BOWLING U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN : Sill, Johnson Move Past Barrette

The left-handed bowlers came to the fore Saturday in the BPAA U.S. Open at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley.

Right-handers had ruled this $100,000 marathon, but along came Aleta Sill of Dearborn, Mich., and Tish Johnson of Panorama City to take the lead from Leanne Barrette, now in third after 48 games.

Sill is 1,284 pins over a 200 average, with a 10,884 total pinfall. Johnson is 1,132 over with 10,732 total. Barrett is 1,062 over the 200-average benchmark, with 10,662 pins overall.

They will lead the 24 semifinalists into the last eight games of match play at 10 a.m. today to determine the five finalists for the nationally televised rolloff at 9 tonight.

Morning play looms as a scramble, particularly for the fourth and fifth spots now occupied by Australian Carol Gianotti and Wendy Macpherson of Las Vegas.

Still very much in contention are Southern Californians Donna Adamek, defending champion Anne Marie Duggan, amateur Julie Gardner and Stacy Rider.

Sill, 29, is seeking her 18th title in 12 years of pro bowling.

Johnson, the 1990 Bowler of the Year, has 13 titles.

Both Sill and Johnson, only two of three left-handers in the semifinals, said their side of the lanes at Fountain Valley yields better scores than a year ago when “when we had no shot at all.”

Bonnie Zitek, BPAA tournament director, said the tournament lanes meet conditions as specified under the New System of Bowling.