Fleming Takes 142-Pin Lead in Bowling

Rene Fleming of Oklahoma City, Okla., never looks at the scoreboard when she’s bowling and it worked to her advantage Tuesday.

While Michelle Mullen of Matteson, Ill., bowled a 300 game, two 280s and a 269, Fleming concentrated on her fundamentals and threw strikes in more games.

Fleming, a right-hander, averaged 231 a game to take a 142-pin lead over Paula Drake of Broken Arrow, Okla., in the Ladies Pro Bowlers tour $30,000 Canoga Park tournament.

“I don’t look at the scoreboard because I find it affects my form,” Fleming said. “I used to guide the ball more when I knew I was winning and overpowering it when I was losing. Now, I just bowl.”

Fleming went 12-3-1 in match play, earning 375 bonus points and has a 8,232 total. Drake is second at 8,090 and Mullen third with 8,048.