onefrombills
07-20-2009, 02:34 AM
LAS VEGAS - The 2009 USBC Open Championships may be entering its final week, but there's still plenty of excitement happening on the lanes at Cashman Center.
First-time participant Jonathan Schalow of Marshfield, Wis., made sure his debut was a memorable one by shooting the sixth 800 series of this year's event, while Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Wayne Webb of Sacramento, Calif., added his name to the record books with the tournament's 34th perfect game.
Schalow, a 22-year-old right-hander, put together games of 299, 255 and 253 for an 807 series and teamed up with Chad Svendsen of Milton, Wis., to move into fifth place in Regular Doubles with a 1,458 total Sunday morning. Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, lead with a record 1,566.
"Chad and I bowled together in college, so our game plan was to play the same part of the lane and make the same adjustments," said Schalow, whose 800 was the first on the tournament lanes since Bo Goergen of Midland, Mich., rolled an 862 singles series, the highest set in tournament history, on June 4. "I was throwing the ball very well today, and I believe that it was because of a good partner and good faith that things happened the way they did."
Schalow added 675 in singles and 640 in team for a 2,122 all-events total and surpassed the goals he set for himself heading into his first Open Championships appearance, which he shared with his former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater teammates.
Svendsen, who had 651 in doubles, added 528 in team and 513 in singles to round out his seventh trip to the tournament with a 1,692 all-events effort.
"I achieved my first goal, which was to shoot 2,100, and to do that really feels amazing," said Schalow, who hones his skills at Rose Bowl Lanes. "Since it was my first time out, I didn't know what to expect. The march out with all of the people watching and clapping was incredible. My knees were shaking a little. It's an indescribable feeling. This has been a great experience, and I wouldn't change a thing."
The more experienced Webb is a 20-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist and the 2008 PBA Senior Tour Rookie of the Year. He made his 15th appearance on the championship lanes and closed out his 2009 tournament campaign with 12 consecutive strikes and the highest all-events total of his Open Championships career.
Webb's 300 on Saturday night was preceded by games of 221 and 194 for a 715 singles series, and he added 672 in doubles and 632 in team for 2,019 all-events total.
"I had a comfortable look, and I wasn't that nervous," said Webb, who is one of 39 bowlers to earn more than $1 million in PBA competition. "Many times, you still get nervous, but this particular one was the least nervous I had ever been. I was very confident in myself."
As the third game progressed, the 51-year-old right-hander was locked in. On his final offering, he threw the ball cleanly, and a stubborn 8 pin was the last to fall.
"The last three balls I threw felt like strikes right off my hand," said Webb, who was the 1980 PBA Player of the Year. "I almost left the 8 pin on my final ball, but that was the best ball of the entire game."
When is comes to the Open Championships, Webb views it as a chance to be with friends and his wife, and he likes the change in bowling settings from what he is used to.
"I come here to have fun, and my mindset is different than other tournaments," said Webb, who recently won his second consecutive Senior U.S. Open, also in Las Vegas. "I don't try to be too competitive out here. I just have a good time with friends and my wife, and, hopefully, I bowl well. This year, I bowled OK, but not great. But I have never shot a 300 at the Open Championships, so it's really nice to have one."
Webb now will shift his focus to the final portion of the Senior Tour, which continues on Aug. 1 and will conclude with the PBA Senior World Championship, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, in Allen Park, Mich.
Webb is leading the Senior Tour in points and is looking to take home his first Senior Player of the Year honor.
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.
First-time participant Jonathan Schalow of Marshfield, Wis., made sure his debut was a memorable one by shooting the sixth 800 series of this year's event, while Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Wayne Webb of Sacramento, Calif., added his name to the record books with the tournament's 34th perfect game.
Schalow, a 22-year-old right-hander, put together games of 299, 255 and 253 for an 807 series and teamed up with Chad Svendsen of Milton, Wis., to move into fifth place in Regular Doubles with a 1,458 total Sunday morning. Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, lead with a record 1,566.
"Chad and I bowled together in college, so our game plan was to play the same part of the lane and make the same adjustments," said Schalow, whose 800 was the first on the tournament lanes since Bo Goergen of Midland, Mich., rolled an 862 singles series, the highest set in tournament history, on June 4. "I was throwing the ball very well today, and I believe that it was because of a good partner and good faith that things happened the way they did."
Schalow added 675 in singles and 640 in team for a 2,122 all-events total and surpassed the goals he set for himself heading into his first Open Championships appearance, which he shared with his former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater teammates.
Svendsen, who had 651 in doubles, added 528 in team and 513 in singles to round out his seventh trip to the tournament with a 1,692 all-events effort.
"I achieved my first goal, which was to shoot 2,100, and to do that really feels amazing," said Schalow, who hones his skills at Rose Bowl Lanes. "Since it was my first time out, I didn't know what to expect. The march out with all of the people watching and clapping was incredible. My knees were shaking a little. It's an indescribable feeling. This has been a great experience, and I wouldn't change a thing."
The more experienced Webb is a 20-time Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titlist and the 2008 PBA Senior Tour Rookie of the Year. He made his 15th appearance on the championship lanes and closed out his 2009 tournament campaign with 12 consecutive strikes and the highest all-events total of his Open Championships career.
Webb's 300 on Saturday night was preceded by games of 221 and 194 for a 715 singles series, and he added 672 in doubles and 632 in team for 2,019 all-events total.
"I had a comfortable look, and I wasn't that nervous," said Webb, who is one of 39 bowlers to earn more than $1 million in PBA competition. "Many times, you still get nervous, but this particular one was the least nervous I had ever been. I was very confident in myself."
As the third game progressed, the 51-year-old right-hander was locked in. On his final offering, he threw the ball cleanly, and a stubborn 8 pin was the last to fall.
"The last three balls I threw felt like strikes right off my hand," said Webb, who was the 1980 PBA Player of the Year. "I almost left the 8 pin on my final ball, but that was the best ball of the entire game."
When is comes to the Open Championships, Webb views it as a chance to be with friends and his wife, and he likes the change in bowling settings from what he is used to.
"I come here to have fun, and my mindset is different than other tournaments," said Webb, who recently won his second consecutive Senior U.S. Open, also in Las Vegas. "I don't try to be too competitive out here. I just have a good time with friends and my wife, and, hopefully, I bowl well. This year, I bowled OK, but not great. But I have never shot a 300 at the Open Championships, so it's really nice to have one."
Webb now will shift his focus to the final portion of the Senior Tour, which continues on Aug. 1 and will conclude with the PBA Senior World Championship, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, in Allen Park, Mich.
Webb is leading the Senior Tour in points and is looking to take home his first Senior Player of the Year honor.
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.