Thursday, June 6, 2019


OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS WEEKLY GLANCE
(For May 29 - June 4, 2019)
Texas bowler rolls perfect game at 2019 USBC Open Championships
Bryan Ellis of Quinlan, Texas, is no stranger to the spotlight at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, though 13 years passed between visits.
This year, Ellis was able to finish a job he started in 2006, as he shot the ninth perfect game of the 2019 USBC Open Championships in his first game of singles May 30 at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
At the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, he started his tournament campaign with a 299 game, leaving a 4 pin on his final shot.
"I struggled a bit in doubles, so at the start of singles, I made a move and switched to a different bowling ball," said Ellis, who made his 12th tournament appearance this year in Las Vegas and added games of 165 and 195 for a career-best 660 singles series. "Suddenly, I had a good look."
The 47-year-old right-hander added sets of 622 in team and 504 in doubles, finishing his 2019 Open Championships visit with a 1,786 all-events total.
Five bowlers reach milestones at South Point Bowling Plaza
The 50-Year Club at the USBC Open Championships got four new members this week, while one competitor made his 55th appearance on the tournament lanes.
Stanley Schoenfeld of San Antonio and Tom Slezak of Sullivan, Missouri, made the ceremonial walk down the approach at the South Point Bowling Plaza and into the 50-Year Club on May 29.
Herman Prakken of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, added his name to the list May 30, and Thomas Hart of Morgantown, West Virginia, was recognized for his 50th year of participation June 3.
Raymond Jensen of Greenwood, Indiana, became the newest member of the 55-Year Club at the Open Championships on June 3.
On the lanes, Slezak, a 66-year-old right-hander who competed for the 50th consecutive time, finished his 2019 Open Championships campaign with a 1,663 all-events total. That included a 568 series in doubles, 563 in team and 532 in singles. In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 84,706 pins for a 188.2 career average.
This year at the South Point Bowling Plaza, Schoenfeld, 74, rolled sets of 532 in singles, 524 in doubles and 514 in team for a 1,570 total. In 50 years, he has toppled 84,242 pins for a career average of 188.7.
Prakken, a 74-year-old right-hander, was able to check another milestone off this week as he became the first Canadian bowler to reach 50 years of participation on the championship lanes.
This year, he rolled sets of 518 in singles, 511 in doubles and 480 in team for a 1,509 all-events total. In 50 tournament appearances, he has knocked down 83,465 pins for a career average of 185.4.
Hart, 78, shared the moment with his son, Jeff, who made his 25th Open Championships appearance. The two also bowled doubles together this year.
Thomas Hart finished his 2019 tournament with sets of 486 in team, 452 in singles and 429 in doubles for a 1,367 all-events total. In his 50 years of participation, he has knocked down 84,180 pins for a 187 career average.
The four bowlers celebrating 50 years of participation this week each received a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. Jensen was presented with a chevron, plaque and engraved watch for his achievement.
Jensen, 88, rolled sets of 482 in doubles, 458 in team and 404 in singles for a 1,344 all-events total. Jensen has knocked down 84,237 pins on for a career average of 170.
Utah first-timer leads Classified Singles and Classified All-Events in Las Vegas
Jay Stratton of West Valley, Utah, a first-time participant at the USBC Open Championships, finished his debut at the top of the standings in Classified Singles and Classified All-Events.
The 47-year-old right-hander took the singles lead June 2 with games of 175, 244 and 234 for 653 series, and his big finish catapulted him into the all-events lead with a 1,718 nine-game total. He rolled sets of 546 in team and 519 in doubles.
Charles Vo of Sugar Land, Texas, previously held the singles lead with 644, and Larry Meyers of Renwick, Iowa, topped the all-events standings with 1,707, which was rolled March 13, only five days into the 122-day event that concludes July 8.
In accordance with USBC Rule 306 - All-Events, should Stratton's all-events score hold up, he would be awarded the 2019 Classified All-Events Eagle, but he would not be eligible for the prize money, since he did not enter the optional prize portion. The money would go to the next person in the standings.
The Classified Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
A look ahead
Two more competitors will reach participation milestones this week at the 2019 USBC Open Championships.
Jamie Brooks of McKinney, Texas, will become the newest member of the 60-Year Club when he marches out for his team event at the South Point Bowling Plaza on June 5 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Brooks is also trying to become the 24th member of the elite 100,000-Pin Club, needing 1,860 pins to reach the historic plateau. Mike Schmid of Arden Hills, Minnesota, became the club's 23rd member last month.
Jerry Beavers of Oklahoma City will join the 50-Year Club when he marches to the lanes for his team event June 7 at 2 p.m. EDT.
For more information on the Open Championships, visit BOWL.com/OpenChamp.
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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 June 4, 2019

REGULAR DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 876 and above)

1, Melrose Bowl Red (John Hommes, Michael Wirz, Craig Schiffler, Thomas Jones, Christopher Castle), Norwood, Minn., 3,301. 2, S and B Pro Shop 1, Warren, Mich., 3,254. 3, Bowlers Sport Shop, Indianapolis, 3,249. 4, Gasthaus Motel, Monroe, Wis., 3,236. 5, Himmler's Pro Shop, Versailles, Ind., 3,223. 6(tie), Ray Orf's Pro Shop 2, St. Charles, Mo., and Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 3,214. 8, Mento Produce, Syracuse, N.Y., 3,204. 9, Storm Products 1, Minneapolis, 3,202. 10, Coach K Scholarship, Pleasant View, Utah, 3,199.
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 Alexander III, North Syracuse, N.Y., 1,423. 3, Jason Duran, Brighton, Colo./Duane Mellinger, Aurora, Colo., 1,413. 4, Joseph Conti, Liverpool, N.Y./Derek Magno, Cicero, N.Y., 1,404. 5, Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Casey Maxted, Gillette, Wyo., 1,397. 6, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif./Robert Huckaby, Santa Cruz, Calif., 1,392. 7, Dan Vick, Pittsford, N.Y./David Gerhart, Mount Joy, Pa., 1,390. 8, Will Barnes, Wichita, Kan./Geoffrey Young, Roanoke, Texas, 1,384. 9, Anthony Coats, Pflugerville, Texas/Justin Pyle, Round Rock, Texas, 1,378. 10, Todd Sigeti, Lititz, Pa./Connor Harrington, Syracuse, N.Y., 1,376.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)

1, Mitch Beasley, Clarksville, Tenn., 812. 2, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif., 803. 3, Ryan Mouw, Muskegon, Mich., 802. 4, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 800. 5, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 792. 6, Zachery Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 780. 7, William Welch, Franklin, Wis., 778. 8, Dylan Burns, Wichita, Kan., 777. 9, Jason Rasinske, Dimondale, Mich., 775. 10(tie), Greg Engelkes, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Doug Kent, Newark, New York, 772.
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, EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., 2,097. 8, John Burkett, Fort Worth, Texas, 2,095. 9, Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 2,091. 10, Joseph Conti, Liverpool, N.Y., 2,084.
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, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 9,900. 4, Bowlers Headquarters/EFX, Muskego, Wis., 9,717. 5, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 9,709. 6, Tile-All, Inc. 2, Mount Laurel, N.J., 9,660. 7, The Locker Guy 1, Owatonna, Calif., 9,607. 8, Bowlers Sport Shop, Indianapolis, 9,577. 9, Shady Unicorns, Chula Vista, Calif., 9,575. 10, Huskers 1, DeForest, Wis., 9,555.
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, Princess and The Jokers, Queen Creek, Arizona, 2,863. 4, Buffalo Wild Wings 1, Chicago, 2,854. 5, Schliep Consulting LLC, Shakopee, Minn., 2,849. 6, WALCO 1, Kalona, Iowa, 2,848. 7(tie), Cancer Sucks 3, McDonough, Ga., and New Vision Team 1, Ashtabula, Ohio, 2,840. 9(tie), Just One More, Sunnyside, Wash., and Valley Bowling Center Waverly N.Y. 1, Athens, Pa., 2,825.
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, Glendon Riffe, Pawcatuck, Conn./Howard Eldredge, Westerly, R.I., 1,237. 4, Mitchell Scheller/David Scheller, Mount Olive, Ill., 1,230. 5, Wes Leong, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada/William Walters, Thornville, Ohio, 1,226. 6, Paul Spiotta/Greg Wolff, Batavia, N.Y., 1,225. 7(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. 10(tie), Scott Fitzhugh, Cambridge, Md./Martin Vitelli, Princess Anne, Md., and Daniel Lilly/Matthew Jaramillo, Henderson, Nev., 1,217.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)

