WELCH, Minn. - Left-hander Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, averaged better than 245 a game to take the lead after qualifying Friday at the 2015 Professional Women's Bowling Association Minnesota Open.
Pluhowsky, a 15-time Team USA member, fired 2,941 for 12 games at Island Xtreme Bowl to top the field heading into match play.
The top 16 players in the qualifying standings Friday advanced to Saturday's round-robin match play, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Central. The event concludes with the stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m. Central on Saturday. All rounds are being broadcast live on Xtra Frame.
"Things just carried forward from last week," said Pluhowsky, who finished second at the PWBA Lincoln Open last week. "I threw it really well in Lincoln and bowling is such a momentum game. Once things get going in the right direction you just keep trying to keep it going."
Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, California, took the second spot after qualifying with 2,831, while Rocio Restrepo of Louisville, Ohio, was third with 2,814. Mexico's Sandra Gongora sits in fourth place with 2,779, and Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, New York, rounds out the top five with 2,767.
In the battle for the last spot to advance, Lindsay Boomershine of Perry, Utah, and Clara Guerrero of Pflugerville, Texas, finished qualifying tied at 2,597 forcing a one-game roll-off for the last spot. Boomershine defeated Guerrero, 246-234 to advance to match play.
The remaining players will bowl 16 games of match play Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Central. Match play will conclude with a position round to finalize the top four for the stepladder finals.
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