Liz Johnson Takes Early Control at 2026 USBC Queens

Liz Johnson started the 2026 USBC Queens exactly where a Hall of Famer likes to be - at the top of the standings.

Less than a month after going back-to-back for the USBC Senior Queens title, Johnson led the opening day of qualifying in Las Vegas.

The 52-year-old finished the first five-game block with 1,248 total pins (247, 226, 226, 280 and 269), averaging 249.6. 

Johnson ended Day 1 with a 22-pin lead over Malaysia’s Syazwani Sahar, who finished second with 1,226. Colombia’s Juliana Botero was third with 1,225, Japan’s Chika Terashita followed in fourth with 1,217, and Carlene Beyer completed the top five with 1,207.

Taylor Bulthuis followed in sixth place with 1,203, while Alexis Runk finished seventh with 1,192. Stefanie Johnson took eighth with 1,188, Canada’s Christine Johnston was ninth with 1,187, and Erin McCarthy rounded out the top 10 with 1,180.

Defending champion Josie Barnes finished tied for 40th after the opening round with 1,112. Barnes is already guaranteed a place in match play as the defending champion, while the rest of the field must qualify through 15 games.

Full results of the 2026 USBC Queens qualifying after 5 games can be found here.

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Qualifying continues Friday with two more five-game blocks. B Squad will bowl at noon ET, while A Squad return at 4 p.m. ET.

After Saturday’s final qualifying block, the top 63 qualifiers will join Barnes in the double-elimination match-play bracket. Match play begins Sunday and will use three-game total-pinfall matches. The 2026 USBC Queens stepladder finals will air Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

The winner will claim the tiara and the $60,000 top prize.

All rounds before the televised finals will stream live on BowlTV.

2026 USBC Queens Oil Pattern