July 16, 2011
HENDERSON, NV—Vanderbilt’s Jessica Earnest earned a coveted spot on the 2012 Junior Team USA with her fourth place finish at the Junior Gold Championships, which concluded here Saturday evening.
Earnest battled among the leaders all week in this major national event, won this year by Natalie Jimenez. The Cenral Missouri southpaw enjoyed a big day to win going away, appearing to have the home lanes advantage with her large contingent of fans from her relatively near hometown in California.
The top four placers earn automatic bids to the elite United States team. Jimenez and Earnest were joined by Elise Bolton and Amanda Greene. Holly Harris and Addileen Pointer, who bowls for Alabama A & M, were chosen by the National Selection Committee as at-large picks to also join the team.
Final Junior Gold Lead Board (578 bowlers initially competed)
1, Natalie Jimenez, Rowland Heights, Calif., 11-4-1, 9,8192, Elise Bolton, Merritt Island, Fla., 9-7-0, 9,6513, Amanda Greene, Romney, W.Va., 12-4-0, 9,6174, Jessica Earnest, Vandalia, Ill., 8-8-0, 9,6035, Emily Lynn Huddleston, Omaha, Neb., 7-8-1, 9,4906, Holly Harris, Long Prairie, Minn., 5-11-0, 9,4787, Addileen Pointer, Highland, Mich., 11-5-0, 9,4108, Nicole Trudell, Coventry, R.I., 9-7-0, 9,4059, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 7-9-0, 9,40510, Amanda LaBossiere, Buzzards Bay, Mass., 8-8-0, 9,38411, Olivia Wirtz, Battle Creek, Mich., 7-9-0, 9,32112, Kaitlin Quinn, Livonia, N.Y., 7-9-0, 9,31513, Melanie Hannon, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 8-8-0, 9,31214, Kelsey Muther, Topeka, Kan., 6-10-0, 9,28315, Andreya Teuber, Swartz Creek, Mich., 6-10-0, 9,12216, Brandy Hensley, Corpus Christi, Texas, 6-10-0, 9,093
