LAS VEGAS – It was a day full of strikes Sunday at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Queens, as seven perfect games were thrown during the first five rounds of match play at Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, and the field has been cut to only 16 players competing for the tiara.
Eight players went 3-0 and continue on in the Winners Bracket, including qualifying leader Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska. Along with McCarthy, Caitlyn Johnson of Beaumont, Texas; Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Illinois; Emily Eckhoff of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; Victoria Varano of Stony Point, New York; Malaysia’s Natasha Roslan; France’s Emma Friant; and Carlene Beyer of Ogdensburg, Wisconsin, have yet to lose and need to win two additional matches for a spot in Tuesday’s stepladder finals.
Eight other players lost one match but are still alive in the Elimination Bracket, fighting to stay alive in the hunt for the tiara. Those eight players are Malaysia’s Syazwani Sahar; Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania; Singapore’s New Hui Fen; Elizabeth Teuber of Holly, Michigan; Japan’s Naho Kondo; Josie Barnes of Hermitage, Tennessee; Singapore’s Cherie Tan; and Valerie Bercier of Muskegon, Michigan.
Roslan had a day to remember as the Malaysian bowler rolled two perfect games during match play to become just the third person to roll multiple 300s in the same Queens event, joining USBC Hall of Fame members Tish Johnson (1995) and Dana Miller-Mackie (1999). Putting her name alongside that kind of company was the last thing on Roslan’s mind, however.
“I really came just for the experience,” said Roslan. “In Malaysia, the fields aren’t as strong as they are here in the United States, so to be able to come here is a dream come true for me.”
Through nine games of match play, Roslan is averaging over 254, winning her matches with series’ of 743, 783 and 760, putting her in contention for the highest match-play average in Queens history. Her national teammate, Sin Li Jane, currently has the record with 248.72 in the 2019 event.
Nevertheless, Roslan isn’t focused on chasing records.
“At the start of today, I told myself not to put any pressure on myself,” Roslan said. “I just wanted to enjoy today and if there’s a will, there’s a way. I’m going to bowl my best and enjoy each game and match.”
In the elimination bracket, Runk has won four straight matches after an opening-round loss and set a Queens match-play record in the process. Runk knocked down 826 pins in her match against Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, breaking the previous match-play record of 822 set by Indonesia’s Tannya Roumimper during the 2019 event.
“(Breaking the record) is pretty amazing,” Runk said. “I’m glad my husband, Brandon, told me before the final frame to help me lock in. I knew heading into that match bowling a player like Jordan I would need to be all in and fully focused, so it’s awesome to shoot that score.”
It’s made all the more impressive factoring in that Runk has a stress fracture in her left foot, the same foot she slides on.
“It happened several months ago and I was hoping it would get better on its own,” Runk said. “I went to a doctor before the season started and confirmed it was a stress fracture. They asked if I could stay off of it for six weeks and I said, ‘I can give you four weeks and I’ll wear a walking boot when not bowling.’”
The injury hasn’t slowed Runk down as she is now in the final 16 competitors bowling and has bowled the most games out of those still competing with 30 games bowled after qualifying and her five matches.
“My adrenaline started to take over at some point to ignore the pain as well as my menthol tape, I’m not sure I could get through this without that,” said Runk. “It’s hurting after today, I made it hard on myself to say the least. I’m going to go rest it and soak it in the hot tub and hopefully it’s ready for tomorrow.”
Roslan, Runk, Eckhoff, Kirsten Moore of Tallmadge, Ohio, Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, and Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane all achieved perfection during today’s match-play rounds. Moore and South Korea’s Seo Yeon Ryu also shot 800s today, as Moore had 808 while Ryu had 805, both in the opening round. Twelve perfect games have been thrown during this year’s event to this point, the most since 2010 (nine).
The remaining 16 players return to Gold Coast Bowling Center at noon Eastern Monday until two athletes are left in the Winners Bracket and four bowlers remain in the Elimination Bracket.
The final two undefeated bowlers in this year’s field will square off for the No. 1 seed for Tuesday’s live TV finals show while the final four in the Elimination Bracket will bowl for the last three spots in the stepladder finals.
All rounds leading up to the stepladder finals at this year’s tournament will be streamed live exclusively on BowlTV. The stepladder finals will air live on CBS Sports Network Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern.
CLICK HERE for more information on the USBC Queens.
