onefrombills
04-28-2009, 12:40 PM
LAS VEGAS - Two teams of former University of Nebraska bowlers took to the lanes at the USBC Open Championships this weekend, and the same teamwork and communication that helped them find success in college also earned them a place in the tournament record books Monday.
The teammates reunited on the championships lanes for the first time in 2006, and they've been in the spotlight on more than one occasion since. This time, it was Richard Volhard of Marathon, Wis., and Kyle Shunkwiler of Lincoln, Neb., who stood out, tossing the 16th and 17th perfect games of this year's Open Championships.
Volhard's 300 came in his last game of doubles, while Shunkwiler saved his for his final game of singles.
"This has always been a dream of mine," said Volhard, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance. "I've never had the front nine here, and it felt surreal. I started to get a little nervous on the 11th ball, and on the 12th, I was numb, but knew I made a good shot. To have two 300 games on the same squad and from the same team is something special. It says something about Nebraska bowling."
Monday's strike frenzy was started by Volhard's doubles partner, Adam Cardwell of Woodbury, Minn., who started his second game of doubles with 10 consecutive strikes before a 10 pin on his 11th shot ended his run at perfection. He finished with games of 184, 289 and 256 for a 729 series, while Volhard added 218, 213 and 300 for a 731 set. They combined for 1,460 and moved into third place in Regular Doubles. Marc McDowell of Monona Wis., and Mike Shady of Fairview, Pa., lead with 1,474.
"We knew the scores were high coming in," said Volhard, who teamed up with former Team USA member Derek Eoff for a runner-up finish in Regular Doubles in 2007. "Going into the last game, we had to get every pin we could to have a chance. Adam and I worked hard all year for this, and it paid off."
Shunkwiler complimented his perfect game with 213 and 156 for a 669 singles series. He also shot 598 in team and 569 in doubles for a 1,836 all-events total, his highest by more than 100 pins.
"This is really amazing to shoot 300 here," Shunkwiler said. "I watched my friend and teammate roll his, so it was nice to follow suit. I'm glad I was able to shoot that high. After my 150 game, I didn't think I was going to get a ride to the airport."
Cardwell and Volhard's team, Clone Huskers, also includes Chad Oachs, Daniel White and Eoff. Their companion team, Bofense, includes Shunkwiler, Jason Daniels, Mikal Shalikow, John Asbaty and Tim Behrendt. All 10 bowlers competed for the Cornhuskers at some point between 1997 and 2005. Previously at the Open Championships, Eoff rolled a 300 game during doubles in 2007, and Oachs shot 299 in doubles in 2003.
Sunday was a learning experience and a time to adjust to the lanes for both teams as Clone Huskers shot 3,090 and Bofense shot 2,886. The teams carried over what they learned into Cashman Center on Monday and started off strong.
"We are all great friends," Volhard said. "Bowling together all these years forms a bond. We know where each of us plays, and we can make suggestions such as ball changes. Communication was the key to our success today."
Volhard added 649 in singles and 632 in team for a 2,012 all-events total, the highest of his Open Championships career, while Cardwell had 623 in singles and 546 in team for 1,898.
"We talked about Las Vegas all year long," Volhard said. "This is overwhelming. We waited all year for this, and to bowl good out here makes it so much better."
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 teammates reunited on the championships lanes for the first time in 2006, and they've been in the spotlight on more than one occasion since. This time, it was Richard Volhard of Marathon, Wis., and Kyle Shunkwiler of Lincoln, Neb., who stood out, tossing the 16th and 17th perfect games of this year's Open Championships.
Volhard's 300 came in his last game of doubles, while Shunkwiler saved his for his final game of singles.
"This has always been a dream of mine," said Volhard, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance. "I've never had the front nine here, and it felt surreal. I started to get a little nervous on the 11th ball, and on the 12th, I was numb, but knew I made a good shot. To have two 300 games on the same squad and from the same team is something special. It says something about Nebraska bowling."
Monday's strike frenzy was started by Volhard's doubles partner, Adam Cardwell of Woodbury, Minn., who started his second game of doubles with 10 consecutive strikes before a 10 pin on his 11th shot ended his run at perfection. He finished with games of 184, 289 and 256 for a 729 series, while Volhard added 218, 213 and 300 for a 731 set. They combined for 1,460 and moved into third place in Regular Doubles. Marc McDowell of Monona Wis., and Mike Shady of Fairview, Pa., lead with 1,474.
"We knew the scores were high coming in," said Volhard, who teamed up with former Team USA member Derek Eoff for a runner-up finish in Regular Doubles in 2007. "Going into the last game, we had to get every pin we could to have a chance. Adam and I worked hard all year for this, and it paid off."
Shunkwiler complimented his perfect game with 213 and 156 for a 669 singles series. He also shot 598 in team and 569 in doubles for a 1,836 all-events total, his highest by more than 100 pins.
"This is really amazing to shoot 300 here," Shunkwiler said. "I watched my friend and teammate roll his, so it was nice to follow suit. I'm glad I was able to shoot that high. After my 150 game, I didn't think I was going to get a ride to the airport."
Cardwell and Volhard's team, Clone Huskers, also includes Chad Oachs, Daniel White and Eoff. Their companion team, Bofense, includes Shunkwiler, Jason Daniels, Mikal Shalikow, John Asbaty and Tim Behrendt. All 10 bowlers competed for the Cornhuskers at some point between 1997 and 2005. Previously at the Open Championships, Eoff rolled a 300 game during doubles in 2007, and Oachs shot 299 in doubles in 2003.
Sunday was a learning experience and a time to adjust to the lanes for both teams as Clone Huskers shot 3,090 and Bofense shot 2,886. The teams carried over what they learned into Cashman Center on Monday and started off strong.
"We are all great friends," Volhard said. "Bowling together all these years forms a bond. We know where each of us plays, and we can make suggestions such as ball changes. Communication was the key to our success today."
Volhard added 649 in singles and 632 in team for a 2,012 all-events total, the highest of his Open Championships career, while Cardwell had 623 in singles and 546 in team for 1,898.
"We talked about Las Vegas all year long," Volhard said. "This is overwhelming. We waited all year for this, and to bowl good out here makes it so much better."
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.