The United States Women's Open, a.k.a. U.S. Women's Open or Women's U.S. Open, is an annual tournament for women, dedicated to ten-pin bowling in the United States. From its inception in 1949 until its cancellation in 2004, after the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) folded, the event was held every year except for 1953, 1997 and 2002. From 1949 through 1970, the tournament was known as the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) Women's All-Star. From 1971 on, it became known as the U.S. Women's Open. Marion Ladewig won this tournament eight times when it was the BPAA Women's All-Star. Liz Johnson has the most modern era (since 1971) U.S. Women's Open victories with six.
The U.S. Women's Open returned in 2007, being conducted by the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) from that year through 2010. The BPAA announced in June, 2010, that it would resume conducting the tournament, beginning in 2011. The TV finals for the 2011 event took place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 2012 tournament held its final round outdoors in Reno, Nevada on a specially-prepared pair of lanes. As the telecast began, winds up to 24 mph (38 km/h) began to deposit dust onto the lane surface, making the lanes virtually unplayable with standard reactive equipment and angles. Players began switching to plastic bowling balls as the dust continued to accumulate. Kelly Kulick survived a 170–160 final match against Missy Parkin to take the title.
The tournament was not held in 2014, due to lack of viable sponsorship. Instead, the BPAA Women's All-Star returned for a year along with the Senior Women's US Open. The U.S. Women's Open returned for 2015, as the USBC and BPAA announced that Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, had signed on as the title sponsor. The 2015 U.S. Women's Open took place August 31 through September 6 in North Brunswick, New Jersey, as part of the re-launched PWBA Tour.
Tournament history
2023 Event
The 2023 U.S. Women's Open was held June 14–20 at Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York, with the live finals broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The tournament had 108 entries and a total prize fund of $279,000, with a $60,000 top prize. Second-seeded Bryanna Coté defeated top seed Clara Guerrero in the final match to win her fifth career PWBA title and first major championship.
A five-person stepladder format was used for the final round.
Final Standings
1. Bryanna Coté (Tucson, AZ), $60,000
2. Clara Guerrero (Colombia), $30,000
3. Danielle McEwan (Stony Point, NY), $22,000
4. Diana Zajalova (Riga, Latvia), $17,000
5. Liz Johnson (Niagara Falls, NY), $13,000
Past winners
U.S. Women's Open
2023 – Bryanna Coté
2022 – Erin McCarthy
2021 – Josie Barnes
2020 – Not held (COVID-19) 2019 – Danielle McEwan 2018 – Liz Kuhlkin 2017 – Liz Johnson 2016 – Liz Johnson 2015 – Liz Johnson 2013 – Liz Johnson 2012 – Kelly Kulick 2011 – Leanne Hulsenberg 2010 – Kelly Kulick 2009 – Tammy Boomershine 2008 – Kim Terrell-Kearney 2007 – Liz Johnson 2003 – Kelly Kulick 2001 – Kim Terrell 2000 – Tennelle Grijalva (Milligan) 1999 – Kim Adler 1998 – Aleta Sill 1996 – Liz Johnson 1995 – Cheryl Daniels 1994 – Aleta Sill 1993 – Dede Davidson 1992 – Tish Johnson 1991 – Anne Marie Duggan 1990 – Dana Miller-Mackie 1989 – Robin Romeo 1988 – Lisa Wagner 1987 – Carol Norman 1986 – Wendy Macpherson 1985 – Pat Mercatanti 1984 – Karen Ellingsworth 1983 – Dana Miller 1982 – Shinobu Saitoh 1981 – Donna Adamek 1980 – 'California' Pat Costello 1979 – Diana Silva 1978 – Donna Adamek 1977 – Betty Morris 1976 – Patty Costello 1975 – Paula Carter (Sperber) 1974 – 'California' Pat Costello 1973 – Mildred Martorella 1972 – Lorrie Koch 1971 – Paula Sperber
BPAA Women's All-Star
2014 - Shannon Pluhowsky
1970 – Mary Baker
1969 – Dottie Fothergill
1968 – Dottie Fothergill
1967 – Gloria Simon
1966 – Joy Abel
1965 – Ann Slattery
1964 – LaVerne Carter
1963 – Marion Ladewig
1962 – Shirley Garms
1961 – Phyllis Notaro
1960 – Sylvia Wene
1959 – Marion Ladewig
1958 – Merle Matthews
1957 (Dec. 1956) – Marion Ladewig
1956 (Dec. 1955) – Anita Cantaline
1955 – Sylvia Wene
1954 – Marion Ladewig
1952 – Marion Ladewig
1951 – Marion Ladewig
1950 – Marion Ladewig
1949 – Marion Ladewig
References
External links
Official web site
Previous winners (1949 to 2003)