onefrombills
04-26-2009, 02:57 AM
LAS VEGAS - Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., struck 32 times, including 30 in a row, as he re-wrote the record books at the USBC Open Championships on Saturday.
The 49-year-old right-hander put together games of 290, 300 and 267 for a near-record 857 singles series at Cashman Center and moved into the lead in Regular Singles and Regular All-Events.
Vokes added 767 in team and 697 in doubles for a 2,321 all-events total, the highest in 106 years of Open Championships competition. His 30 consecutive strikes also is a tournament record.
John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., rolled a record 858 series on the way to the 2004 Regular Singles and Regular All-Events titles (2,224), while Stephen Hardy of Manchester, N.H., previously held the all-events record with 2,279 in 2002. Vokes' effort ties Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, who shot 857 on the way to the 2003 Regular Doubles title.
Vincent Yoder of Wooster, Ohio, previously held the Regular Singles lead at this year's event with 810, and Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., who lives just 13 miles from Vokes, led Regular All-Events with 2,223.
"My hope was to get close to Lennie," said Vokes, whose highest all-events total in 23 previous trips to the Open Championships was 1,926. "He drills my balls for me back home. I didn't expect to get by him, though."
Vokes helped Rock River Lanes of Fort Atkinson, Wis., to a 3,285 total and seventh place in Regular Team on Friday, and after shooting 767, he was confident heading into doubles and singles Saturday. Once the pins started to fall, he just needed to stay focused and relaxed.
"I had a real nice look and just tried to stay loose," said Vokes, who marked in 88 of 90 frames this year. "After my 290, I just tried not to make bad shots. I tried to stay down and follow through and keep my excitement under control after that kind of start."
While winning an eagle is always a goal for Vokes, having fun and being with friends are priorities, too. Now, he could become the 102nd bowler in tournament history to claim two titles in the same year. The last bowler to accomplish the feat was Jay Futrell of Derby, Kan., who claimed Regular Team and Regular All-Events titles last year in Albuquerque, N.M.
"My biggest goal would be to win with my team, and I always thought it would be harder to do it in singles," said Vokes, whose previous high singles set at the Open Championships was 730 at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas. "I have never bowled this well. Anytime you get involved in possibly winning an eagle at the USBC tournament, it's huge. This is my proudest accomplishment."
Vokes also helped Rock River Lanes into fourth place in Team All-Events with a 9,915 total. Joe Arvai added 1,955 and was followed by John Brooks (1,938), Mark Infusino (1,891) and Rick Rector (1,810). Boresch's team, Linds Limited of Milwaukee, leads Team All-Events with 10,372.
"I'm feeling really elated, and words can't describe it," Vokes said. "I'm really happy with how I executed today. I'm proud of all these scores, and my goal next year is to do it with my team. It'll be my 25th year, and I want to win it with my team."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
The 49-year-old right-hander put together games of 290, 300 and 267 for a near-record 857 singles series at Cashman Center and moved into the lead in Regular Singles and Regular All-Events.
Vokes added 767 in team and 697 in doubles for a 2,321 all-events total, the highest in 106 years of Open Championships competition. His 30 consecutive strikes also is a tournament record.
John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., rolled a record 858 series on the way to the 2004 Regular Singles and Regular All-Events titles (2,224), while Stephen Hardy of Manchester, N.H., previously held the all-events record with 2,279 in 2002. Vokes' effort ties Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, who shot 857 on the way to the 2003 Regular Doubles title.
Vincent Yoder of Wooster, Ohio, previously held the Regular Singles lead at this year's event with 810, and Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., who lives just 13 miles from Vokes, led Regular All-Events with 2,223.
"My hope was to get close to Lennie," said Vokes, whose highest all-events total in 23 previous trips to the Open Championships was 1,926. "He drills my balls for me back home. I didn't expect to get by him, though."
Vokes helped Rock River Lanes of Fort Atkinson, Wis., to a 3,285 total and seventh place in Regular Team on Friday, and after shooting 767, he was confident heading into doubles and singles Saturday. Once the pins started to fall, he just needed to stay focused and relaxed.
"I had a real nice look and just tried to stay loose," said Vokes, who marked in 88 of 90 frames this year. "After my 290, I just tried not to make bad shots. I tried to stay down and follow through and keep my excitement under control after that kind of start."
While winning an eagle is always a goal for Vokes, having fun and being with friends are priorities, too. Now, he could become the 102nd bowler in tournament history to claim two titles in the same year. The last bowler to accomplish the feat was Jay Futrell of Derby, Kan., who claimed Regular Team and Regular All-Events titles last year in Albuquerque, N.M.
"My biggest goal would be to win with my team, and I always thought it would be harder to do it in singles," said Vokes, whose previous high singles set at the Open Championships was 730 at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas. "I have never bowled this well. Anytime you get involved in possibly winning an eagle at the USBC tournament, it's huge. This is my proudest accomplishment."
Vokes also helped Rock River Lanes into fourth place in Team All-Events with a 9,915 total. Joe Arvai added 1,955 and was followed by John Brooks (1,938), Mark Infusino (1,891) and Rick Rector (1,810). Boresch's team, Linds Limited of Milwaukee, leads Team All-Events with 10,372.
"I'm feeling really elated, and words can't describe it," Vokes said. "I'm really happy with how I executed today. I'm proud of all these scores, and my goal next year is to do it with my team. It'll be my 25th year, and I want to win it with my team."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.