With one round remaining,
Dean Richards of Tacoma, Wash., moved into the men's overall lead, while
Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., continued to stay ahead of the women Thursday at the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials. Johnson continued to cruise with an overall lead of nearly 200 pins, finishing with a 27-game total of 6,112, an average of 226.37. Richards, meanwhile, jumped from second to first with a total of 6,146, an average of 227.63, at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center.
Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Cassidy Schaub of Polk, Ohio, emerged as the champions Friday at the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials after a 36-game marathon put their skills to the test. Johnson led from Game 1 all the way until the end, concluding the tournament with 7,959 (221.08 average), while Schaub, a left-hander who uses a two-handed approach, topped the men's field with 8,192 (227.56 average) at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center. The top three men and top three women in the final standings earned automatic spots on Team USA for 2009. 
David Haynes (l.) of Las Vegas may have bowled his way into the overall men's lead at the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials on Wednesday, but he said a lot of the credit belongs to his wife. Haynes, a nine-time Team USA member, has flourished after his wife, Dotty, offered some criticism and coaching leading up to the Team USA Trials at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center. Liz Johnson (r.) of Cheektowaga, N.Y., continued to dominate the women's division. 
Brett Cunningham of Clay, N.Y., figured if he can't even beat one of his collegiate teammates on a regular basis, his chances of topping an elite field at the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials were slim. Cunningham not only beat his Lindenwood University teammate Dean Richards on Tuesday, but led the men's field after the opening Round of the Team USA Trials at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center. Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., leads the women's division.
Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, admits she was more than a bit disappointed when her name wasn't on the list of players recently selected to join Team USA in 2009. Starting Tuesday, she has a shot to prove she was worthy of being picked. O'Keefe will headline a field of some of the best amateur and professional bowlers in the country at the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials, which will be conducted Dec. 16-19 at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