1, Don Erickson, Renton, Wash., 680. 2, Andrew Leppen, Amherst Junction, Mich., 679. 3(tie), Dale Storm, St. Charles, Minn., and Bryan Mitchell, Chandler, Arizona, 678. 5, Monty Hansen, Sterling Heights, Mich., 676. 6, Dan Krostal, Waukegan, Ill., 673. 7, Donald Mehrtens Jr., St. Rose, La., 671. 8(tie), Kenny Phillips Jr., Joplin, Mo., and Gary Goldermann, Brighton, Colo., 668. 10(tie), Ted Hickman, Sicklerville, N.J., Richard Yuhnke, Chico, Calif., Richard Specht, Epworth, Iowa, Daniel Hangman, Omaha, Neb., Adam Norton, Omaha Neb., and Ashley Ruszczak, Arlington Heights, Ill., 667.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)

1, Jenny Wonders, Roscoe, Ill., 1,876. 2, Vicente Ada, Bellmawr, N.J., 1,873. 3, Ryan Allender, Griffith, Ind., 1,866. 4, Don Erickson, Renton, Wash., 1,865. 5, Gene Rivers, San Antonio, 1,860. 6, Tyler Boe, Mountlake Terrace, Wash., 1,849. 7, Joshua Shane Brady, McDonough, Ga., 1,837. 8, James Ulczak, Chicago, 1,832. 9, Roger Nursey, Greensboro, N.C., 1825 10, Richie White, Platteville, Colo., 1,820.
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, Keith Settles Team 2, Indianapolis, 2,532. 7, Bowling Buddies, Huntsville, Alabama, 2,504. 8, Greater Toronto Ten Pin, Toronto, 2,501. 9, Woodshed Pizza, Winona, Wis., 2,498. 10, Keith Settles Team 1, Indianapolis, 2,495.
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, Stephen Martin and Jesse Banks, Chicago, 1,105. 5, Charles Hurst, Julesburg, Colo./Matthew Walters, Englewood, Ohio, 1,103. 6(tie), Mare Byres, Rio Rancho, N.M./Linda Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., and Gregory Gates, Pontiac, Mich./John Sawyers, Waterford, Mich., 1,100. 8, Ronald Shelton, Waukon, Neb./Michael Rediske Hokah, Minn., 1,097. 9(tie), Dylan Gauna/Stan Gauna, Albuquerque, N.M., and Bill Tilton, Anderson, Mo./Tyler Bacon, Grove, Okla., 1,096.
Singles
(Averages of 155 and below)

1, Jay Stratton, West Valley, Utah, 653. 2, Charles Vo, Sugar Land, Texas, 644. 3, Bill Vianco, Delphi, Ind., 638. 4(tie), Patrick Murphy, Ballwin, Mo., and Patrick Muirhead, Starkville, Miss., 626. 6, Robert McKinzie, Liberty, Mo., 624. 7(tie), Derek Hopson, Belleville, N.J., Larry Meyers, Renwick, Iowa, and Teresa Burroughs, Checotah, Okla., 612. 10(tie), Patricia Franklin, Elizabethtown, Ind., and Jennifer Prokopinski, Chippewa Falls, Wis., 609.
All Events
(Averages of 155 and below)

1, Jay Stratton, West Valley, Utah, 1,718. 2, Larry Meyers, Renwick, Iowa, 1,707. 3, Derek Hopson, Belleville, N.J., 1,687. 4, Wesley Straight, Cooperstown, N.D., 1,673. 5, Brian Whited, Cave Creek, Ariz., 1,668. 6, Jeremy McGill, Louisville, Ky., 1,667. 7, Bill Vianco, Delphi, Ind., 1,657. 8, Chris Johnson, Lincoln, Neb., 1,650. 9, Brian Haendel, Horicon, Wis., 1,647. 10, Stevan Kemp, San Marcos, Calif., 1,644.

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