onefrombills
07-13-2009, 09:23 PM
LAS VEGAS - Vince Baptista of Millbrae, Calif., and Wayne Wada of Alameda, Calif., have combined for 10 appearances at the USBC Open Championships, but neither had competed in the event outside of the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., until this weekend.
The two left-handers, who like to bowl in Reno because it is close to home, are regular visitors to Las Vegas and used this year's Open Championships as a reason for an additional trip to one of their favorite places. They got more than just another vacation, however, as they moved into third place in Classified Doubles at Cashman Center on Monday.
Baptista, 54, led the pair with a 628 series, while Wada, 52, added 573 for a 1,201 total. Melanie Sweet and Lashawn Farrish of Bowie, Md., lead with 1,220.
"Some of the scores are pretty high, but the lanes definitely aren't easy," said Baptista, who had 586 in team and 564 in singles and moved into 10th place in Classified All-Events with 1,778. "You have to be accurate, and that's the name of the game here. Our goal is always to stay clean and give ourselves a chance, but we missed a few spares along the way, and that proved to be the difference."
Even though getting close and falling short can be disappointing, cracking the top five with only 11 days remaining in the record 154-day run of the 2009 event is a sizable accomplishment for the duo, especially considering that Baptista is nursing chronic wrist trouble, and Wada is recovering from an elbow injury.
"Being in third place is an excellent feeling, and to be third among so many bowlers is great," said Wada, who added 594 in singles and 540 in team for a 1,707 all-events total. "We got close, and now we have something to shoot for next time. This is always an exciting event for us to come to. It can be a struggle sometimes, but it's always fun."
Daniel Milstead of Brea, Calif., and Donald Braham of Whittier, Calif., also cracked the top five in Classified Doubles on Monday, and now they are tied for fourth place with 1,195. They share the spot with Veronica and Luis Boone of Mission Hills, Calif.
Although their home bowling centers, La Habra 300 Bowl and AMF Friendly Hills Lanes, are just down the street from one another, Milstead and Braham did not know each other prior to their team event Sunday.
The two made the trip to Cashman Center as part of a 22-team group organized by Mary Castrovinci and Jerry Anaya, for who the teams were named, Anayalator's 1-22.
Milstead, 65, made his 10th tournament appearance, while Braham, 72, competed for the third time overall and first outside of the National Bowling Stadium.
"I just came out here expecting to bowl some decent games, and if I bowled a 200 here and there, I would be thrilled," said Milstead, who led the pair with a 645 series. "I never in my wildest dreams thought we'd end up this high in doubles."
Milstead finished the trip with 543 in singles and 445 in team for a 1,633 all-events total. Braham had 550 in doubles and added 512 in singles and 371 in team for 1,433.
"This feels fantastic, especially after how we bowled yesterday," Braham said. "With so many people in our group, it's hard to say if we'd get paired up again next year, but I'm sure we could ask for it if we wanted to. That is, if he can put up with me for another year."
To be eligible for the Classified Division, individual bowlers must have entering averages of 180 or less. Doubles teams must have combined averages of 360 or less, and Classified Teams must be 900 or less.
The 2009 Open Championships, which kicked off on Feb. 21, will conclude on July 24. With 17,200 teams, it is the second-largest event in 106 years of tournament history. Only 1995, the first year the tournament was held at the National Bowling Stadium, featured more teams (17,285).The event has been held at the Stadium every third year since and will reside there in 2010 and 2011.
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 two left-handers, who like to bowl in Reno because it is close to home, are regular visitors to Las Vegas and used this year's Open Championships as a reason for an additional trip to one of their favorite places. They got more than just another vacation, however, as they moved into third place in Classified Doubles at Cashman Center on Monday.
Baptista, 54, led the pair with a 628 series, while Wada, 52, added 573 for a 1,201 total. Melanie Sweet and Lashawn Farrish of Bowie, Md., lead with 1,220.
"Some of the scores are pretty high, but the lanes definitely aren't easy," said Baptista, who had 586 in team and 564 in singles and moved into 10th place in Classified All-Events with 1,778. "You have to be accurate, and that's the name of the game here. Our goal is always to stay clean and give ourselves a chance, but we missed a few spares along the way, and that proved to be the difference."
Even though getting close and falling short can be disappointing, cracking the top five with only 11 days remaining in the record 154-day run of the 2009 event is a sizable accomplishment for the duo, especially considering that Baptista is nursing chronic wrist trouble, and Wada is recovering from an elbow injury.
"Being in third place is an excellent feeling, and to be third among so many bowlers is great," said Wada, who added 594 in singles and 540 in team for a 1,707 all-events total. "We got close, and now we have something to shoot for next time. This is always an exciting event for us to come to. It can be a struggle sometimes, but it's always fun."
Daniel Milstead of Brea, Calif., and Donald Braham of Whittier, Calif., also cracked the top five in Classified Doubles on Monday, and now they are tied for fourth place with 1,195. They share the spot with Veronica and Luis Boone of Mission Hills, Calif.
Although their home bowling centers, La Habra 300 Bowl and AMF Friendly Hills Lanes, are just down the street from one another, Milstead and Braham did not know each other prior to their team event Sunday.
The two made the trip to Cashman Center as part of a 22-team group organized by Mary Castrovinci and Jerry Anaya, for who the teams were named, Anayalator's 1-22.
Milstead, 65, made his 10th tournament appearance, while Braham, 72, competed for the third time overall and first outside of the National Bowling Stadium.
"I just came out here expecting to bowl some decent games, and if I bowled a 200 here and there, I would be thrilled," said Milstead, who led the pair with a 645 series. "I never in my wildest dreams thought we'd end up this high in doubles."
Milstead finished the trip with 543 in singles and 445 in team for a 1,633 all-events total. Braham had 550 in doubles and added 512 in singles and 371 in team for 1,433.
"This feels fantastic, especially after how we bowled yesterday," Braham said. "With so many people in our group, it's hard to say if we'd get paired up again next year, but I'm sure we could ask for it if we wanted to. That is, if he can put up with me for another year."
To be eligible for the Classified Division, individual bowlers must have entering averages of 180 or less. Doubles teams must have combined averages of 360 or less, and Classified Teams must be 900 or less.
The 2009 Open Championships, which kicked off on Feb. 21, will conclude on July 24. With 17,200 teams, it is the second-largest event in 106 years of tournament history. Only 1995, the first year the tournament was held at the National Bowling Stadium, featured more teams (17,285).The event has been held at the Stadium every third year since and will reside there in 2010 and 2011.
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.