LINCOLN, Neb. – The of 108 bowlers that will compete this week for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open title has been finalized after Tuesday's pre-tournament qualifier at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Leading the PTQ was Denise Blankenzee of Huntsville, Texas, with an eight-game total of 1,627 in her first professional event. Mary Orf of St. Louis (1,604) was second, Valerie Bercier of Muskegon, Michigan (1,583) third, and Malaysia’s Natasha Roslan and Kirsten Moore of Tallmadge, Ohio tied for fourth (1,578) to round out the top five.
Malaysia’s Nora Norkamal (1,557), Heather Erdel of Omaha, Nebraska (1,537), Jenna Williams of Lake Wales, Florida (1,527), Malaysia’s Siti Rahman (1,490) and Sweden’s Ottilia Gunnarsson (1,480) occupy spots six through 10, while Michaela Morgan of The Woodlands, Texas, took the final spot into the tournament proper.
Blankenzee, a four-time All-American at Sam Houston State University, came straight to Lincoln after finishing up her final year as a Bearkat and made an immediate impact.
“My mindset today was the same as it was in college,” said Blankenzee. “It’s me and the lanes, obviously it was different competition than what I’m used to, but that’s what I focused on.”
She originally grew up in the Netherlands and is also a member of the Dutch national bowling team, having first making the team when she was just 14 years old, and brought that experience to the U.S. Women’s Open.
“Throughout my career, (being a part of the national team) and going to Sam Houston really prepped me for this,” Blankenzee said. “All the hours we put in on the lanes, learning techniques and learning how to be consistent, everything combined makes me the bowler I am today.
“I’m very appreciative of Sam Houston State University, and because of my family and others, I’m here.”
Blankenzee’s end to her collegiate career at the Intercollegiate Singles Championships was something of a full circle moment.
“My family and I kind of joked about it because I was first recruited by Sam Houston in 2017 in Las Vegas and my final event with them (at ISC’s) was in Vegas. Everything I learned while there and every experience I’ve had has prepared me for this moment,” said Blankenzee.
The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open continues Wednesday with practice all day long starting at 10 a.m. Eastern. Thursday through Saturday will be qualifying rounds, each day starting at 9 a.m. Eastern for eight games each round for all three squads that bowl. 2 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Eastern are the start times for the other two squads of each day, and all squads will bowl eight games.
After the third qualifying round, a cut will be made to the top third of the field, who will return Sunday for the fourth and final qualifying round at 11 a.m. Eastern, again being eight games.
The top 24 after qualifying will begin the first of three rounds of round-robin match play later at 6 p.m. Eastern. The final two rounds will be Monday, June 16 at 11 a.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Eastern, and the top five after match play will bowl in the live TV stepladder finals show Tuesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. Eastern, only on CBS Sports Network.
All rounds of qualifying and match play leading up to the TV finals will be streamed live on BowlTV.
