Wednesday, May 1, 2019

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS WEEKLY GLANCE
(For April 24 - April 30, 2019)

Two bowlers celebrate 50 years at USBC Open Championships
Joseph Mortellaro of Corfu, New York, and Jack Giesfeldt of West Milwaukee, Wisconsin, became the latest members of the 50-Year Club at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Mortellaro, an 82-year-old right-hander, who has had to overcome a heart attack, knee replacement and shoulder surgery over the last 15 years, made his milestone march to the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas on April 26.
His tournament career began at the 1956 event in Rochester, New York, and in 50 years on the biggest stage in bowling, he has knocked down 80,985 pins for a 184.9 career average.
Mortellaro's 2019 performance included sets of 428 in doubles, 340 in team and 302 in singles for a 1,074 all-events total.
Giesfeldt's Open Championships debut came almost a decade after Mortellaro at the 1965 tournament in St. Paul, Minnesota. Though he didn't return until 1971, he hasn't missed a tournament since. He attributes his longevity in the sport to health and commitment.
Giesfeldt, a 74-year-old right-hander, celebrated his 50th appearance April 28, alongside his son, Perry, and daughter, Teri. For many years, the event for Giesfeldt has been about the camaraderie and opportunity to see different host cities.
On the lanes this year in Las Vegas, he rolled sets of 519 in singles, 477 in team and 432 in doubles for a 1,428 all-events total. In 50 Open Championships appearances, he has toppled 77,532 pins for a career average of 175.8.
Mortellaro and Giesfeldt each received a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the 50-year milestone.
They are two of 23 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation in 2019.
Texas bowler leads Classified Singles at South Point Bowling Plaza
Charles Vo of Sugar Land, Texas, hit the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza for his 10th consecutive appearance at the USBC Open Championships and left with the lead in Classified Singles.
The 35-year-old right-hander took the lead April 26 with a 644 series, the best set of his Open Championships career. The performance included games of 236, 178 and 230. Bill Vianco of Delphi, Indiana, previously held the lead with 638.  
Vo had a 453 series in team and a 479 effort in doubles, before things fell into place at the Bowling Plaza. He was able to surpass his previous high series of 584, rolled during singles at the 2015 event in El Paso, Texas.
Vo finished his milestone Open Championships campaign with a 1,576 all-events total. Larry Meyers of Renwick, Iowa, leads Classified All-Events this year with 1,707.
The Classified Division is for bowlers with entering tournament averages of 155 and below.
Iowa bowler shoots 300 at 2019 Bowlers Journal Championships
Dave Metzler of North Liberty, Iowa, rolled the third perfect game of the year at the 2019 Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC.
The 300 came as part of a 618 series April 28 at the South Point Bowling Center, a short walk from the South Point Bowling Plaza, home of the 2019 USBC Open Championships.
The Bowlers Journal Championships is being held in conjunction with the world's largest participatory sporting event for the 73rd year.
The oil pattern being used at the Bowlers Journal is the same one competitors are facing during doubles and singles at the Open Championships.
Metzler's 300 is the latest addition to his list of accomplishments, which includes a runner-up finish at the 1993 Petersen Classic and a top-10 finish in The Forty Frame Game.

A look ahead
Seven bowlers are scheduled to reach milestones this week at the USBC Open Championships.
Frank Clay of Crystal Lake, Illinois, will headline the list, as he becomes the 13th bowler in history to reach 65 years of participation on the tournament lanes. He'll be recognized for his longevity before the 7 p.m. (10 p.m. Eastern) team squad May 4.
Mac Segar of Osprey, Florida, and Michael Wiser of Grand Blanc, Michigan, will add their names to the short list of bowlers who have notched 55 appearances at the Open Championships.
Segar's milestone appearance will come May 1 at 11 a.m. (2 p.m. Eastern), and Wiser will take to the lanes at South Point on May 1 at 7 p.m. (10 p.m. Eastern).
Ronald Miller of Mount Morris, Michigan, John Vorpagel of Sterling Heights, Michigan, Dwight Henry of Wichita, Kansas, and Jay Joyner of Minneapolis all will celebrate 50 years of tournament participation.
Miller will hit the lanes May 1 (10 p.m. Eastern), Vorpagel will bowl May 2 (10 p.m. Eastern) and Henry and Joyner both will take their places in tournament history May 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern and 10 p.m. Eastern, respectively.
In addition to longevity, the week also will feature a celebration of success, as the 2018 Team All-Events champions return to the Open Championships.
The members of Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wisconsin, claimed the Team All-Events last year in Syracuse, New York, with a 10,252 total.
The defending champions will be on the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza on May 6-7.
For more information on the Open Championships, visit BOWL.com/OpenChamp.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USBC conducts championship events nationwide including the largest participation sporting events in the world - the USBC Open and Women's Championships - and professional events such as the USBC Masters and USBC Queens.
Founded in 1895, today USBC and its 1,638 state and local associations proudly serve more than a million members. USBC is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, working toward a future for the sport. The online home for USBC is BOWL.com.
2019 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of April 30, 2019
REGULAR DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 876 and above)

