onefrombills
07-26-2009, 09:03 PM
LAS VEGAS - The 63rd USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships came to a close at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino on Thursday, and while there were some familiar names among this year's tournament champions, the event's biggest prize went to a first-time winner.
Joe Conti of Liverpool, N.Y., bested nearly 1,800 bowlers to win the Open Singles title and $10,000 first-place check. He also won an additional $500 for claiming the top spot on the Dual Entry prize list, which includes bowlers who chose to enter doubles and singles at the same time.
The 24-year-old right-hander rolled games of 213, 268, 279 and 237 for a 997 four-game total. The win is the most prestigious and highest-paying of his bowling career.
"This is the biggest thing I have ever won," said Conti, who made his third USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships appearance. "I knew I had a good chance of being in the top three, but I'm surprised my score held on for so long."
The win has given Conti some added confidence as he moves forward and looks toward his next challenge.
"My confidence level is really high right now," said Conti, who made his fourth trip to the USBC Open Championships. "It feels really good. I never thought I could do something like that, but beating out thousands of bowlers is amazing."
Also winning singles titles at this year's Bowlers Journal Championships were former Open Championships titlists Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, and Steve Fehr of Cincinnati.
Sapp, a 2003 Regular Doubles champion at the Open Championships, is a week away from his first season as an exempt player on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He rolled the second-highest four-game set in Bowlers Journal Championships history on the way to the Classic Singles title and $2,000 top prize this year.
The 30-year-old right-hander rolled games of 279, 275, 251 and 225 for a 1,030 set. Chad Maas of Brookfield, Wis., won the title last year with a 1,045 effort, the highest total since the format was changed to four games in 2006.
Fehr, a USBC Hall of Famer, was the winner in Senior Singles. He rolled games of 233, 278, 209 and 248 for a 968 set and took home $5,000 for the win.
With five Open Championships titles (1978 Classic Doubles, 1980 Regular All-Events, 1982 Regular Team, 2006 Regular Team and 2007 Team All-Events) and a USBC Masters title (1994) already to his credit, Fehr almost missed the opportunity to take home his latest title.
"It feels great to win considering I almost didn't come to Las Vegas," Fehr said. "I've been fighting tendonitis, and I told the guys to find a replacement for me. My son (Jeff) convinced me to come out and give it a try. It hurt the whole time I was bowling, and every shot was painful, but it feels great, and I'm totally surprised considering I came very close to not even bowling."
Rounding things out on the singles side were Rudy Ruiz of Deer Park, Texas, who won 205 & Under Singles with an 866 total, and Brian Langdon of Syracuse, N.Y., who won 180 & Under "Pins Over Average" Singles with +141. Ruiz earned $2,500, while Langdon received $1,000.
In doubles action, Craig Auerbach of Sunrise, Fla., and Mike Rose Jr. of West Henrietta, N.Y., found their way back to the winner's circle. Both are champions at the Open Championships. Auerbach was a member of the 2004 Team All-Events champions, while Rose Jr. was the 2007 Regular All-Events champion. This time, they teamed up to win Open Doubles at the Bowlers Journal Championships with a 1,859 total. They earned $8,000.
"This is a hard tournament because you have to move lanes after every game," said Auerbach, who contributed games of 254, 269, 267 and 200 for a 990 set. "It feels great to win because I didn't think I bowled that well. A lot of great bowlers come and bowl this, so it's a great honor."
Rose on the other hand spent his time watching the leaderboards and hoping their score would hold. He, of course, already is familiar with the waiting process.
"Winning an eagle was the high point of my career, but to win a title at the biggest side tournament means a lot to me," said Rose, who contributed an 869 to the winning total. "I was watching the leaderboard every day like I did for the Open Championships a few years ago. It's nice to have a great partner, and I'm glad we paired up."
Senior Doubles was won by Terry Leong of Henderson, Nev., and Vinnie Atria of Louisville Ky., with a 1,856 total, which was worth $2,000. Mixed Doubles was won by Chris Hester of Jefferson, Ind., and Kassy Golden of Colorado Springs, Colo., with 1,756. They earned $1,000 for the win.
