AUBURN - In its first two days of match play, the women's portion of The Citizen Masters has produced great bowling. Indeed, the finals should be something to watch.

Joan Ashby, with second-place finishes four times over the years, is again bidding to win the event that has eluded her. She punched her ticket to the final weekend with a 671-537 victory over Patty Wright on Sunday at Starlite Lanes.

Patty Blowers, Becca O'Donnell and Amy Pidlypchak join the unbeaten Ashby in the winners' bracket. O'Donnell fired a blistering 694 to defeat Lorrie Bradtke's 546, while Pidlypchak outscored Sara Chalupnicki, 623-549, and Blowers slipped past Chick Pidlypchak, 550-492.

Angie Ryan and K.C. Lorey each won three matches Saturday to advance to the finals. Ryan got past Sharon Bennett (529-501), Cathy Streeter (590-558) and Jackie Gardner (663-660). Lorey first eliminated defending champion Denise Ryan, 525-518. She followed that with solid triumphs over Sharon Shoemaker (570-533) and Ann Crowley (607-533).

Other losers' bracket finalists are K.C. Lorey, Chalupnicki and Chick Pidlypchak.

Gardner entered play with one loss and had to be the hard-luck player of the day. She got off to a rocking start, defeating Kim Relfe, 647-640. It was Relfe's first 600 series, highlighted by a 248 game. Not to be outdone, Gardner fired a 289 single.

Gardner then beat Kira Mettler, 638-552, before losing the high-scoring affair with Ryan.

Chalupnicki reached the finals by edging Bradtke, 648-630.

Chick Pidlypchak, whose daughter Amy is in the winners' bracket, got past Wright, 581-524, to advance.

Ashby, 64, the tournament director, keeps putting herself in position to wear the crown. Last year she also entered the final weekend undefeated, but then lost two straight matches,

“I'll never throw in the towel,” she said at the time.

There is no reason to doubt her, but still, the road the championship won't be easy.

O'Donnell is eager to improve on her runner-up finish in 2006; Chalupnicki owns a potent game, as evidenced by a 300 earlier this season; and, Blowers has been consistent, with the ability to throw big scores. She rolled 648 and 613 on Saturday.

Or perhaps another challenger will surface. Clearly, each of the finalists is worthy.

Women's Citizen Masters

Starlite Lanes

11:00 a.m. Sunday

Losers' Bracket

Cathy Streeter 628 def. Shirley Potter 503

Angie Ryan 529 def. Sharon Bennett 501

Jackie Gardner 647 def. Kim Relfe 640

Kira Mettler 577 def. Alice Reed 492

K.C. Lorey 525 def. Denise Ryan 518

Sharon Shoemaker 683 def. Sharon Mills 461

Ann Crowley 577 def. Kelly Blaisdell 521

Ann Fenton 463 def. Marianne Viscardi 461

12:30 p.m.

Winners' Bracket

Amy Pidlypchak 623 def. Sara Chalupnicki 549

Becca O'Donnell 694 def. Lorrie Bradtke 546

Joan Ashby 671 def. Patty Wright 537

Patty Blowers 550 def. Chick Pidlypchak 492

Losers' Bracket

K.C. Lorey 570 def. Sharon Shoemaker 533

Ann Crowley 600 def. Ann Fenton 486

Angie Ryan 590 def. Cathy Streeter 558

Jackie Gardner 638 def. Kira Mettler 552

2:00 p.m.

Losers' Bracket

Angie Ryan 663 def. Jackie Gardner 660

K.C. Lorey 607 def. Ann Crowley 533

Sara Chalupnicki 648 def. Lorrie Bradtke 630

Chick Pidlypchak 581 def. Patty Wright 524

Cedar House Lanes

Noon Saturday

Winners' Bracket

Amy Pidlypchak vs. Becca O'Donnell

Joan Ashby vs. Patty Blowers

Losers' Bracket

Angie Ryan vs. K.C. Lorey

Sara Chalupnicki vs. Chick Pidlypchak

(Losers' Bracket squad follows at 1:30 p.m.)