1, S and B Pro Shop 1 (Bill Orlikowski, Ryan Mouw, Andrew Burke, Kerry Kreft, Kurt Pilon) Warren, Mich., 3,254. 2, Mento Produce, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,204. 3, Coach K Scholarship, Pleasant View, Utah, 3,199. 4, Bergie's Pro Shop 2, Alexandria, Minn., 3,180. 5, EWASHMAN, Yakima, Wash., 3,179. 6, Kegel Productions 1, Weed, Calif., 3,160. 7, Enhance This 2, Allen, Texas, 3,157. 8, Schemm Bowling Inc., Waunakee, Wis., 3,141. 9, Bad Ball!-Red, Clive, Iowa, 3,126. 10, Huskers 1, DeForest, Wis., 3,118.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 351 and above)

1, Cotie Holbek, Burlington, Wis./Steven Fisher, Winthrop Harbor, Ill., 1,478. 2, Lawrence Porter, Whitesboro, N.Y./Art Anderson, North Syracuse, N.Y., 1,423. 3, Joseph Conti, Liverpool, N.Y./Derek Magno, Cicero, N.Y., 1,404. 4, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif./Robert Huckaby, Santa Cruz, Calif., 1,392. 5, Dan Vick, Pittsford, N.Y./David Gerhart, Mount Joy, Pa., 1,390. 6, Will Barnes, Wichita, Kan./Geoffrey Young, Roanoke, Texas, 1,384. 7, Todd Sigeti, Lititz, Pa./Connor Harrington, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,376. 8, William Kazmierski, Pinconning, Mich./Jeffrey Grego, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1,375. 9, Curtis Woods, Santa Rosa, Calif./Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., 1,367. 10, Steve Jakubowski, Temperance, Mich./Chad Rieger, Sylvania, Ohio, 1,358.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)

1, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif., 803. 2, Ryan Mouw, Muskegon, Mich., 802. 3, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 800. 4, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 792. 5, Greg Engelkes, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 772. 6, Jason Price, Shakopee, Minn., 767. 7, Joseph Conti, Liverpool, N.Y., 764. 8, Warren Meyer, Melbourne, Fla., 761. 9, Larry Walker, Somerset, N.J., 758. 10, Jason Zook, Tampa, Fla., 755.
All-Events
(Averages of 176 and above)

1, Ryan Mouw, Muskegon, Mich., 2,156. 2, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 2,151. 3, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 2,150. 4, Derek Magno, Cicero, N.Y., 2,142. 5, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif., 2,128. 6, Daniel Vick, Pittsford, New York, 2,122. 7, Joseph Conti, Liverpool, N.Y., 2,084. 8, Charlie Esteban, San Francisco, 2,071. 9, Robert Gotchall, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,070. 10, Clark Frison, Loveland, Colo., 2,058.
Team All-Events
(Combined all-events totals of all five team members)

1, Mento Produce (Anthony Pepe, Travis Mento, Steve Meyer, Derek Magno, Joseph Conti), Syracuse, N.Y., 9,983. 2, S and B Pro Shop 1, Warren, Mich., 9,967. 3, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 9,709. 4, Shady Unicorns, Chula Vista, Calif., 9,575. 5, Huskers 1, DeForest, Wis., 9,555. 6, Enhance This 2, Allen, Texas, 9,550. 7, Coach K Scholarship, Pleasant View, Utah, 9.519. 8, Eduardo Astiazaran Team 1, Tucson, Ariz., 9,492. 9, 5 ICT Bowlers, Johnston, Iowa, 9,490. 10, Lakeview Lanes 1, Syracuse, N.Y., 9,466.
STANDARD DIVISION    
Team
(Combined averages of 776-875)

1, Shawn Blanton Team 2 (Chris Strehl, Shawn Blanton, Andrew Dill, John Leonard, Davey Murphy), Owensboro, Ky, 2,870. 2, Steve Austin Team 1, Sparta, Mich., 2,864. 3, Schliep Consulting LLC, Shakopee, Minn., 2,849. 4, WALCO 1, Kalona, Iowa, 2,848. 5, Just One More, Sunnyside, Wash., 2,825. 6, Brucker Funeral Home, Newark, Ohio, 2,823. 7, Surdyks Decorating, Sussex, Wis., 2,820. 8, Alyson's Five, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2,813. 9, ESTA Dragstrip, Syracuse, N.Y., 2,797. 10, Dilly Dilly, Charles Town, W.Va., 2,787.
Doubles
(Combined Averages of 311-350)

