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View Full Version : Montana bowler has memorable year at Open Championships



onefrombills
05-13-2009, 02:32 AM
LAS VEGAS - For the second consecutive year, Rick Perry of Kalispell, Mont., turned in a dominating performance while in town for the USBC Open Championships.

This time around, the 56-year-old right-hander posted games of 226, 299 and 289 for an 814 series, which puts him second in Regular Singles behind Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., who leads with 857.

Perry's performance came during a high-scoring week at Cashman Center that included two perfect games and another 299.

"It would have been nice to shoot 300," said Perry, who left the 7 pin on his final offering after 11 consecutive strikes. "I was nervous. I was trying to stay down and make a reasonably good shot."

In his final game of singles, Perry bounced back from a spare in the first frame and struck 10 consecutive times. On the last shot, it was the 9 pin that remained standing, giving him 289 and his first 800 series on the tournament lanes.

"I never imagined I would get an 800 series," Perry said. "I've shot 800 before on a lot easier conditions, but this is surreal."

Last year, Perry's success came at the USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, a satellite event that also tests competitors with USBC Sport Bowling lane conditions and often is used by bowlers to sharpen their skills before taking the lanes at the Open Championships.

At the 2008 Bowlers Journal event, Perry cruised to the Senior Singles title with games of 279, 234, 215 and 256 for a 984 set and returned the next day with a nearly identical, 985, effort to move into second place in Open Singles and on the Dual Entry prize list.

Perry made his 16th appearance at the Open Championships this year and was able to draw on years of experience and the momentum of last year's success. He added 635 in doubles and 611 in team for a 2,060 all-events total. Vokes also leads Regular All-Events with 2,321.

"I'm pleased with that," Perry said. "I'm not a youngster anymore. Anything I can get is gravy. I was just trying to take advantage of what the lane gave me."

Perry expressed his relief after the last game was over and was glad to reflect on this year's event as it came to a close for him.

"It's good to finish with a good series," Perry said. "I hadn't been bowling too well in the trip so far. I just didn't have a good ball reaction."

Perry did make it over to the Bowlers Journal this week, too, but will not win a second straight Senior Singles title. His best set this year included games of 201, 215, 226 and 213 for an 855 total, which is tied for 31st place. USBC Hall of Famer Steve Fehr of Cincinnati leads with 968.

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.