Liz Johnson Makes Triumphant Senior Queens Debut, Wins 2025 USBC Title

Introduction

Bowling legend and United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Hall of Famer Liz Johnson has once again proven her place among the sport’s elite. In her debut appearance at the 2025 USBC Senior Queens, held at Sam’s Town Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Johnson delivered a stellar performance that culminated in a 243-185 victory over Rina Sabo of Bennett, Colorado, securing her first Senior Queens title. The win not only marked an emphatic entrance into the senior division but also placed Johnson in an exclusive club of bowlers who have won both the USBC Queens and Senior Queens titles.

Main Body

A Career Milestone in a Storied Legacy

Liz Johnson is no stranger to championship success. With numerous titles and accolades throughout her career, including multiple USBC Queens titles and major victories on the PWBA Tour, Johnson’s debut at the Senior Queens was highly anticipated. Her path to victory was marked by confidence, consistency, and the kind of clutch performance that has defined her bowling legacy.

From the very beginning of the tournament, Johnson looked poised for greatness. After 15 games of qualifying, she emerged as the No. 1 seed, earning the top spot in the double-elimination match-play bracket. Not only did she avoid a single loss through the match-play rounds, but she also maintained her top-seeded position heading into the stepladder finals, held on Sunday.

What made this victory particularly significant was Johnson’s historical accomplishment. By winning the Senior Queens, she became just the third bowler in history—alongside Sandra Postma and Anne Marie Duggan—to win both the USBC Queens and USBC Senior Queens titles, a feat that further cements her place in bowling history.

“That’s just crazy to me,” Johnson said after her win. “I remember growing up and dreaming of bowling this event, this was one of my dream tournaments.”

Road to the Finals

The 2025 Senior Queens tournament began on April 9 and featured 92 talented competitors. Over three days, bowlers competed in three five-game qualifying blocks, after which the top 31 joined defending champion Kathy Ledford in the double-elimination match-play bracket.

The stepladder finals kicked off with a first-round match between Kathy Ledford of Boise, Idaho, and Canada’s Jill Friis. In a low-scoring but closely contested game, Ledford emerged victorious with a 172-166 win. Friis, who also finished fifth in the 2024 edition, earned $3,050 for her efforts.

Ledford then faced No. 3 seed Rina Sabo in the second stepladder match. Ledford was seeking to become the first back-to-back Senior Queens champion since Robin Romeo’s unprecedented three-year winning streak from 2014 to 2016. However, the magic ran out for the defending champ. Struggling to find her rhythm, Ledford managed only a 148 score, while Sabo surged ahead with a commanding 247. The result guaranteed a new champion would be crowned and left Ledford with a fourth-place finish and $4,000 in prize money.

Sabo advanced to the semifinal round to face the No. 2 seed, Jody Scheerer of Orlando, Florida. Scheerer, like Johnson, was also making her Senior Queens debut and had bowled consistently throughout the week to secure her high seeding. The semifinal was a tense battle, with neither competitor gaining a significant edge until the final frames. Key breaks allowed Sabo to pull ahead—she rolled the 2 pin forward in the eighth and tripped the 4 pin in the ninth—while Scheerer suffered from a stubborn 7 pin in the pocket during the ninth. A wrap 10 pin in the tenth sealed her fate, and Sabo moved on to the title match with a 213-188 win. Scheerer earned $5,000 for her third-place finish.

The Championship Showdown

By the time the championship match began, all eyes were on Johnson, who needed only one victory to secure the title. Sabo, coming off back-to-back wins in the stepladder, was looking to keep the momentum alive and cap her tournament with an upset victory.

However, Johnson had other plans. From the outset, she was locked in, striking seven times in the first eight frames and maintaining a clean game throughout. Her powerful, precise shots kept the pressure on Sabo, who struggled to carry corner pins and fell behind early. With the match effectively out of reach by the ninth frame, Johnson made her final statement with three strikes in the tenth to seal a 243-185 victory.

Sabo, who finished in a tie for 13th place in the 2024 Senior Queens, took home $6,200 for her impressive runner-up finish. Johnson, on the other hand, earned $8,000 in prize money, as well as the event’s coveted trophy and tiara, adding yet another milestone to her legendary career.

“I’m so glad that the event was at Sam’s Town this year, it was special to win here,” said Johnson, reflecting on the venue that holds many cherished memories for her and many others in the bowling community.

Event Coverage and Legacy

The entire 2025 USBC Senior Queens tournament was broadcast live on BowlTV, providing fans with wall-to-wall coverage from the first qualifying round to the dramatic stepladder finals. Sam’s Town, a historic venue for many USBC events, once again served as a fitting stage for one of the most prestigious tournaments in senior women’s bowling.

Johnson’s victory not only highlights her personal excellence but also continues the rich tradition of the USBC Senior Queens, a tournament that celebrates skill, endurance, and the competitive spirit of senior bowlers. Her dominant performance serves as both inspiration and a new benchmark for future participants.

Conclusion

Liz Johnson’s debut at the USBC Senior Queens was nothing short of spectacular. By going undefeated through match play and dominating the championship match, she reaffirmed why she is considered one of the greatest bowlers in history. The win adds another chapter to her already legendary career and sets the tone for what could be a remarkable run in senior competition.

As fans look ahead to future events, Johnson’s success serves as a reminder that true champions never stop chasing greatness—no matter how many trophies are already in the case.

For full results and more details about the USBC Senior Queens, visit BOWL.com/seniorqueens.