onefrombills
05-11-2009, 12:00 AM
LAS VEGAS - Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, has enjoyed a successful career at the USBC Open Championships, but his time on the tournament lanes came to a bittersweet end at Cashman Center on Friday.
Because he will be an exempt player on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour next season, Sapp will not be eligible to compete at the Open Championships. Once his Tour career is over, he will be able to return.
As part of his farewell tour this week, the 29-year-old right-hander also made a trip to the nearby USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships. While the visit was supposed to be a warm-up for the Open Championships, he ended up adding his name to the event's record books with a 1,030 four-game set, the second-highest total since the introduction of the four-game format in 2005.
Sapp started with games of 279, 275 and 251 for an 805 series and added 225 to take the lead in Classic Singles at the Gold Coast Casino & Hotel on Thursday. Jeff Fehr of Cincinnati previously held the lead with 955. Chad Maas of Brookfield, Wis., won the event last year with a record 1,045 total.
"I got there and found a pretty good ball reaction and got into one of those grooves where I felt like I couldn't do anything wrong," Sapp said. "It seemed like I struck almost every time I hit the pocket, and if I didn't hit the pocket, I didn't leave a split. You don't get that very often, but it's a nice feeling when it happens."
Sapp has found regular success at the Open Championships and entered the year as the tournament's 10-year average leader with 224.47.
During his 13-year tournament career, Sapp has maintained a 217.85 average, and his career highlights include a 298 game at the 2002 event and a 300 game and 857 series en route to the 2003 Regular Doubles title with PBA star Sean Rash. The 857 is tied for the second-highest individual series in tournament history behind John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., who shot 858 on the way to the Regular Singles and Regular All-Events titles (2,224) in 2004.
This time around, Sapp shot 676 in singles, 610 in doubles and 589 in team for a 1,875 all-events total, and while it wasn't his best year, it was a fulfilling finale.
"I definitely put some pressure on myself to bowl well for my last time here, but overall, I couldn't be more pleased with what I've accomplished here," Sapp said. "This is still my favorite tournament and always will be because you have to come in prepared and you only get one shot at it each year. If you don't bowl well, you have to wait a whole year to try again. Also, team bowling is something I love, and I will miss it."
Sapp, who started bowling when he was 7 years old, has spent most of his free time since honing his skills so that someday he could make a living on the lanes.
Later this year, thanks to his dedication and the experience he gained bowling collegiately, with Team USA and in the PBA regional program, that dream will come true when he begins his first season as an exempt player on the PBA Tour.
Sapp, currently a bowling center manager, earned one of eight exemptions up for grabs at the Regional Players Invitational held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., last December, and as long as he maintains his exempt status, he will not be eligible to compete at the Open Championships.
From here, Sapp will turn his focus to the start of his Tour career, which will begin in August at the seven-event World Series of Bowling, which will be held in the Detroit area from Aug. 2 until Sept. 7.
"I'm looking forward to being out there," said Sapp, who was named the 2008-09 PBA Midwest Region Player of the Year. "This is obviously what I've always wanted to get to, and I want to prepare myself as much as I can so I can be ready. I know there's going to be a learning curve, but I want to bowl as much as I can until then and try to lessen that curve."
Sapp knows how good the bowlers on Tour are and how much work it will take to be successful out there. He has decided to keep his goals simple and focus on one week at a time. Initially, he has set his sights on making the cut each week and bowling well enough to stay exempt. He also would like to make a championship round appearance.
"I am going out there with a lot of confidence, but it's not a secret how good those guys are," Sapp said. "I know I can go out there and bowl well because I wouldn't be in this position if I couldn't, but knowing it and going out there and doing it are two different things. I bowled a big game when I needed to get the exemption, and after that, everything was worth it. No matter what happens after this that is a moment I'll never forget."
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.
Because he will be an exempt player on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour next season, Sapp will not be eligible to compete at the Open Championships. Once his Tour career is over, he will be able to return.
As part of his farewell tour this week, the 29-year-old right-hander also made a trip to the nearby USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships. While the visit was supposed to be a warm-up for the Open Championships, he ended up adding his name to the event's record books with a 1,030 four-game set, the second-highest total since the introduction of the four-game format in 2005.
Sapp started with games of 279, 275 and 251 for an 805 series and added 225 to take the lead in Classic Singles at the Gold Coast Casino & Hotel on Thursday. Jeff Fehr of Cincinnati previously held the lead with 955. Chad Maas of Brookfield, Wis., won the event last year with a record 1,045 total.
"I got there and found a pretty good ball reaction and got into one of those grooves where I felt like I couldn't do anything wrong," Sapp said. "It seemed like I struck almost every time I hit the pocket, and if I didn't hit the pocket, I didn't leave a split. You don't get that very often, but it's a nice feeling when it happens."
Sapp has found regular success at the Open Championships and entered the year as the tournament's 10-year average leader with 224.47.
During his 13-year tournament career, Sapp has maintained a 217.85 average, and his career highlights include a 298 game at the 2002 event and a 300 game and 857 series en route to the 2003 Regular Doubles title with PBA star Sean Rash. The 857 is tied for the second-highest individual series in tournament history behind John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., who shot 858 on the way to the Regular Singles and Regular All-Events titles (2,224) in 2004.
This time around, Sapp shot 676 in singles, 610 in doubles and 589 in team for a 1,875 all-events total, and while it wasn't his best year, it was a fulfilling finale.
"I definitely put some pressure on myself to bowl well for my last time here, but overall, I couldn't be more pleased with what I've accomplished here," Sapp said. "This is still my favorite tournament and always will be because you have to come in prepared and you only get one shot at it each year. If you don't bowl well, you have to wait a whole year to try again. Also, team bowling is something I love, and I will miss it."
Sapp, who started bowling when he was 7 years old, has spent most of his free time since honing his skills so that someday he could make a living on the lanes.
Later this year, thanks to his dedication and the experience he gained bowling collegiately, with Team USA and in the PBA regional program, that dream will come true when he begins his first season as an exempt player on the PBA Tour.
Sapp, currently a bowling center manager, earned one of eight exemptions up for grabs at the Regional Players Invitational held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., last December, and as long as he maintains his exempt status, he will not be eligible to compete at the Open Championships.
From here, Sapp will turn his focus to the start of his Tour career, which will begin in August at the seven-event World Series of Bowling, which will be held in the Detroit area from Aug. 2 until Sept. 7.
"I'm looking forward to being out there," said Sapp, who was named the 2008-09 PBA Midwest Region Player of the Year. "This is obviously what I've always wanted to get to, and I want to prepare myself as much as I can so I can be ready. I know there's going to be a learning curve, but I want to bowl as much as I can until then and try to lessen that curve."
Sapp knows how good the bowlers on Tour are and how much work it will take to be successful out there. He has decided to keep his goals simple and focus on one week at a time. Initially, he has set his sights on making the cut each week and bowling well enough to stay exempt. He also would like to make a championship round appearance.
"I am going out there with a lot of confidence, but it's not a secret how good those guys are," Sapp said. "I know I can go out there and bowl well because I wouldn't be in this position if I couldn't, but knowing it and going out there and doing it are two different things. I bowled a big game when I needed to get the exemption, and after that, everything was worth it. No matter what happens after this that is a moment I'll never forget."
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.