BOWLING U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN : Barrette Has Lead Over Macpherson

Bowler Leanne Barrette is back in a familiar position: in the lead of the BPAA U.S. Open.

She passed Wendy Macpherson on her 31st and 32nd games with a 257 and 241 Friday at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley for a 54-pin advantage.

The top 60 bowlers from an original field of 192 competed for 24 spots in the semifinals, which start today.

Is Barrette about to charge into another runaway to be the top-seeded bowler in Sunday’s title showdown?

“I won’t try to predict that at all,” said the Oklahoma City bowler, who was the runner-up a year ago. “I know I’m bowling good, but so are a lot of others.”

Carol Gianotti, Aleta Sill, Tish Johnson and defending champion Anne Marie Duggan survived the cut. So did Nikki Gianulias, Patty Ann, Donna Adamek, Lorrie Nichols, Jeanne Maiden, Cheryl Daniels and Lisa Wagner, all champion pros.

It sets up an all-star field to bowl the 24-game round-robin semifinals in which each match victory earns a bonus of 30 pins.

Still in the hunt in 16th is Julie Gardner of Huntington Beach, the national amateur champion. So are Stacy Rider and Char Ford, also from Southern California.

Barrette received an ovation from her peers Friday night when she was presented the 1991 Bowler of the Year trophy from the Bowling Writers Assn. of America. The award annually honors the best woman bowler in the world.

The BPAA Amateur Consolation title for nonpros failing to make the semifinals went to Nancy Ennis of Concord. She defeated Shari Meredith of Louisville in a two-frame rolloff after tying at 213.