Minden's Primrose rolls strong in Queens event

RENO -- Minden's Janine Primrose stood in good position to advance to the next round of the Queens Tournament held at the National Bowling Stadium.

With two squads still to go on Tuesday, the 43rd annual Women's International Bowling Congress Queens Tournament leaderboard was dominated by members of the Professional Women's Bowling Association. E

Reigning PWBA Player of the Year Michelle Feldman of Skaneateles, N.Y., maintained her tournament lead after 10 games with a 213.9 average and a 2,139 pinfall. Feldman holds a seven-pin margin over Rachel Perez of San Marcos, Texas who finished with 213.2 and 2,132. Primrose stood in 15th, with a 198 average and 1,980 score.

"Today I bowled on the high end of the house and the lanes seemed to play tighter than yesterday," said Feldman. "I had more trouble putting up big scores but overall I'm very satisfied."

A three-time WIBC All-American with 11 national titles to her credit, Feldman chalked up a 1,033 tally in round two highlighted by a 220 in her third game. In addition to leading the Queens event, the 26-year-old right-hander is also leading the Classic Division singles with a 764 and in all-events with a 2,048 in the WIBC Championship Tournament.

Entering her ninth year as a touring pro, Perez dominated the noon squad averaging 229.4 for a 1,147 pinfall. The righthander recorded the top series of the tournament thus far with a 738 (245-258-235). Including Perez and Feldman, nine of the top 10 qualifiers are PWBA members.

"I changed the surface on some of my equipment this morning and that made a big difference," said Perez. "Once I started to trust the shot I had and not grip the ball to tight, I hit the pocket consistently."

1994 WIBC champion Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., slid into the third position with totals of 211.6 and 2,116. Duggan notched a 703 series (213-254-236) to start her afternoon. 2001 WIBC champion Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of N. Richland Hills, Texas (211.01 and 2,101) and Australian Maxine Nable (208.4 and 2,084) rounded out the top five.

Nevada bowlers, including two-time WIBC champion Wendy Macpherson - 205.8, 2,058 (sixth - Henderson), Keli Rapp - 192.1, 1,921 (27th - Henderson) and Debbie Langfeldt -- 187, 1,877 (105th - Las Vegas) all finished the day in contention to make the tournaments' first cut.

Second round action continued with five more games at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. after which the field is cut to the top 25 percent (including all ties). Following the final five-game qualifying block today at 9 a.m., the field is reduced again to the top 63 bowlers, plus Kim Terrell, Antioch, Calif., who is the defending champion. Starting Wednesday afternoon and continuing Thursday, the top 64 compete in double-elimination brackets.

The tournament concludes with the top five bowlers facing off in the stepladder finals on Friday at 7 p.m. The championship round will air on ESPN2 on Saturday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m.