BIG SCORES THIS WEEKEND AT STORM
BOWLERS JOURNAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

For 64 years, the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, has complimented the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as the ultimate warm-up for bowlers before they compete under the bright lights and custom scoreboards of the main event.

Bryan O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, stopped at the Bowlers Journal Championships for a tune-up this week and rolled the highest individual set on the tournament lanes since the event changed to a four-game format in 2006.

O'Keefe posted games of 275, 286, 258 and 235 for a 1,054 total and teamed up with Chris Viale of Westfield, Mass., to move into second place in Open Doubles with a 1,932 total. Viale contributed 213, 289, 189 and 187 for an 878 set. Erik Vermilyea of Mansfield, Texas, and Anthony LaCaze of Melrose Park, Ill., lead with 1,972.

Chad Maas of Brookfield, Wis., previously held the four-game record with 1,045, which he shot on the way to the Classic Singles title in 2008. Unfortunately for O'Keefe, he will not be celebrating singles glory of his own after neglecting to take advantage of the tournament's Dual Entry feature, which allows bowlers to count their four-game totals for doubles and singles at the same time.

"I honestly just forgot about it," said O'Keefe, who shared the 1996 Classic Singles title with Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association champion Robert Smith. "After I got done bowling my first doubles set, I just paid my entry for the next set and didn't think about it. I have won the event before, and to win it twice would have been awesome. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about it now."

In their second game, O'Keefe and Viale both tossed 10 consecutive strikes and combined to shoot 575. Not to be outdone, O'Keefe's wife, Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe, struck 11 times on the way to a 295 game.

"Chris and I both started with a spare in the first frame," said O'Keefe, who made his first Bowlers Journal Championships appearance in 1994. "We got to the last ball of the 10th frame and I left a 2-4-8-10, while Chris left a 10 pin. My wife, Shannon, started with the first 11 strikes, but the last ball was a little wide, and she left a washout for 295."

O'Keefe's experience and knowledge as a USBC Coaching Specialist helped him realize what was happening on the lanes and what he needed to do to succeed.

"During practice, I saw there was a little more hook, so I made a move left," said O'Keefe, who finished third in Regular Doubles at the 2009 USBC Open Championships. "During the second game, we went back to the pair that I started on in my previous set, and I knew that one lane was tighter. Then, I shot 286, and it just went on from there. The lanes were playable, and it helped that the three other people on my pair were playing in the same area. It is cool to know that is the highest four-game set ever."

O'Keefe, who entered the 2010 Open Championships with a career average of 213 through 16 years, shot 638 in singles, 600 in team and 547 in doubles for a 1,785 all-events total. Shannon O'Keefe rounded out her second tournament appearance with 710 in team, 623 in doubles and 604 in singles for 1,937. Their team, Cambridge 1 of Feeding Hills, Mass., is seventh in Regular Team with 3,217. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.

Mike Tryniski of Fulton, N.Y., also found success at the Bowlers Journal this weekend as he posted the second perfect game of this year's event. LaCaze rolled the other.

The accomplished right-hander already owns a 300 game and 800 series at the Bowlers Journal, and his efforts this weekend helped him into eighth place in Classic Singles with 890 (194, 300, 214, 183). Jeffrey Mersch of Orlando, Fla., leads with 970.

"It felt good," Tryniski said. "After the first game, I moved a little left and was able to roll the ball a little bit more. I also was able to hook the ball a little more, and I ended up shooting 300."

Each year, Tryniski, 49, looks at the Bowlers Journal Championships as an opportunity.

"It's another opportunity to compete," said Tryniski, who owns Lakeview Lanes in Fulton, N.Y. "Usually, the shot is different, and it's a way for bowlers to get loose. Our group has had some past winners, and we look forward to bowling with each other with another chance to make money."

Two of those past winners are Joe Petrowski of East Syracuse, N.Y., and Art Alexander III of Baldwinsville, N.Y., who won Open Doubles in 2006. Petrowski also looks forward to the Bowlers Journal every year.

"I like how all 10 guys can be involved," Petrowski said. "We all bowl with each other for doubles, and it gives everyone an opportunity to compete and cash with each other."

Tryniski also has a track record of success at the Open Championships with a 300 game at the 1993 event in Tulsa, Okla., and Regular Doubles and Team All-Events titles a year later in Mobile, Ala. He and his Lakeview Lanes teammates made a run at the Regular Team lead at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday night.

