By DONOVAN GRUBAUGH
PWBA Communications
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The third round of qualifying at the 2025 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Anniversary Open concluded Thursday afternoon, which saw 12 players advance to Friday’s final qualifying round at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.
Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tenn., held on to the overall lead after Thursday’s six-game block of 1,359 and now is at an overall total of 4,180.
Sweden’s Nora Johansson jumped to second (4,148 overall total) with a block total of 1,497 after starting the day in 27th place, while Colombia’s Rocio Restrepo (4,147), a Kent resident, and Lindsay Boomershine of Brigham City, Utah (4,143), also made big moves up the standings to third and fourth, respectively. Stow’s Jillian Martin closes out the top five with 4,092.
Joining them in the final round of qualifying are: Olivia Farwell of Elizabethtown, Pa. (4,088); Canada’s Jade Côté (4,087), a former Youngstown State University player; Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio (4,079); Lewis Center’s Jen Higgins (4,078), a former Canton resident; Kayla Smith of Rockford, Ill. (4,076); England’s Verity Crawley (4,074); and Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Mo. (4,072).
Johansson, a right-handed two-hander, kept it simple Thursday as she ascended the standings with a six-game block of 255, 290, 242, 243, 221 and 246, ignoring the pressure on herself in the process.
“In a way, (the pressure) is good because it keeps me focused and lets me do my best bowling, as well as hoping the pins fall my way,” said Johansson.
After the U.S. Women’s Open in June, Johansson traveled back home to Sweden after weeks of competing on tour in the United States, which helped her rest and refocus for Green Bay.
“I think going home was like a battery charger,” she said. “I went home empty and came back full again, feeling like I can bowl the best after being with friends and family. I also just started golfing and played last week before coming here.”
Johansson travels on the PWBA Tour with fellow national teammate Anna Andersson, who plans the trips out to the states.
“She’s a great planner and books everything, I’m kind of the person that is just along for the ride,” Johansson said with a chuckle. “She is also just as competitive as I am, where it’s kind of a match against each other, but we also want each other to succeed.”
Andersson will be in the crowd tomorrow, supporting Johansson as she and the other 11 still competing return to The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley Fridayat 11 a.m. for the final six-game qualifying block.
The top five will advance to Sunday’s live TV stepladder finals at the nearby Resch Center, broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m.
Russo gained the final cut spot by just 12 pins over Jordan Snodgrass, who was looking to make her fifth straight stepladder finals with one victory. Snodgrass is locked in a points battle with Singapore’s Hui Fen New, who did not earn a cash soot this week.
Tallmadge’s Kirsten Moore earned the final cash spot, finishing 32nd overall with 3,838.