1, Todd Reno, Lemont, Ill./Robert Riley, Plainfield, Ill., 1,270. 2, Jeff Schott/Tyler Shellabarger, Celina, Ohio, 1,248. 3, Mitchell Scheller/David Scheller, Mount Olive, Ill., 1,230. 4, Paul Spiotta/Greg Wolff, Batavia, N.Y., 1,225. 5(tie), Caroline Pirkola/Joshua Kurdziel, Appleton, Wis., Steve Reyna/Jordyn Johnson, Lincoln, Neb., and Colin Alexander, Palm Harbor, Fla./Scott Alexander, Stamford, Conn., 1,220. 8(tie), Scott Fitzhugh, Cambridge, Md./Martin Vitelli, Princess Anne, Md., and Daniel Lilly/Matthew Jaramillo, Henderson, Nev., 1,217. 10, Bryan Mose/Jon Kelley, Kokomo, Ind., 1,211.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)

1, Andrew Leppen, Amherst Junction, Mich., 679. 2, Dale Storm, St. Charles, Minn., 678. 3, Monty Hansen, Sterling Heights, Mich., 676. 4, Dan Krostal, Waukegan, Ill., 673. 5(tie), Richard Yuhnke, Chico, Calif., Richard Sprecht, Epworth, Iowa, Daniel Hangman, Omaha, Neb., and Adam Norton, Omaha Neb., 667. 9(tie), Jeffrey Isenburg, Saybrook, Ill., David Reutener, Elyira, Ohio, and Danny Wood, Beaverton, Mich., 665.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)

1, Vicente Ada, Bellmawr, N.J., 1,873. 2, David Hill, Bellevue, Neb., 1,817. 3, Trestian Siemering, Norfolk, Neb., 1,812. 4(tie), Kevin Paulson, Glen Ellyn, Ill., and Colin Dall, Souix Falls, Iowa, 1,800. 6, Paul Mooney, Sandy Springs, Ga., 1,799. 7, Chad Oltmann, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1,796. 8(tie), John Slott, Comstock Park, Mich., and Marc Beichey, Northampton, Pa., 1,786. 10(tie), Noah Nissen, Lidgerwood, N.D., Dennis Drescher, Fort Worth, Texas, and Dustin Robles, East Grand Forks, Minn., 1,782.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 775 and below)

1, Lynn Christianson Team 1 (Doug Fugleberg, Corey Hanson, Ricky Crane, Jody Bueng, Lynn Christianson), Twin Valley, Minn., 2,624. 2, Romano's "B" Team, Essington, Pa., 2,589. 3, Roy Allen Team 2, Springfield, Mo., 2,580. 4, High Rollers, Baton Rouge, La., 2,557. 5, The Bowlers Store 1, Dayton, Ohio, 2,533. 6, Greater Toronto Ten Pin, Toronto, 2,501. 7, Woodshed Pizza, Winona, Wis., 2,498. 8, Mel'ody Lanes, Montevideo, Minn., 2,483. 9(tie), Galvan Electric, Grand Island, Neb., and Blohdorn Lumber, Alliance, Neb., 2,481.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)

1, Kevin Graham, Fairfield, Conn./Anthony Merritt, Naugatuck, Conn., 1,133. 2, Erik Koteles, Madison, Wis./Michael Henes, Cottage Grove, Wis., 1,117. 3, Jennifer Prokopinski, Chippewa Falls, Wis./Lori Stuart, Fall Creek, Wis., 1,114. 4, Charles Hurst, Julesburg, Colo./Matthew Walters, Englewood, Ohio, 1,103. 5, Mare Byres, Rio Rancho, N.M./Linda Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,100. 6, Ronald Shelton, Waukon, Neb./Michael Rediske Hokah, Minn., 1,097. 7, Matthew Cooper/J. Wayne Cooper, Denton, Texas, 1,093. 8, Herman Glenn/Larry Klemme, Lake Wales, Fla., 1,090. 9, Donald Mueller/Tammy Mueller, Auburn, Mich., 1,086. 10, Chris Hallman, Bayard, Neb./Donald Hickox, Gering, Neb., 1084.
Singles
(Averages of 155 and below)

1, Charles Vo, Sugar Land, Texas, 644. 2, Bill Vianco, Delphi, Ind., 638. 3, Robert McKinzie, Liberty, Mo., 624. 4(tie), Derek Hopson, Belleville, N.J., and Larry Meyers, Renwick, Iowa, 612. 6(tie), Jennifer Prokopinski, Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Patricia Franklin, Elizabethtown, Ind., 609. 8, Paul Westerhold, La Habra, Calif., 606. 9, Christina Hutchinson, Elgin, Minn., 605. 10, Stevan Kemp, San Marcos, Calif., 604.
All Events
(Averages of 155 and below)

1, Larry Meyers, Renwick, Iowa, 1,707. 2, Derek Hopson, Belleville, N.J., 1,687. 3, Wesley Straight, Cooperstown, N.D., 1,673. 4, Brian Whited, Cave Creek, Ariz., 1,668. 5, Jeremy McGill, Louisville, Ky., 1,667. 6, Bill Vianco, Delphi, Ind., 1,657. 7, Chris Johnson, Lincoln, Neb., 1,650. 8, Brian Haendel, Horicon, Wis., 1,647. 9, Stevan Kemp, San Marcos, Calif., 1,644. 10(tie), Sean Tennison, Adrian, Mich., and Jody Bueng, Ada, Minn., 1,636.

No comments: