SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A week removed from their second consecutive top ten team finish, the Ashford University women's bowling team was back in action this past weekend, Jan. 21-22, by competing in the Blue and Golf Classic hosted by the University of Notre Dame at Chippewa Bowl. The Saints placed three individuals in the top-50 en route to a 12th place finish out of the 41 varsity teams involved in the event.
Unlike last weekend's baker-scoring competition, the Blue and Gold Classic was scored based on nine individual games from a team of five players.
Dekalb, Ill. freshman Brandi Underwood continued her impressive first collegiate bowling season by finishing 15th overall among the 287 individuals competing in the two-day tournament. Underwood notched a total pinfall count of 1744 (193.8 average) which was aided by scores of 216 and 210 in games six and seven, respectively.
Camryn Simmons, a native of Fulton, Ill., registered a 41st place finish with a nine-game total of 1654 (183.8 average) while Tricia Zimmerman scored 1642 pins to fall two spots short of her teammate. Zimmerman finished in 43rd place and took advantage of a 231 in her final game to average a 182.4 for the tournament.
Katelyn Dierickx rolled eight games for the Saints, compiling a 1322 (165.3 average).
Rounding out the AU scoring was Katelyn Tharp (853, 170.6 average), Renee Christiansen (506, 168.7 average), Samantha Green (156) and Shelby Byrnes (148).
The Shockers of Wichita State University took home the team championship after bowling over 9098 pins to collect a one-pin victory over Robert Morris University-Illinois. Lindenwood University, William Penn University and Florida State University rounded out the top five. Ashford finished second among the Midwest Collegiate Conference teams competing in the weekend tournament and placed just ahead of Clarke University by a slim nine-pin margin.
Robert Morris University-Illinois bowler Katie Sexton earned medalist honors after scoring 2030 pins (225.6 average) in nine games.
AU visits La Crosse, Wis. this coming weekend, Jan. 28-29, to compete in the Viterbo V-Hawk Invitational.
