onefrombills
06-07-2009, 12:14 AM
LAS VEGAS - David Braylark Jr. of Lithonia, Ga., recently got a new ball from a friend, and it made a huge difference in his performance at the USBC Open Championships this week.
Braylark rolled a 298 game at Cashman Center on Saturday and turned in the best overall performance of his three-year tournament career.
The 23-year-old right-hander tossed 11 consecutive strikes in his final game of doubles before leaving the 3 and 6 pins on his final offering. He opened the day with games of 195 and 224 and finished with a 717 series. He teamed up with Jasper Grissett of Stone Mountain, Ga., for a 1,203 doubles effort.
"I've shot 300 before, but I should've taken my time more this time," Braylark said. "I rushed a little bit on the last shot, and I knew it was bad when it left my hand. Overall, it was a good game, and I'm happy."
Braylark added 585 in team and 550 in singles for a 1,852 all-events total, his best showing by 266 pins.
"As a rookie coming into this event a couple of years ago, I didn't really know what to expect, and I never really get to bowl on conditions like this," Braylark said. "I'm getting more comfortable here and more familiar with the shot, and I'm glad I was able to improve."
Braylark, who now is a self-employed Web developer and owns his own digital marketing agency, has more time to spend on the lanes and frequents different bowling centers so he can practice on a variety of lane conditions. He also has seen some improvement since he started throwing his new ball.
"My friend noticed that my equipment wasn't really working anymore, so he gave me a Black Widow Pearl about a month ago," Braylark said. "The reaction is different and really seemed to work out here."
Braylark plans to continue practicing and improving, and his plan for the summer is to join a PBA Experience league so he can get more experience on Sport Bowling lane conditions like the one he just competed on at the USBC Open Championships.
"My big thing right now is getting more experience on Sport conditions, especially since I know it can help my game," Braylark said. "This has been a pretty good experience. Vegas is nice, and to bowl a good game like this feels great. I hope to do as well, if not better, next year in Reno."
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.
Braylark rolled a 298 game at Cashman Center on Saturday and turned in the best overall performance of his three-year tournament career.
The 23-year-old right-hander tossed 11 consecutive strikes in his final game of doubles before leaving the 3 and 6 pins on his final offering. He opened the day with games of 195 and 224 and finished with a 717 series. He teamed up with Jasper Grissett of Stone Mountain, Ga., for a 1,203 doubles effort.
"I've shot 300 before, but I should've taken my time more this time," Braylark said. "I rushed a little bit on the last shot, and I knew it was bad when it left my hand. Overall, it was a good game, and I'm happy."
Braylark added 585 in team and 550 in singles for a 1,852 all-events total, his best showing by 266 pins.
"As a rookie coming into this event a couple of years ago, I didn't really know what to expect, and I never really get to bowl on conditions like this," Braylark said. "I'm getting more comfortable here and more familiar with the shot, and I'm glad I was able to improve."
Braylark, who now is a self-employed Web developer and owns his own digital marketing agency, has more time to spend on the lanes and frequents different bowling centers so he can practice on a variety of lane conditions. He also has seen some improvement since he started throwing his new ball.
"My friend noticed that my equipment wasn't really working anymore, so he gave me a Black Widow Pearl about a month ago," Braylark said. "The reaction is different and really seemed to work out here."
Braylark plans to continue practicing and improving, and his plan for the summer is to join a PBA Experience league so he can get more experience on Sport Bowling lane conditions like the one he just competed on at the USBC Open Championships.
"My big thing right now is getting more experience on Sport conditions, especially since I know it can help my game," Braylark said. "This has been a pretty good experience. Vegas is nice, and to bowl a good game like this feels great. I hope to do as well, if not better, next year in Reno."
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.