USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURNS
TO ALBUQUERQUE FOR SECOND TIME

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - After eight years, the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships is back at the Albuquerque Convention Center and kicked off Saturday as the first of 12,615 teams marched into the state-of-the-art tournament venue.

USBC Hall of Famers Bill Lillard and Jim Schroeder, dignitaries, sponsors, the Mariachi Tenampa band, the Laguna Pueblo Corn Dancers and 470 bowlers turned out for the opening-day festivities, which also included the traditional Mass Ball Shot, ribbon cutting and the crowning of "Joe Bowler."

Martin Vitelli of Princess Anne, Md., earned the distinction of Joe Bowler, a tradition that began in 1951, and rolled the ceremonial first ball, signifying the official start of the 2008 USBC Open Championships. The tournament will run for 143 consecutive days and more than 63,000 bowlers are scheduled to compete before the tournament concludes on July 7.

"At first I got real nervous, but now that our three games are over, I feel good because I like bowling a lot, and I'm willing to do anything I can to improve," said Vitelli, who made his third USBC Open Championships appearance and rolled a nine count to officially open the tournament. "I think bowling is a great American sport, one of the best that gets people involved."

The Open Championships first was held in Albuquerque in 2000, and 10,688 teams made the trip to the Land of Enchantment during the tournament's 129-day run. With nearly 2,000 more teams, this year's event will be the second largest outside of the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., and the seventh largest in 105 years of competition.


GEORGIA TEAM BACK ON TOP AT OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Following Saturday's opening ceremonies, 94 teams took to the lanes in search of Open Championships glory.

After the first day of bowling, Macanudos of Duluth, Ga., rolled into the top spot in Regular Team for the third time in four years, this time with 2,868. The group posted games of 937, 916 and 1,015 to set the bar with 142 days of competition remaining.

Dan Smith led the way with 645 and was followed by Chad Pierce (625), Randy Russell (606), USBC Hall of Famer Lisa Wagner (513) and Ed Ilano (479).

"We've all been coming for some time, but started coming the first weekend about three years ago and enjoy getting to see the ceremonies and 'Joe Bowler,' and everyone always has a good time," said Smith, a 59-year-old right-hander. "Our team really gets pumped for it, and we've had some success on the first weekend. It's something we look forward to."

Presenting sponsors for the 2008 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus Reno in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Roto Grip, official sponsor of the Roto Grip Sport Bowling Challenge; Isleta Casino & Resort; Santa Ana Star Casino, the official brackets sponsor; Rainbow Ryders, the exclusive hot air balloon company of the 2008 Open Championships; and Sandia Resort & Casino.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.

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