|
7/13/2006 Fort Lauderdale – Four members of Vanderbilt’s varsity bowling team made the difficult first cut at the United States Junior Gold Championships Wednesday, pushing themselves into Thursday’s semi-final round of competition. Josie Earnest and Michelle Peloquin were two of only three bowlers in the huge field of 435 that managed averages in excess of 200 after 18 games and stand second and third overall heading into today’s play. Kaitlin Reynolds is 12th and Karen Grygiel was 38th, all making the cut of the top 66 competitors. Earnest, a member of the 2006 United States Junior team as a high schooler at Vandalia, Illinois, is just 15 pins off the pace set by Noel Ocasio of Patchogue, N.Y. Earnest is averaging 204 over the difficult, sport-shot lanes. Peloquin, who made the finals at this event last year, is averaging 201 and still has her goal of making the top six and the USA team in sight. “It was another remarkable day for our bowlers,” says Commodore Coach John Williamson. “Yesterday I said it was pretty amazing to have four women in the Top 16 after two days and today I’d say it is equally impressive to have three of the top 12 and two of the top three after 18 games. The field is bunched very tightly so the scramble to reach the final round’s 16 bowlers will be interesting to watch.” Total pins will determine standings up until the finals. At that point, the event turns into match play with each winning bowler in head-to-head competition earning an additional 30 bonus pins. Vanderbilt sophomore Mandy Keily did not make the cut after struggling on the second and third day of play. Incoming Vanderbilt freshman Ashley Belden was also among the casualties. Complete results are on bowl.com The tournament concludes Friday with the top six women and top six men making the USA Junior National Team. |
