onefrombills
05-03-2009, 03:43 PM
LAS VEGAS - Lonnie Thielbar of Fargo, N.D., made his first USBC Open Championships appearance at the 1986 event in Las Vegas when he was just 19 years old.
Thielbar's debut was the lowest scoring of his 21 trips to the event, but he made up for it when he returned to Cashman Center 23 years later and rolled the 19th perfect game of the 2009 Open Championships.
The 42-year-old right-hander started slowly, but everything came together in his final game. After a 546 series in team Wednesday, he added 633 in doubles Thursday night and then posted games of 193, 188 and 300 for a career-best 681 singles effort.
Thielbar had an intense moment out on the lanes as the crowd and some of the bowlers around him looked on, but he came through under pressure. He was poised and much more confident after two decades of tournament experience.
"It means a lot to me to shoot 300 out here, especially because there are a lot of people here, and there's a lot of pressure" said Thielbar, who is a manger and mechanic at his local bowling center. "I was a little nervous out there. I was telling myself to concentrate and make a good shot."
Thielbar travels to the Open Championships each year now with two goals in mind- rolling a 300 game or 800 series on the tournament lanes.
"I always thought of shooting an 800 series and a 300 out here," Thielbar said. "Now, I'm half way through."
Thielbar started his journey in bowling 35 years ago. He grew up a block away from a bowling center and spent much of his free time there. In fact, he spent so much time there that they offered him a job. It wasn't too long after that he became one of the tens of thousands of bowlers who travel to the Open Championships each year.
Starting next year, Thielbar will continue working towards the 800 series, and he will have some extra support behind him.
"I will keep coming, especially now that my daughters are grown-up and I can bring them along," Thielbar said. "I'd love to get an eagle next to my name, too."
Thielbar finished this year's trip with a 1,860 all-events total, the highest of his career and 538 pins better than his score in 1986.
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.
Thielbar's debut was the lowest scoring of his 21 trips to the event, but he made up for it when he returned to Cashman Center 23 years later and rolled the 19th perfect game of the 2009 Open Championships.
The 42-year-old right-hander started slowly, but everything came together in his final game. After a 546 series in team Wednesday, he added 633 in doubles Thursday night and then posted games of 193, 188 and 300 for a career-best 681 singles effort.
Thielbar had an intense moment out on the lanes as the crowd and some of the bowlers around him looked on, but he came through under pressure. He was poised and much more confident after two decades of tournament experience.
"It means a lot to me to shoot 300 out here, especially because there are a lot of people here, and there's a lot of pressure" said Thielbar, who is a manger and mechanic at his local bowling center. "I was a little nervous out there. I was telling myself to concentrate and make a good shot."
Thielbar travels to the Open Championships each year now with two goals in mind- rolling a 300 game or 800 series on the tournament lanes.
"I always thought of shooting an 800 series and a 300 out here," Thielbar said. "Now, I'm half way through."
Thielbar started his journey in bowling 35 years ago. He grew up a block away from a bowling center and spent much of his free time there. In fact, he spent so much time there that they offered him a job. It wasn't too long after that he became one of the tens of thousands of bowlers who travel to the Open Championships each year.
Starting next year, Thielbar will continue working towards the 800 series, and he will have some extra support behind him.
"I will keep coming, especially now that my daughters are grown-up and I can bring them along," Thielbar said. "I'd love to get an eagle next to my name, too."
Thielbar finished this year's trip with a 1,860 all-events total, the highest of his career and 538 pins better than his score in 1986.
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.