JOHNSSON ALMOST PERFECT

Helen Johnsson of Helsingborg, Sweden (pictured), thrilled the crowded concourse and fellow competitors on the early squad this morning with eleven strikes in a row during her bid for the tournament's first perfect game. Unfortunately, that vital twelfth strike was not to be, a stubborn 10-pin ruining her chance after a run of 17 strikes in a row.

"I thought that the final shot was OK," she said afterwards, "although it was just a little more inside and the ball didn't come back hard to the pocket."

"We changed balls after the second game," said Swedish coach Magnus Johnson. "Helen just wasn't getting the carry over the first two games. She hit a 259 with that so we stayed with the equipment through the rest of the games."

Johnsson bowled a six-game series of 1414  in this final qualifying squad and now awaits the results of the second shift to see her placing going into the last 24 group on Friday morning.

AND THE TOP SEED IS .................... LYNDA BARNES
High fives for Lynda Barnes of the United States with talented Team USA coach Jeri Edwards for a fantastic last qualifying block this morning and coming top of the field.

Her 1317 over the final six of the 24 qualifying games gives her a 166 pin advantage going into the top 24 competition on Friday morning, a buffer that should give her a clear top seed position for the quarterfinals on Saturday.

"It was a good day in the office again," Barnes joked after the battle. "The lanes played a little tighter for me today, so I didn't bowl as well as I should have. But every day is a learning day. I was pleased to hear that Helen Johnsson bowled a 299, but hope she doesn't bowl a 300 against me.

Husband Chris, a PBA professional bowler, had to pull out of the USBC Masters yesterday with a back injury. "I was sorry to hear that Chris is injured," said Lynda. "The news gave me a lot of motivation as I wanted to give him something positive to think about."

Lynda was a professional bowler for just over two years in 1999-2000 but now prefers to compete in amateur events. she recently won three gold, one silver and a bronze medal in the American Zone Championships in Costa Rica.

And now she's a big fan of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup as, "The people here are really happy to be here."

"Anyway," she added. "Chris makes the money and I get to bowl."

But for her two children she would bowl a lot more international events, but family ties are strong and home is where she likes to be.

LADIES STANDINGS AFTER 24 GAMES: