July 15, 2009
Wednesday morning update: Brittni Hamilton ended her Wednesday six-game set with a tremendous 1,352 (+152), eclipsing Josie Earnest’s Tuesday total as the best score to date in the tournament. Earnest, in the same bracket with Hamilton, turned in a 1,202 (+2) total, which essentially assures both Commodore stars of moving into Thursday’s quarterfinals as one of the leaders.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After getting off to a slow start Monday at the week-long United States Junior Amateur Championship, several Vanderbilt connected bowlers made their presence well known Tuesday.
Among the hottest of the hot were Josie Earnest, who shot into second place with an impressive 1,328 (+128 on a 200 scale for six games) and Brittni Hamilton, who bolted into eighth from deep in the 524-bowler field with a 1,274 (+74).
Commodore followers should also take note of Kim Carper, an incoming freshman who stands in sixth place heading into Wednesday’s six games. Carper, who hails from near Minnesota’s Canadian border, added a solid 1,242 to her opening 1,200.
Indeed the vast majority of the eight Vanderbilt connected bowlers are in position to make today’s cut to the top 78, who will then advance into Thursday’s semi-finals.
Freshman Courtney Morgan is 35th after her 1,100 Tuesday. Kayla Rhoades is 41st while veteran Brittany Garcia used a strong closing 239 to put her self in contention to make the cut in the 104th spot. Sarah O’Brien is 125th and Lauren Rhein is 208th.
Earnest, the two-time NCAA Player of the Year, easily shot the day’s best score, stringing together games of 226-223-221-206-215-237. Onlookers said Earnest, who worked the extreme outside of the lanes all day, actually could have had even better pin totals with a bit better “bowling luck.”
Hamilton had a flashy four-game streak of 201-232-265-235 while Carper appeared steady as a rock with high games of 223 and 236.
After the cut, which comes at the end of 18 games, the 78 semi-finalists compete for 16 spots in Friday’s finals. Those games will be match play to determine the champion.
Complete coverage is found at bowl.com. For the girls standings, click here.