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onefrombills
05-13-2009, 08:59 PM
LAS VEGAS - Nine years ago, Jeff Johnson of Freeport, Ill., came within one shot of a perfect game at the USBC Open Championships, but came up short and finished with 298.

This year, in his final game of singles, the 41-year-old right-hander got a second chance at perfection on the tournament lanes and came through with the 21st 300 game of the 2009 event. He started singles with 169 and 212 and finished with a 681 series.

When he found himself in familiar territory, his goal was to improve on the final result from the 2000 tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.

"I can't say I was nervous," said Johnson, a bowling center proprietor who made his 17th Open Championships appearance. "I was just going through my routine. Literally, I was just making sure to wipe the ball and concentrate on where I was going to throw it."

Leading up to his 300 on Monday, Johnson was pretty discouraged with his overall performance at Cashman Center.

He began his 2009 campaign with games of 183, 256 and 211 for a 650 series in team, but it was during his doubles event when he started to feel unrewarded for his shots.

"I felt I made a lot of good shots, and I think there were some shots I was not rewarded for," Johnson said. "I was definitely discouraged by the second game in doubles. I felt like I was not carrying my weight in the game."

He finished doubles with games of 213, 159 and 201 for a 573 set and teamed up with Todd Johnson for a 1,201 total. Mike Shady of Fairview, Pa., and Marc McDowell of Monona, Wis., lead Regular Doubles with 1,474.

Johnson's skills and patience may have been tested, but despite the disappointment along the way, his trip had a happy ending.

"I had to be real precise on every shot," said Johnson, who closed out the trip with a 1,904 all-events total. "This is the last thing I thought it would happen. In the end it came out great."

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.