The group put together games of 1,024, 1,213 and 1,076, but fell short and settled into second place with 3,313.

Petrowski led the way with a 726 series and was followed by Alexander (690), Tryniski (657), Dean Distin (626) and Ray Cyr Jr. (614).

Their companion team, Ray Cyr's Pro Shop of Baldwinsville, N.Y., also bowled well and moved into fifth place in Regular Team with 3,248.

Joe Conti Jr. of Liverpool, N.Y., the Open Singles champion at last year's Bowlers Journal event, led the way for Ray Cyr's Pro Shop on Sunday with a 697 series and was followed by Larry Porter (660), Matt Chetney (639), Michael Carno (633) and Joseph Losurdo (619).

This year's Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.

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

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

2010 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At National Bowling Stadium, Reno, Nev.
(Top 10 division leaders with hometowns and pinfalls)

REGULAR DIVISION

Team

1, Bowlers Edge Pro Shop (Brad Kuhr, Timothy Rice, Dan Paul, Kenny Kempf, Jason Wendt), Neenah, Wis., 3,408. 2, Lakeview Lanes, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,313. 3, Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1, Madison, Wis., 3,298. 4, Red Carpet Lanes, Greenfield, Wis., 3,250. 5, Ray Cyr's Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,248. 6, Up An Adam, Coral Springs, Fla., 3,247. 7, Cambridge 1, Feeding Hills, Mass., 3,217. 8, Rob Bailey's Pro Shop 1, Sun Prairie, Wis., 3,202. 9, Larry's Precision Pro Shop, Cape Coral, Fla., 3,190. 10, Living Water Pools 2, Piedmont, Okla., 3,176.

Doubles

1, Jeffrey Mersch, Orlando, Fla./Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 1,507. 2, Tom Milton, St. Petersburg, Fla./David Taylor, Seminole, Fla., 1,498. 3, Jeff Nimke, Oshkosh, Wis./Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 1,480. 4, Kenneth Stephens, Frankfort, Ky./Randall Montoya, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,434. 5 (tie), Terry Hall, Rocklin, Calif./Andrew Udahl, Elk Grove, Calif., and Scott Helm, Hartford, Wis./Dave Beres, Greenfield, Wis., 1,421. 7, Mandy Wilson, Dayton, Ohio/Douglas Stone, Troy, Ohio, 1,419. 8, Art Alexander III/Matt Chetney, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 1,416. 9 (tie), Jason Hale, Des Moines, Iowa/Matt Smith, Altoona, Iowa, and Lana Schwab, Lake Villa, Ill./Davey Rosen, Northbrook, Ill., 1,411.

Singles

1, Terrence Syring, Bay City, Mich., 833. 2, Jimmy Johnson, Pataskala, Ohio, 804. 3, Dan Gould, East Hampton, Mass., 783. 4, Richard Brooks, Versailles, Conn., 767. 5, Barry Zimmerman, Grand Forks, N.D., 766. 6, George Kontos, Joliet, Ill., 760. 7, Christopher Webb, Racine, Wis., 755. 8. Jimmy Hilligas, Kettering, Ohio, 749. 9, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 748. 10, Larry Thompson Jr., Spring, Texas, 742.

All-Events

1, Terrence Syring, Bay City, Mich., 2,155. 2, Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 2,141. 3, Jeffrey Mersch, Orlando, Fla., 2,112. 4, Jimmy Johnson, Pataskala, Ohio, 2,108. 5, Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 2,104. 6, Robert Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb., 2,096. 7, Shannon Pluhowsky, Phoenix, 2,083. 8 (tie), Matt Smith, Altoona, Iowa, George Kontos Joliet, Ill., and Andy Blasdell, Jamestown, N.Y., 2,073.

Team All-Events

1, Red Carpet Lanes (Jeff Nimke, Scott Helm, Steve Brinkman, Chad Maas, Dave Beres), Greenfield, Wis, 10,131. 2, Junior Team USA Support, Orlando, Fla., 9,893. 3, Don Johnson Memorial, Shepherdsville, Ky., 9,813. 4, Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1, Madison, Wis., 9,609. 5, Bluebird Lanes, Orland Park, Ill., 9,602. 6, Professional Image Center 1, Coffeyville, Kan., 9,599. 7, Linds Limited, Milwaukee, 9,598. 8, Design Wizards, Mandan, N.D., 9,578. 9, Janzs H I, Beaver Dam, Wis., 9,506. 10, Plaza Lanes, Washington, Ill., 9,468.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION

