BOWLING / U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN : Australian Gains 11-Pin Lead at Fountain Valley

The U.S. Open of women’s bowling took on an international flavor Thursday at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley.

Australia’s Carol Gianotti came out of the pack to take the lead by a 11 pins over Leanne Barrette of Oklahoma City, Okla., after 24 games.

“Mum will be a happy sort tonight,” Gianotti said of her mother and longtime coach, Jan.

Gianotti grew up in Morely Perth and lived next to a bowling center.

“Dad built the place when I was 9,” she said. “Naturally I was hearing pins fall all the day and night growing up. Both dad and mum are top bowlers back home.”

Gianotti, 24, has two titles in five years of professional bowling, but one was in the 1989 WIBC Queens. That gave her a boost, “especially back in Australia where they made a big fuss over what I did.”

Barrette, reigning female bowler of the year, dominated the Fountain Bowl tournament last year until the 60th, and final, game. She ended up losing to La Habra’s Anne Marie Duggan.

Duggan, Wendy Macpherson, Cheryl Daniels, Nikki Gianulias and Tish Johnson are within striking distance of the leaders.

The field of 192 bowlers was cut to 60 Thursday.

They will bowl eight more games today to determine the 24 semifinalists, who will bowl 24 games of match play. The top five will compete for $18,000 first prize Sunday night.

Jennifer Klekamp, a Cincinnati amateur, is in fourth. She is only 40 pins off the lead. Klekamp is trying to become the first amateur to win the Open.

Another amateur with a chance to make the match play is national amateur champion Julie Gardner of Huntington Beach. She is 16th.