onefrombills
06-07-2009, 12:12 AM
LAS VEGAS - After Brett Wolfe of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the 2002 USBC Masters, much of the talk surrounding his accomplishment was about the decade-old bowling ball he used on the way to the coveted title.
Although that particular Blue Hammer is now retired, Wolfe has a second one that he still uses regularly, and it was the only ball needed on the way to fifth place in Regular All-Events at the Open Championships this week.
The 32-year-old left-hander, the only southpaw in the top 10, rolled nine consecutive games of 200 or better on the way to 763 in singles, 718 in doubles and 666 in team for a career-best 2,147 all-events total. Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., leads Regular All-Events with a record 2,321.
"The way I look at bowling on the left here is that the straighter you are through the front part of the lane, the better off you'll be," said Wolfe, who was the last amateur to win the Masters and collected $100,000 for the victory. "I brought five balls with me, but I was pretty confident that the ball I chose and the way I decided to play the lanes would give me the best overall look."
Wolfe said he didn't feel like he bowled particularly well in his last game of team Tuesday, but he was able to grind out a 205 and didn't let it change his strategy when he returned to Cashman Center for doubles and singles Wednesday. He finished his trip with 11 consecutive strikes for 290 and his 15th straight 200 game on the tournament lanes. Bob Goike of Belleville, Mich., holds the tournament record with 27.
"I didn't feel like I bowled very well at the end of team, but today, I felt really good," said Wolfe, who bowls at Brunswick Zone- Mesa in Mesa, Ariz., and has averaged as high as 250 for a league season. "My game plan worked the whole day, and anytime you have a plan and come in and execute, you get rewarded. I committed to my strategy and followed through, and to be successful feels pretty good."
Wolfe gave the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour a shot after winning the Masters, but found limited success. A little discouraged, he spent some time away from the sport, but recently regained the desire to compete.
Because Las Vegas is such a hotbed of bowling activity, Wolfe already has been to Sin City six or seven times this year, including a trip to Cashman Center for the Masters in February. That event gave him a chance to get comfortable in the one-of-a-kind venue, which ultimately helped him find success at the Open Championships nearly four months later.
"I bowled the Masters and cashed and got comfortable with the bowling center as a whole," said Wolfe, whose Masters win came at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., where the Open Championships will be held in 2010 and 2011. "More than anything, though, this trip was about bowling with friends and having fun, and to bowl well with them and for them in team and doubles, means a lot. It also will make the five-hour ride home a lot more fun."
Wolfe used the nearby USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships as a warm-up Monday and Tuesday, and success at that event boosted his confidence heading into his ninth Open Championships appearance. He bowled three four-game sets Monday and another Tuesday before taking the lanes at Cashman Center. His best effort included games of 210, 300, 240 and 162 for a 912 set, which is good for a spot in the top 20 in Open Singles.
Wolfe's perfect game was the fifth of this year's Bowlers Journal event, which is being held at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino.
"Some people I talked to said the Bowlers Journal shot played similar to what I'd see at nationals, so I made it a point to get over there," Wolfe said. "It wasn't exactly the same, but it definitely helped me get my body to the right feel, which really helped. Shooting 300 also was great and helped loosen me up."
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.
Although that particular Blue Hammer is now retired, Wolfe has a second one that he still uses regularly, and it was the only ball needed on the way to fifth place in Regular All-Events at the Open Championships this week.
The 32-year-old left-hander, the only southpaw in the top 10, rolled nine consecutive games of 200 or better on the way to 763 in singles, 718 in doubles and 666 in team for a career-best 2,147 all-events total. Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., leads Regular All-Events with a record 2,321.
"The way I look at bowling on the left here is that the straighter you are through the front part of the lane, the better off you'll be," said Wolfe, who was the last amateur to win the Masters and collected $100,000 for the victory. "I brought five balls with me, but I was pretty confident that the ball I chose and the way I decided to play the lanes would give me the best overall look."
Wolfe said he didn't feel like he bowled particularly well in his last game of team Tuesday, but he was able to grind out a 205 and didn't let it change his strategy when he returned to Cashman Center for doubles and singles Wednesday. He finished his trip with 11 consecutive strikes for 290 and his 15th straight 200 game on the tournament lanes. Bob Goike of Belleville, Mich., holds the tournament record with 27.
"I didn't feel like I bowled very well at the end of team, but today, I felt really good," said Wolfe, who bowls at Brunswick Zone- Mesa in Mesa, Ariz., and has averaged as high as 250 for a league season. "My game plan worked the whole day, and anytime you have a plan and come in and execute, you get rewarded. I committed to my strategy and followed through, and to be successful feels pretty good."
Wolfe gave the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour a shot after winning the Masters, but found limited success. A little discouraged, he spent some time away from the sport, but recently regained the desire to compete.
Because Las Vegas is such a hotbed of bowling activity, Wolfe already has been to Sin City six or seven times this year, including a trip to Cashman Center for the Masters in February. That event gave him a chance to get comfortable in the one-of-a-kind venue, which ultimately helped him find success at the Open Championships nearly four months later.
"I bowled the Masters and cashed and got comfortable with the bowling center as a whole," said Wolfe, whose Masters win came at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., where the Open Championships will be held in 2010 and 2011. "More than anything, though, this trip was about bowling with friends and having fun, and to bowl well with them and for them in team and doubles, means a lot. It also will make the five-hour ride home a lot more fun."
Wolfe used the nearby USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships as a warm-up Monday and Tuesday, and success at that event boosted his confidence heading into his ninth Open Championships appearance. He bowled three four-game sets Monday and another Tuesday before taking the lanes at Cashman Center. His best effort included games of 210, 300, 240 and 162 for a 912 set, which is good for a spot in the top 20 in Open Singles.
Wolfe's perfect game was the fifth of this year's Bowlers Journal event, which is being held at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino.
"Some people I talked to said the Bowlers Journal shot played similar to what I'd see at nationals, so I made it a point to get over there," Wolfe said. "It wasn't exactly the same, but it definitely helped me get my body to the right feel, which really helped. Shooting 300 also was great and helped loosen me up."
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.