Sunday.

For more information on the Senior Queens, visit BOWL.com/SeniorQueens.

2025 USBC SENIOR QUEENS
Sam’s Town Bowling Center
Las Vegas

Friday’s Results

MATCH PLAY
Double-elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall

ROUND 1
(Winners remain in Winners Bracket. Losers move to Elimination Bracket).

(1) Liz Johnson, Niagara Falls, N.Y., def. (32) Samantha Mathews, Australia, 742-651.
(17) Carol Long, Nampa, Idaho, def. (16) Linda Walbaum, Brighton, Colo., 596-540.
(9) Jill Friis, Canada, def. (24) Cari Graham, Kettering, Ohio, 583-571.
(25) Mandy Wilson, Dayton, Ohio, def. (8) Stephanie Van Ness, Anchorage, Alaska, 659-558.

(5) Rina Sabo, Bennett, Colo., def. (28) Shandy Simchen, Tacoma, Wash., 635-580.
(21) Lana Mink, Kapolei, Hawaii, def. (12) Wanda Parker, Garland, Texas, 558-530.
(13) Kathy Ledford, Boise, Idaho, def. (20) Kristen McEntee, Whiting, Ind., 607-597.
(4) Lynda Barnes, Denton, Texas, def. (29) Deb Lee, Canada, 637-590.

(30) Char Hammel, Henderson, Nevada, def. (3) Dana Ausec, Colorado Springs, Colo., 722-636.
(14) April Lord-Wittig, Steilacoom, Wash., def. (19) Jessica Diso, Lake Forest, Calif., 555-535.
(22) Anette Fineiss, Germany, def. (11) Sandi Charles, Nolanville, Texas, 578-566.
(27) Bianca Voelkl-Brandt, Germany, def. (6) Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 606-585.

(7) Carol Norman, Houston, def. (26) Pamala Pancoast, Lomita, Calif., 694-502.
(23) Raelyn Hazen, Roy, Utah, def. (10) Genie Franklin, Frisco, Texas, 617-570.
(18) Cindy Mattingly, Puyallup, Wash., def. (15) Beth Owen-Cipielewski, Brandton, Fla, 609-551.
(2) Jodi Scheerer, Orlando, Fla., def. (31) Edissa Andrade, Panama, 659-542.

ROUND 2 – Winner’s Bracket

Johnson def. Long, 615-577.
Friis def. Wilson, 586-563.
Sabo def. Mink, 590-536.
Barnes def. Ledford, 646-638.

Hammel def. Lord-Wittig, 623-513.
Fineiss def. Voelkl-Brandt, 670-537.
Hazen def. Norman, 631-594.
Scheerer def. Mattingly, 593-593. (Scheerer won roll-off, 10-8)

ROUND 2 – Elimination Bracket
(Loser is eliminated, receives $750)

Walbaum def. Matthews, 592-574.
McEntee def. Lee, 621-526.
Van Ness def. Graham, 644-534.
Simchen def. Parker, 582-525.

Ausec def. Diso, 631-506.
Owen-Cipielewski def. Andrade, 607-537.
Woessner def. Charles, 679-630.
Franklin def. Pancoast, 658-629.

ROUND 3 – Elimination Bracket
(Loser is eliminated, receives $850)

Walbaum def. Voelkl-Brandt, 609-564.
McEntee def. Lord- Wittig, 655-541.
Norman def. Van Ness, 617-572.
Simchen def. Mattingly, 638-556.

Ausec def. Wilson, 626-610.
Owen-Cipielewski def. Long, 606-477.
Mink def. Woessner, 615-599.
Ledford def. Franklin, 552-521.