Team

1, Huikko's Bowling Center 3 (Pam Strong, Ronda Bauman, Jeanne Schmid, Jeffrey Schmid, Dale Bauman), Buffalo, Minn., 2,730. 2, EWI/NPS/Denny's, Mentor, Ohio, 2,699. 3, Wothe Bait 1, Perham, Minn., 2,684. 4, Garden Center Lanes 2, Alexandria, Minn., 2,683. 5, Garden Center Lanes 3, Alexandria, Minn., 2,663. 6, Sportsman Bowling Club 5, Moreno Valley, Calif., 2,662. 7, Paradise Lanes, Walden, Colo., 2,648. 8, Red Carpet, West Union, Minn., 2,627. 9, Roadrunners, Las Cruces, N.M., 2,604. 10, Whitlow Furnace, Scobey, Mont., 2,602.

Doubles

1, Tyson Sims/Scott Wilcox, Georgetown, Idaho, 1,182. 2, John Bishop/Dan Mosteller, Tooele, Utah, 1,175. 3, Wayne Doney, Lamar, Colo./Jim Matusek, Hartland, Wis., 1,174. 4, Pat Fitzgibbons, Colorado Springs, Colo./Pete Fitzgibbons, Goodland, Kan., 1,173. 5, Chris Nugent, Mays Landing, N.J./Jason Campbell, Galloway, N.J., 1,171. 6, Greg Allen/Stacey Bauer, Ogallala, Neb., 1,166. 7, Joe McKee/Mark Nalan, Sheffield, Iowa, 1,155. 8, Walter Cook, Inverness, Fla./Stephen Liik, Homosassa, Fla., 1,153. 9, Holly Ventura, Harwood Heights, Ill./Bob Zurek, River Grove, Ill., 1,149. 10, Delmar Brownell/Dale Brownell, Spearfish, S.D., 1,148.

Singles

1, David Garcez, Merced, Calif., 669. 2, Blake Sandidge, Lead, S.D., 653. 3, Mark Plute, Montrose, Colo., 644. 4, Curt VanLaningham, Ogallala, Neb., 624. 5, Dan Dahlquist, Wheaton, Ill., 622. 6, Terrance Hall, Spanish Fork, Utah, 620. 7, Ryan Goettsch, Galva, Iowa, 618. 8, Ryan Burmester, Chandler, Ariz., 615. 9, Flor Crowley, Oxnard, Calif., 611. 10, Preston Cheeks, Brooklyn, N.Y., 609.

All-Events

1, Steve Miller, Roanoke, Ill., 1,775. 2, Richard Eisenhut, Downers Grove, Ill., 1,766. 3, Harry Berg, Eau Claire, Wis., 1,743. 4, Paul Daniels, Bonner, Mont., 1,739. 5, Jake Acuna, Pocatello, Idaho, 1,736. 6, John Stolarski, Waterford, Mich., 1,733. 7 (tie), Tom Sellers, Barstow, Calif., and Douglas Drake, Princeton, Ill., 1,732. 9, Thomas Robinett, Mishawaka, Ind., 1,727. 10, Preston Cheeks, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,721.


2010 STORM BOWLERS JOURNAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, presented by USBC
At Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.
(Top 10 division leaders with hometowns and pinfalls)

Open Singles

1, Pat McGainey Jr., Baltimore, 976. 2, Matthew DeLong, Frewsburg, N.Y., 946. 3, Art Alexander III, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 943. 4, Steve Novak, Bay City, Mich., 940. 5, Matt Smallin, Minot, N.D., 937. 6 (tie), Jeff Wadsworth, Lakewood, N.Y., and Corey Slater, Syracuse, N.Y., 929. 8, Derek Magno, Liverpool, N.Y., 920. 9, Doug McHugh, Huron, S.D., 917. 10, Greg Derrick, Keller, Texas, 908.

205 & Under Singles

1, Brian Egan, Stoughton, Mass., 841. 2, Anthony Crews, Sebring, Fla., 821. 3, James Pavek, Fort Collins, Colo., 813. 4, Tom Prisco, Levittown, N.Y., 801. 5, Paul Morano, Iowa City, Iowa, 799. 6, Randy Shierling, Rochester, N.Y., 791. 7, Daryl Wasmund, Huron, S.D., 786. 8, Francis Allard, Grand Forks, Md., 783. 9, Michael McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 778. 10, Jason Locken, Bismarck, N.D., 775.

