July 14, 2011
LAS VEGAS, NV—Vanderbilt veteran Jessica Earnest and newcomer Nicole Mosesso successfully battled Wednesday through six more games and as a result, made the cut from 578 bowlers to the semi-final 72 at the Junior Gold Tournament.
There was never a doubt that Earnest would make the semis as the Commodore junior has been one of the leaders since the event began Monday. She ended Wednesday night in fifth place with a 206 avearge over 18 games, trailing Olivia Wirtz of Battle Creek, Mich., who is rolling along at 212.06.
Mosesso, the reigning Alberta Crowe recipient symbolic of the nation’s top high school bowler, made her move Tuesday and essentially held serve Wednesday. The Centerville, Ohio product headed to Vanderbilt this fall was in 36th place when the axe fell with a 194.06 average.
Five other Vanderbilt bowlers were not as fortunate. They included Kim Carper (183.83), Lauren Rhein (178.28), Nicole Chanin (177.89), Rebeca Reguero (174.83) and Liz Saffold (168.56).
Vanderbilt bowlers have typically done well at this tournament that many consider the sport’s equivalent of golf’s Junior Amateur championship. Two years ago Josie Earnest, now a Commodore assistant coach and sister of Jessica, finished second in a photo finish and just a year ago Brittni Hamilton, now too old to compete here, won the prestigious event.
The field will get sliced again after today’s six games. Complete results are found on bowl.com.
