The USBC Queens is an annual ten-pin bowling event for amateur and professional female bowlers, sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress. The event is one of two women's professional majors and the female equivalent of the USBC Masters, now one of the four majors on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour.
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The USBC Queens made its debut in 1961, as a companion to the Women's International Bowling Congress (WIBC) Tournament. It was known as the WIBC Queens from 1961-2004, until the WIBC became a part of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) on January 1, 2005. The tournament is part of the World Bowling Tour, annually attracting a field of hundreds of the top bowlers from around the world.
The format for the USBC Queens tournament is similar to the USBC Masters. All entrants bowl 15 games of qualifying over three days. The top 63 qualifiers plus the previous year's champion then bowl match play. Match play consists of three-game, total-pinfall matches in a double-elimination format. The last five remaining players take part in the televised finals.
Nine bowlers have won at least two USBC Queens titles, with only two winning three times: Millie Ignizio (Martorella) (1967, 1970, 1971) and Wendy Macpherson (1988, 2000, 2003). Both bowlers are now in the USBC Hall of Fame.
2016 Event
Held May 20-26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. $125,000 prize fund with $20,000 top prize. A five-player stepladder format was used for the televised finals on May 26.
Final Standings:
1. Bernice Lim, Singapore ($20,000) [a]
2. Sandra Andersson, Sweden ($10,000)
3. Danielle McEwan, USA ($6,000)
4. Birgit Poppler, Germany ($5,000)
5. Li Jane Sin, Malaysia ($4,000)
[a] Denotes amateur bowler. Received prize money, but does not qualify for a PWBA title.