Senior Singles

1, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas, 927. 2, Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash., 923. 3 (tie), Harry Mickelson, Yakima, Wash., and Jim Kutter, Lidgermood, N.D., 903. 5, Steve Wright, Cypres, Texas, 884. 6 (tie), Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., and Phil Mann, Hazen, N.D., 874. 8, Gerald Numes, Davis, Calif., 869. 9, James Kent, Yakima, Wash., 858. 10, Dan Stricker, San Diego, 856.

Classic Singles

1, Jeffrey Mersch, Orlando, Fla., 970. 2, Michael Remaklus, Florissant, Mo., 962. 3, Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 952. 4, John Losito, Lincoln, Neb., 943. 5, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 941. 6, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 931. 7, Randy Wilson Jr., Lincoln, Neb., 898. 8, Mike Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 890. 9, Steve Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y., 889. 10, Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 887.

180 & Under "Pins Over Average" Singles

1, Danne Showers, Scobey, Mont., +130. 2, Gerald Belle, Cink, Ohio, +103. 3, Steven Sprague Sr., Scobey, Mont., +98. 4, Rebecca Clarkson, Farr West, Utah, +92. 5, LaVonne Frampton, Soaplake, Wash., +77. 6, Bruce Reece, Osceola, Iowa, +72. 7, John Dorseth, Scobey, Mont., +49. 8, Roger Munson, Belmond, Iowa, +46. 9, Jay Clarkson, Farr West, Utah, +33. 10, James Lindenfelser, Erhand, Minn., +29.

Open Doubles

1, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill./Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 1,972. 2, Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas/Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 1,932. 3, Jim Mee, Jamestown, N.Y./Matt White, Warren, Pa., 1,832. 4, Joe Petrowski, East Syracuse, N.Y./Mike Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 1,829. 5, Travis Hersrud, Glyndon, Minn./Randy Peterson, Carrington, N.D., 1,814. 6, Rob Gotchall, Lincoln, Neb./Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 1,813. 7, T.J. Mento/Derek Magno, Liverpool, N.Y., 1,807. 8, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas/Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 1,796. 9, Steve Novak, Bay City, Mich./Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 1,790. 10, Derek Magno, Liverpool, N.Y./Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas, 1,785.

Senior Doubles

1, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas/Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 1,790. 2, Dan Kukuk/Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash., 1,764. 3, Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash./Mike McPherson, Colfax, Wash., 1,714. 4, Gerald Numes, Davis, Calif./Bill Nichols, Roseville, Calif., 1,710. 5, Harry Mickelson/James Kent, Yakima, Wash., 1,704. 6, Steve Wright, Cypress, Texas/Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas, 1,699. 7, Steve Slifka, Phoenix/Cliff Connors, Tempe, Ariz., 1,691. 8, Randy Peterson, Carrington, N.D./Phil Mann, Hazen, N.D., 1,653. 9, Steve Wright, Cypres, Texas/Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 1,645. 10, Phil Mann, Hazen, N.D./Gary Bryant, Regan, N.D., 1,621.

Mixed Doubles

1, Bryan O'Keefe/Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,645. 2, Janette Nevels, Universal City, Texas/Paul Smith, Universal City, Texas, 1,636. 3, Samantha Williams, Hunt Valley, Md./Dan Schaden Jr., Essex, Md., 1,630. 4, Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas/Jim Emens Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 1,610. 5, Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass./Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,554. 6, Patti Tenyenhuis, Saugerties, N.Y./Tim Beaver, Kingston, N.Y., 1,551. 7, Terry Zarcone/Mike Zarcone, Tonawanda, N.Y., 1,504. 8, Herb Van Gundy, San Antonio/Janette Nevels, Universal City, Texas, 1,477. 9, Joshua Kierpiec/Brianna Brockway, Aurora, Colo., 1,453. 10, Jill Croucher, Grants Pass, Ore./Mark Scime, Winter Garden, Fla., 1,407.

Dual Entry

1, Jeffrey Mersch, Orlando, Fla., 970. 2, Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 952. 3, John Losito, Lincoln, Neb., 943. 4, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 941. 5, Steve Novak, Bay City, Mich., 940. 6, Brian Himmler, Cincinnati, 931. 7, Corey Slater, Syracuse, N.Y., 929. 8, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas, 927. 9, Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash., 923. 10, Derek Magno, Liverpool, N.Y., 920.