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onefrombills
06-29-2009, 01:58 AM
LAS VEGAS - Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, rolled the highest doubles total in USBC Open Championships history at Cashman Center on Sunday, and then Edwards capped off the memorable day with a 300 game in singles.

Padilla paced the pair with a 790 series, while Edwards contributed 776 on the way to games of 542, 556 and 468. Their 1,566 total topped the previous record of 1,544 set by Jonathan Masur of West Orange, N.J., and Jeffrey Butler of Garfield, N.J., at the National Bowling Stadium in 2007. Mike Shady of Fairview, Pa., and Marc McDowell of Monona, Wis., previously held the Regular Doubles lead this year with 1,474.

"We never had a clue that we had a chance at the lead, but we knew we were bowling very well," said Padilla, who made his fifth Open Championships appearance. "We didn't know how close we were. We really didn't keep score. We were just having a lot of fun, and that's what it's all about."

The doubles record was the third record to fall this year. Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., struck first, posting a 2,321 all-events total, besting the previous mark of 2,279 shot by Stephen Hardy of Manchester, N.H., on the way to the 2002 Regular All-Events title.

Earlier in June, Bo Goergen of Midland, Mich., rolled the highest three-game set in tournament history on the way to the Regular Singles lead with 862, topping John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., who previously held the record with 858, which helped him to the 2004 Regular Singles and Regular All-Events (2,224) titles.

"In just one word, it's cool," said Edwards, a two-time Team USA member and the sister of Team USA head coach Jeri Edwards. "You think about the pinnacle of events for bowlers to participate in, and this is the biggest showcase for bowlers across the country. It's amazing to be a part of this, and to be in the lead is unbelievable."

Edwards said her legs were a little numb after their doubles set, but she quickly regained her composure and posted games of 227, 258 and the 30th 300 of this year's event for a 785 series and eighth place in Regular Singles. She became the sixth woman overall and first this year to roll a perfect game at the Open Championships. Her 571 series in team helped her to a 2,132 all-events total, which places her just two pins out of the top 10.

"This is so surreal," said Edwards, who made her sixth appearance on the tournament lanes. "The first five frames of singles, I couldn't feel my legs. It was just amazing. Then, it was about getting lined up and finding the right place to play on the lane. It's also really good when you like the people you are bowling with. Then, you are having a good time and keeping your arm swing loose."

Women first were allowed to compete at the Open Championships in 1994, and in the years since, four women have claimed titles on the tournament lanes. Rayetta Dominguez was the first to win as a member of the 1994 Booster (now Classified) Team champions, and she was followed by Christina Singh (2001 Classified Doubles), Karen West (2005 Classified Team) and USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson (2006 Regular Singles).

Macpherson rolled a 300 game on the way to an 812 series at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, and became the first woman to win a Regular Division title. Edwards now will have to wait 26 days to see if she will join Macpherson in the record books.

"Having to wait 26 days will be tough, but at least it's not 27," said Edwards, who finished fifth at the USBC Queens this year. "I've been coming to this event my entire life. My dad participated 33 years here, and this was our family vacation as I was growing up. To be a part of this and a part of history is amazing. My dad's name is up on the wall for 33 years, and now my name will be on there for a 300. That's pretty cool."

Edwards and Padilla, who bowl league at Forum Bowl in Grand Prairie, Texas, both work for USBC and recently relocated to Texas with the organization's move to the International Bowling Campus in Arlington.

Padilla works as a coaching specialist, while Edwards is a youth program developer. Padilla is a former employee of the Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Fla., and has been coaching Edwards for nearly five years. Their hard work clearly paid off Sunday.

"My entire life, I've had great coaching, and it never mattered if you were a girl or a boy, it was about developing your talents." Edwards said. "And it's all about surrounding yourself with good people. To sum it all up, it's surreal. It is so cool. To be able to have the talent to do this and have the people in my life to support me and enable me to do this is so cool. I'm so grateful for so many things in my life."

Sunday marked the 128th day of the record 154-day run of the 2009 Open Championships. So far, more than 14,000 teams and more than 71,000 bowlers have hit the lanes in Las Vegas.

As history can show, titles have been won on the first day, the last day (Jack Wilson, Classified Singles in 2008) and every day in between, so the coming days will be a combination of excitement and nerves for Padilla and Edwards. During that time, Padilla will be preparing for his upcoming trip to the WTBA World Women's Championships, also at Cashman Center (July 27-Aug. 3), and Edwards will be in Indianapolis for the USBC Junior Gold Championships and USBC Youth Open Championships.

"We will be crossing our fingers for the next 26 days and hoping we can hold onto it for the rest of the tournament," said Padilla who added 615 in team and 572 in singles for a 1,977 all-events total. "With the pattern and the high scores out here, anything is possible, but it takes good shots and someone bowling well and not just getting lucky."

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.