USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. – The scoring pace keeps getting higher and higher in the Diamond Division at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships as a new leader has emerged in singles.
Rebecca O’Connor of Knoxville, Tenn., had a stellar performance throughout her eighth tournament appearance, starting strong Sunday with 674 in team to help F.W.F. 1 of Clinton, Utah, into second place in Diamond Team at the National Bowling Stadium with a 2,703 total.
Her scores got more impressive Monday in doubles, rolling a 715 series, and in singles, she shined over the competition, bowling games of 258, 257 and 255 for a total of 770 to take the lead.
She finished with an overall score of 2,159 to also take over second place in Diamond All-Events.
Amber MacLeod of Conway, S.C., and Michelle Abner of Cleves, Ohio, previously shared the lead in Diamond Singles with 760.
Ballard vs. the Big C leads Diamond Team with 2,842, and Kayla Pashina of Otsego, Minn., holds the top spot in Diamond All-Events with 2,198.
“The ball reaction was better than yesterday,” said O’Connor, comparing her performance from Sunday to Monday. “Everyone bowled well the past two days, and we all fed off of each other.”
This energy from her teammates helped push her toward the end goal of taking the lead.
In talking about where she usually performs the best at the USBC Women’s Championships, O’Connor noted that singles usually is not that area.
“Now, I think overall I’m sitting second for all-events and team, which is pretty incredible,” said O’Connor, who previously had a high series of 740 in team at the 2021 event, also held in Reno. “It’s kind of rare for me to bowl that way. Bowling both days and that many games, I start to taper off in singles.”
Coming together as a team is what matters the most for the bowler from Tennessee during this tournament, though. It’s fulfilling for her to do well with her teammates, especially when it’s with people she cares about the most.
“I care a lot more for team and doubles, because I try to do well for my teammates,” O’Connor said.
The cherry on top for O’Connor was taking the lead for singles. The final few frames were vastly important for her to take the lead, with the excitement coming down to the wire.
She needed a mark in her 10th frame to break the tie at the top of the leaderboard in Diamond Singles, and O’Connor recorded a spare conversion and nine count on her fill ball to start the celebration.
“Currently shaking,” O’Connor said. “I had some anxiety there at the end, but truly ecstatic that his happened. I knew going into the second shot of the 10th frame that I had to make it, and I did.”
When asked about her future goals and final thoughts on the tournament, O’Connor said, “My dream is to win, and I’m hoping the score will stay. I’m happy to come here and hangout with my friends, and we have a great time bowling well.”
NEW EMERALD LEADER
Lynne Sweeney of Cheyenne, Wyo., did not know what to expect coming into her 25th appearance, but she had a great surprise Sunday after taking over the lead in singles in the Emerald Division at the 2024 event.
Sweeney finished with a grand total of 630. Entering her doubles and singles squad Sunday, the leading total in Emerald Singles was 604 by Sheryl Dickenson of Baroda, Mich.
Another bowler on the same squad – Genevieve Randal of Klamath Falls, Ore. – also made a run at the lead and took over second in Emerald Singles with 617.
In Sweeney’s first game, she came out firing with a 225 total. She followed up in Game 2 by rolling 211 and finally, in Game 3, she tossed a 194 game. Sweeney was very happy when she found out the news that she had taken the lead.
“It’s overwhelming, and I never thought I would be able to do it,” said Sweeney, who posted her first series of 600 or higher at the USBC Women’s Championships.
Sweeney has really been enjoying her time in Reno while competing at the National Bowling Stadium in 2024.
“Oh, I love it,” Sweeney said. “This is my 25th year, and we come every year to the tournament.”
Sweeney has been bowling for about 50 years now and has taken pleasure in so many great bowling events over the years.
“The Women’s Championships is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of feeling,” Sweeney said.
Emerald Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 136-155.