onefrombills
07-08-2009, 02:06 AM
LAS VEGAS - In less than a month, former Team USA member P.J. Haggerty of Clovis, Calif., will begin his career as an exempt player on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour.
Since his exempt status will make him ineligible to compete at the USBC Open Championships until his PBA Tour career is over, Haggerty took advantage of the opportunity to compete in the event one last time.
The 24-year-old right-hander took to the lanes at Cashman Center this week looking to have a good time with his friends and make a run at a title on the tournament lanes.
Haggerty and his Jr. Team USA Support teammates opened with a huge game Monday afternoon, and eventually settled into sixth place in Regular Team after games of 1,164, 1,079 and 1,064 for a 3,307 total. Linds Limited of Milwaukee leads with 3,449.
"We had a good start, and we thought we had a chance at first place," said Haggerty, who made his fourth Open Championships appearance. "We got caught up with the transition towards the end. We made a run, but came up short. It's a nice and fair tournament that anyone has a chance to win on any day."
Haggerty, who was a member of Team USA in 2007 and Junior Team USA from 2004 until 2006, led the way for Jr. Team USA Support with 716 and was followed by former Junior Team USA member Shawn Ryan (692), former Team USA and Junior Team USA member Ronnie Sparks Jr. (643), 2007 U.S. Amateur champion David O'Sullivan (635) and 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Clay Herrbach (621).
Even though Haggerty will be making his dreams of a career on the lanes come true, thanks to the support of PBA Tour titlist Tony Reyes, he will miss competing at the Open Championships.
"I will miss this tournament the most," said Haggerty, who owns three PBA regional titles and earned his exemption with a runner-up finish at the 2008 Regional Players Invitational. "It's always a lot of fun, and the guys I bowl with are like my brothers. We all look forward to this tournament every year since it's so hard for us to get together because we live so far apart."
As the team event came to an end, Haggerty and his teammates were disappointed about coming up short, but they still had fun and were proud of their achievement.
"The scores are huge this year," said Haggerty, who bowls regularly at Cedar Lanes. "Moving into sixth place means a lot. It's our best finish so far. I couldn't ask for a better team. If I had to choose four guys, it would be these same four, hands down. Next year, I will come back and support them. Hopefully, they will win an eagle."
Now, Haggerty will turn his attention to the upcoming PBA World Series of Bowling, which will take place in the Detroit area from Aug. 2 until Sept. 6. The seven-event Series will offer more than $2 million in prize money to eager bowlers.
"I'm really excited, and I'm looking forward to bowling well," said Haggerty, who was a three-time Bowling Writers Association of America Collegiate Player of the Year at Fresno State University. "I get to do what my dream is, bowl on Tour, and try to win titles."
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.
Since his exempt status will make him ineligible to compete at the USBC Open Championships until his PBA Tour career is over, Haggerty took advantage of the opportunity to compete in the event one last time.
The 24-year-old right-hander took to the lanes at Cashman Center this week looking to have a good time with his friends and make a run at a title on the tournament lanes.
Haggerty and his Jr. Team USA Support teammates opened with a huge game Monday afternoon, and eventually settled into sixth place in Regular Team after games of 1,164, 1,079 and 1,064 for a 3,307 total. Linds Limited of Milwaukee leads with 3,449.
"We had a good start, and we thought we had a chance at first place," said Haggerty, who made his fourth Open Championships appearance. "We got caught up with the transition towards the end. We made a run, but came up short. It's a nice and fair tournament that anyone has a chance to win on any day."
Haggerty, who was a member of Team USA in 2007 and Junior Team USA from 2004 until 2006, led the way for Jr. Team USA Support with 716 and was followed by former Junior Team USA member Shawn Ryan (692), former Team USA and Junior Team USA member Ronnie Sparks Jr. (643), 2007 U.S. Amateur champion David O'Sullivan (635) and 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Clay Herrbach (621).
Even though Haggerty will be making his dreams of a career on the lanes come true, thanks to the support of PBA Tour titlist Tony Reyes, he will miss competing at the Open Championships.
"I will miss this tournament the most," said Haggerty, who owns three PBA regional titles and earned his exemption with a runner-up finish at the 2008 Regional Players Invitational. "It's always a lot of fun, and the guys I bowl with are like my brothers. We all look forward to this tournament every year since it's so hard for us to get together because we live so far apart."
As the team event came to an end, Haggerty and his teammates were disappointed about coming up short, but they still had fun and were proud of their achievement.
"The scores are huge this year," said Haggerty, who bowls regularly at Cedar Lanes. "Moving into sixth place means a lot. It's our best finish so far. I couldn't ask for a better team. If I had to choose four guys, it would be these same four, hands down. Next year, I will come back and support them. Hopefully, they will win an eagle."
Now, Haggerty will turn his attention to the upcoming PBA World Series of Bowling, which will take place in the Detroit area from Aug. 2 until Sept. 6. The seven-event Series will offer more than $2 million in prize money to eager bowlers.
"I'm really excited, and I'm looking forward to bowling well," said Haggerty, who was a three-time Bowling Writers Association of America Collegiate Player of the Year at Fresno State University. "I get to do what my dream is, bowl on Tour, and try to win titles."
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.