onefrombills
07-05-2009, 09:36 PM
LAS VEGAS - Frankie Colon of San Juan, Puerto Rico, may have been the quietest member of his energetic and talented team at the 2009 USBC Open Championships this weekend, but his performance on the lanes spoke volumes.
The 35-year-old right-hander rolled the 33rd perfect game of this year's event on the way to a 777 singles effort at Cashman Center on Sunday and now will be recognized in the squad room along with his teammates each year he returns to the Open Championships. His 300 came between games of 255 and 222.
"The first game today was not too good, but I moved inside and played a lot deeper, and the strikes started coming," said Colon, who has been a member of Puerto Rico's national team since 1994. "For every 300, you get a little bit nervous, and to shoot one here is great."
Colon, who became the second bowler from Puerto Rico (Sammy Monge, 1998 singles) to roll a perfect game at the Open Championships, was joined on the lanes this weekend by 1992 U.S. Amateur champion Anthony Chapman of Bowie, Md., William Ripley of Lumberton, N.J., who rolled a 300 game at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, USBC Collegiate spokesperson and Team USA member Kim Terrell-Kearney and her husband, Eric Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas. The team shot 2,948 on Saturday, and Colon and Terrell-Kearney teamed up for doubles Sunday.
"Bowling with Kim has been a terrific experience," said Colon, who was introduced to Terrell-Kearney and her husband by Chapman and his wife. "She is a great bowler and a lot of fun to be around. This is my second year with this team, and I really enjoyed it. I am already looking forward to next year."
After a disappointing 158 start in doubles, Colon added games of 241 and 235 for a 634 series. Terrell-Kearney added 602 for a 1,236 doubles total. Colon's 606 in team gave him a 2,017 all-events total and helped improve his tournament average to 221.9 for his three appearances on the championship lanes. Last year, in Albuquerque, N.M., he finished 14th in Regular All-Events with a 2,106 total.
"Every tournament is a new experience, but if you bowl well once, it makes it a little bit easier to handle the pressure and the setting the next time," said Colon, a process coordinator for Wartsila Caribbean, Inc. "To finish 14th in all-events last year and then come back and bowl well again is very exciting."
Even though there aren't many big tournaments in Puerto Rico, Colon practices a lot and spends time at the gym to stay sharp for when he does compete. He also draws on the experience he has gained while representing Puerto Rico on the lanes.
"As a member of the national team, I have had the chance to bowl in a lot of different tournaments, including last year's World Championships against bowlers like Walter Ray Williams Jr.," said Colon, who has earned six medals in international competition. "I've also had the chance to bowl on a lot of different conditions, so I can play where I need to, and that helped today."
Terrell-Kearney, who posted a 1,790 all-events total this weekend, will be back at Cashman Center later in the month to represent the United States at the 2009 WTBA World Women's Championships (July 27- Aug. 3). Immediately following the World Championships, she will head to Las Vegas' Sunset Station Hotel and Casino looking to defend her title at the U.S. Women's Open, a USBC event (Aug. 3-9).
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.
The 35-year-old right-hander rolled the 33rd perfect game of this year's event on the way to a 777 singles effort at Cashman Center on Sunday and now will be recognized in the squad room along with his teammates each year he returns to the Open Championships. His 300 came between games of 255 and 222.
"The first game today was not too good, but I moved inside and played a lot deeper, and the strikes started coming," said Colon, who has been a member of Puerto Rico's national team since 1994. "For every 300, you get a little bit nervous, and to shoot one here is great."
Colon, who became the second bowler from Puerto Rico (Sammy Monge, 1998 singles) to roll a perfect game at the Open Championships, was joined on the lanes this weekend by 1992 U.S. Amateur champion Anthony Chapman of Bowie, Md., William Ripley of Lumberton, N.J., who rolled a 300 game at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, USBC Collegiate spokesperson and Team USA member Kim Terrell-Kearney and her husband, Eric Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas. The team shot 2,948 on Saturday, and Colon and Terrell-Kearney teamed up for doubles Sunday.
"Bowling with Kim has been a terrific experience," said Colon, who was introduced to Terrell-Kearney and her husband by Chapman and his wife. "She is a great bowler and a lot of fun to be around. This is my second year with this team, and I really enjoyed it. I am already looking forward to next year."
After a disappointing 158 start in doubles, Colon added games of 241 and 235 for a 634 series. Terrell-Kearney added 602 for a 1,236 doubles total. Colon's 606 in team gave him a 2,017 all-events total and helped improve his tournament average to 221.9 for his three appearances on the championship lanes. Last year, in Albuquerque, N.M., he finished 14th in Regular All-Events with a 2,106 total.
"Every tournament is a new experience, but if you bowl well once, it makes it a little bit easier to handle the pressure and the setting the next time," said Colon, a process coordinator for Wartsila Caribbean, Inc. "To finish 14th in all-events last year and then come back and bowl well again is very exciting."
Even though there aren't many big tournaments in Puerto Rico, Colon practices a lot and spends time at the gym to stay sharp for when he does compete. He also draws on the experience he has gained while representing Puerto Rico on the lanes.
"As a member of the national team, I have had the chance to bowl in a lot of different tournaments, including last year's World Championships against bowlers like Walter Ray Williams Jr.," said Colon, who has earned six medals in international competition. "I've also had the chance to bowl on a lot of different conditions, so I can play where I need to, and that helped today."
Terrell-Kearney, who posted a 1,790 all-events total this weekend, will be back at Cashman Center later in the month to represent the United States at the 2009 WTBA World Women's Championships (July 27- Aug. 3). Immediately following the World Championships, she will head to Las Vegas' Sunset Station Hotel and Casino looking to defend her title at the U.S. Women's Open, a USBC event (Aug. 3-9).
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.