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.
For complete USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships results, please visit USBCopen.com
Joe Conti of Liverpool, N.Y., bested nearly 1,800 bowlers to win the Open Singles title and $10,000 first-place check. He also won an additional $500 for claiming the top spot on the Dual Entry prize list, which includes bowlers who chose to enter doubles and singles at the same time.
The 24-year-old right-hander rolled games of 213, 268, 279 and 237 for a 997 four-game total. The win is the most prestigious and highest-paying of his bowling career.
"This is the biggest thing I have ever won," said Conti, who made his third USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships appearance. "I knew I had a good chance of being in the top three, but I'm surprised my score held on for so long."
The win has given Conti some added confidence as he moves forward and looks toward his next challenge.
"My confidence level is really high right now," said Conti, who made his fourth trip to the USBC Open Championships. "It feels really good. I never thought I could do something like that, but beating out thousands of bowlers is amazing."
Also winning singles titles at this year's Bowlers Journal Championships were former Open Championships titlists Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, and Steve Fehr of Cincinnati.
Sapp, a 2003 Regular Doubles champion at the Open Championships, is a week away from his first season as an exempt player on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He rolled the second-highest four-game set in Bowlers Journal Championships history on the way to the Classic Singles title and $2,000 top prize this year.
The 30-year-old right-hander rolled games of 279, 275, 251 and 225 for a 1,030 set. Chad Maas of Brookfield, Wis., won the title last year with a 1,045 effort, the highest total since the format was changed to four games in 2006.
Fehr, a USBC Hall of Famer, was the winner in Senior Singles. He rolled games of 233, 278, 209 and 248 for a 968 set and took home $5,000 for the win.
With five Open Championships titles (1978 Classic Doubles, 1980 Regular All-Events, 1982 Regular Team, 2006 Regular Team and 2007 Team All-Events) and a USBC Masters title (1994) already to his credit, Fehr almost missed the opportunity to take home his latest title.
"It feels great to win considering I almost didn't come to Las Vegas," Fehr said. "I've been fighting tendonitis, and I told the guys to find a replacement for me. My son (Jeff) convinced me to come out and give it a try. It hurt the whole time I was bowling, and every shot was painful, but it feels great, and I'm totally surprised considering I came very close to not even bowling."
Rounding things out on the singles side were Rudy Ruiz of Deer Park, Texas, who won 205 & Under Singles with an 866 total, and Brian Langdon of Syracuse, N.Y., who won 180 & Under "Pins Over Average" Singles with +141. Ruiz earned $2,500, while Langdon received $1,000.
In doubles action, Craig Auerbach of Sunrise, Fla., and Mike Rose Jr. of West Henrietta, N.Y., found their way back to the winner's circle. Both are champions at the Open Championships. Auerbach was a member of the 2004 Team All-Events champions, while Rose Jr. was the 2007 Regular All-Events champion. This time, they teamed up to win Open Doubles at the Bowlers Journal Championships with a 1,859 total. They earned $8,000.
"This is a hard tournament because you have to move lanes after every game," said Auerbach, who contributed games of 254, 269, 267 and 200 for a 990 set. "It feels great to win because I didn't think I bowled that well. A lot of great bowlers come and bowl this, so it's a great honor."
Rose on the other hand spent his time watching the leaderboards and hoping their score would hold. He, of course, already is familiar with the waiting process.
"Winning an eagle was the high point of my career, but to win a title at the biggest side tournament means a lot to me," said Rose, who contributed an 869 to the winning total. "I was watching the leaderboard every day like I did for the Open Championships a few years ago. It's nice to have a great partner, and I'm glad we paired up."
Senior Doubles was won by Terry Leong of Henderson, Nev., and Vinnie Atria of Louisville Ky., with a 1,856 total, which was worth $2,000. Mixed Doubles was won by Chris Hester of Jefferson, Ind., and Kassy Golden of Colorado Springs, Colo., with 1,756. They earned $1,000 for the win.
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.
For complete USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships results, please visit USBCopen.com