By GENE J. KANAK
PWBA Communications
GATES, N.Y. – The field at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open is now full at 108 competitors after 31 bowlers advanced to the tournament proper via Tuesday’s pre-tournament qualifier at ABC Gates Bowl.
Colombia’s Juliana Franco led the PTQ with an eight-game total of 1,709 (a 213.63 average), which included five games above the 200 mark (203, 205, 214, 258 and 279).
She was joined in the top five by Hayley Dann of Okemos, Mich. (1,593); Sagirah Wheeler of Baltimore (1,567); Hope Gramly of Aubrey, Texas (1,550) and Rebecca Hagerman of Loves Park, Ill. (1,550).
Local bowler Heather Ray of Rochester, N.Y., was the final player to advance out of the PTQ; she finished with a score of 1,391.
With the field now set, the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open – the second major on the 2023 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour schedule – starts Thursday morning at 8 a.m. and concludes June 20 at 7 p.m. live on CBS Sports Network.
The U.S. Women’s Open will feature three eight-game qualifying rounds, starting Thursday at 8 a.m. Eastern, to determine the 36 players advancing to a fourth eight-game block. Each of the four rounds will feature a different oil pattern.
After 32 games, 24 athletes will begin round-robin match play, starting Sunday, with the fourth oil pattern being used for the remainder of the event.
Match play will consist of three eight-game rounds, with total pinfall and bonus pins for each victory determining the five players advancing to the stepladder finals.
All rounds leading up to the CBS Sports Network broadcast will be livestreamed at BowlTV.com.
Past U.S. Women’s Open champions competing this week include last year’s winner Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Neb.; Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tenn.; Liz Johnson of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, N.Y.; Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J.; and Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y.
This year’s winner will take home $60,000 with the event’s overall prize fund at nearly $280,000.
Click here for 2023 U.S. Women’s Open information, live scoring, results and more.