onefrombills
05-13-2009, 08:58 PM
LAS VEGAS - In 1999, John Gura of Bartlett, Ill., celebrated his 10th USBC Open Championships appearance with a perfect game on the tournament lanes.
This year, he nearly matched that feat as he competed in the event for the 20th time, but a stubborn 10 pin stood in his way at Cashman Center on Friday night.
Gura never imagined reliving the excitement he experienced in Syracuse, N.Y., a decade ago, but after games of 201 and 180, he found himself with 11 consecutive strikes and one shot away from becoming the 20th bowler in history with two 300s at the Open Championships. Instead, he posted the eighth 299 of this year's event on the way to a 680 series and helped XFA of Johnsburg, Ill., to a 3,058 team total.
"I'm glad for what I did," said Gura who was 7 years old when his father introduced him to junior bowling. "I made a good shot. It's just that not all the pins fell, but it was a pretty good shot."
Gura, a 49-year-old right-hander, said that the thought of shooting 300 is always in a bowler's mind. On the 12th shot, he only wanted to stay clam and focused. He also was able to draw on what he learned the first time he found himself on the verge of perfection on bowling's biggest stage.
"I was trying to relax, take a deep breath and make a good shot," said Gura, whose perfect game helped him to a 798 series and a second-place finish in the 1999 Regular Singles event. "It is an accomplishment to shoot 300 in this long-running and prestigious tournament. I was hoping for this to be my second one."
Gura emphasized that communication is very important while bowling, and that watching each other's games is important so they can pick up on where the previous bowler left off.
"We all try to play in the same area," Gura said. "By all working together, it makes it a little easier. I think I used the wrong ball in the first two games, but I changed balls in the third game and used the right one. As a team we shot good, and it's fun to be your friends and compete in a top tournament like this one."
Gura added a 645 series in doubles and 528 in singles for a 1,853 all events total.
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.
This year, he nearly matched that feat as he competed in the event for the 20th time, but a stubborn 10 pin stood in his way at Cashman Center on Friday night.
Gura never imagined reliving the excitement he experienced in Syracuse, N.Y., a decade ago, but after games of 201 and 180, he found himself with 11 consecutive strikes and one shot away from becoming the 20th bowler in history with two 300s at the Open Championships. Instead, he posted the eighth 299 of this year's event on the way to a 680 series and helped XFA of Johnsburg, Ill., to a 3,058 team total.
"I'm glad for what I did," said Gura who was 7 years old when his father introduced him to junior bowling. "I made a good shot. It's just that not all the pins fell, but it was a pretty good shot."
Gura, a 49-year-old right-hander, said that the thought of shooting 300 is always in a bowler's mind. On the 12th shot, he only wanted to stay clam and focused. He also was able to draw on what he learned the first time he found himself on the verge of perfection on bowling's biggest stage.
"I was trying to relax, take a deep breath and make a good shot," said Gura, whose perfect game helped him to a 798 series and a second-place finish in the 1999 Regular Singles event. "It is an accomplishment to shoot 300 in this long-running and prestigious tournament. I was hoping for this to be my second one."
Gura emphasized that communication is very important while bowling, and that watching each other's games is important so they can pick up on where the previous bowler left off.
"We all try to play in the same area," Gura said. "By all working together, it makes it a little easier. I think I used the wrong ball in the first two games, but I changed balls in the third game and used the right one. As a team we shot good, and it's fun to be your friends and compete in a top tournament like this one."
Gura added a 645 series in doubles and 528 in singles for a 1,853 all events total.
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.