By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — Six bowlers rolled 300 games this week at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, bringing the overall total to 21 this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Two-time USBC Open Championships winner John Eiss of Orono, Minn., became the 35th bowler in tournament history with multiple perfect games on the championship lanes when he finished his singles set April 30 with 12 consecutive strikes for a 762 series. His first 300 at the Open Championships came during doubles competition in 1993.
The 68-year-old right-hander has been under the careful watch of an endocrinologist, who put him on medication to help maintain the function of his pituitary gland. Typically, it requires 28-31 pills a day, but that number was increased to 41 for his trip to the Open Championships.
Eiss also is suffering from what is known as long-haul COVID, featuring a variety of ongoing symptoms, including brain fog, a term used to describe slow thinking, problems with attention, memory issues and more.
The bowlers joining Eiss with 300 this week at South Point includes Frank Gannon Jr. of Biloxi, Miss.(singles — April 27); Jon Breckel of Bismarck, N.D. (singles — April 29); Ricky Zinone of Rochester, N.Y. (singles — April 30); Johann Gamo of Clifton, N.J. (team — May 1); and Michael Janosik of Port Charlotte, Fla. (singles — May 2).
NEW LEADERS IN STANDARD DIVISIONS
For the third time since April 24, a new name sits at the top of the leaderboard in Standard Singles at the 2022 USBC Open Championships.
First-time participant Mike Paulsen of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, started his final game of singles with nine consecutive strikes to finish with 279 to take the lead May 2 with a 718 series.
Edward Zurawski Sr. of Woodstock, Ill., had moved into the top spot May 1 with 716, edging William Kolstad of Mendota Heights, Minn. Kolstad had set the pace April 24 with 714.
Paulsen had started singles with 193 and 246 before making his run at 300 and the lead. The 62-year-old right-hander left a 4-pin on his first delivery in the final frame and converted the spare. He rolled a strike on his final shot to secure the top spot.
Standard Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 156-175.
In Standard Doubles, Richard Oakes Jr. of Fresno, Calif., and Joe Loper of Cottonwood, Ariz., made their move to the top of the standings May 1 with a 1,362 combined total.
Oakes, a 42-year-old right-hander, led the way with games of 206, 279 and 259 for a 744 series, while Loper, a 29-year-old right-hander, added games of 212, 169 and 237 for a 618 set.
Douglas Becht of San Tan Valley, Ariz., and Lee Rottman of Sherrard, Ill., previously led with 1,360.
Oakes finished the doubles set first, rolling a strike and spare in his 10th frame to give Loper the chance to deliver two strikes and nine pins to take the lead by a single pin. Loper connected for all three strikes.
Standard Doubles includes bowlers with combined entering averages of 311-350.
THREE JOIN 50-YEAR CLUB
Participation milestones continue to highlight the USBC Open Championships, with three more bowlers reaching 50 years at the 2022 event this week.
Each bowler received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate their longevity and dedication to the tournament.
John Mack of Fort Lee, N.J., made his milestone appearance April 29, while John James of Waukesha, Wis., and Timothy Shanabrook of Hanover, Pa., each joined the 50-Year Club on May 1.
A LOOK AHEAD
USBC Hall of Famer Glenn Allison of Corona, Calif., is scheduled to become the fourth bowler in tournament history to reach 70 years of participation this week in Las Vegas.
Allison will make his milestone appearance May 6 at 5 p.m.
The 91-year-old right-hander is a four-time winner at the USBC Open Championships, winning Classic Doubles in 1962, Classic Team in 1964 and 1966 and Classic Singles in 1970.
Allison, who also is part of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame, enters the 2022 event third in career pinfall at the Open Championships. He has knocked over 121,301 pins for a lifetime average of 193.
Three bowlers share the participation record at the Open Championships with 71 years, and the top number on the pinfall list is 124,087.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza, Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of May 3, 2022
REGULAR DIVISIONTeam(Combined averages of 876 and above)
1, Storm Products Inc. 1 (Matthew McNiel, Jon Rakoski, Justin Veitch, David Langer, Ronald Mohr), Alva, Fla., 3,486. 2, DiLaura Brothers 1, Clinton Township, Mich., 3,468. 3, Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., 3,403. 4, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 5, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358. 6, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,335. 7, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 3,329. 8, Enhance That 1, Allen, Texas, 3,326. 9, The Lakers 1, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 3,324. 10, CuseCars.com, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,319.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 351 and above)
1, Nick Powanda, San Diego/Tony Odom, Palm Springs, Calif., 1,518. 2, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y./Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 1,485. 3, Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas/Billy Rogers, Denison, Texas, 1,479. 4, Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich./Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 1,455. 5, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y./Michael Tryniski, Fulton, N.Y., 1,440. 6(tie), Andrew Carson, York, Pa./Scott Kinkaid, Elizabethtown, Pa., and Brandon St. Onge/Drew Markwardt, Zephyrhills, Fla., 1,433. 8, Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich./Jeffrey Mastny, Arlington, Neb., 1,431. 9, Trevor Yonan, Sheboygan, Wis./Rob Warren, Antigo, Wis., 1,425. 10, Gerald Johnson, Taylor, Mich./Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 1,424.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 788. 2, Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 787. 3, Brandon St. Onge, Zephyrhills, Fla., 781. 4, DJ Archer, Simpsonville, S.C., 778. 5, Sam Cantrell, Roseville, Calif., 777. 6, Jeff Carroll, Missoula, Mont., 773. 7, Ryan Schlotfeld, Lincoln, Neb., 772. 8, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 771. 9, Ryan VanHecke, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 770. 10, Virginia Young, Sun City, Ariz., 769.
All-Events
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 2,220. 2, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 2,212. 3, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 2,201. 4(tie), Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas, 2,197. 6, Ryan Volcko, Liverpool, N.Y., 2,181. 7, Jon Breckel, Mandan, N.D., 2,177. 8, Aaron Pawloski, Brentwood, Calif., 2,171. 9, Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich., 2,167. 10, Kai Pedro, Tacoma, Wash., 2,163.
Team All-Events
1, DiLaura Brothers 1 (Jay Lang, John Buffa, Ryan VanHecke, John Kelley, Ronnie Sparks Jr.), Clinton Township, Mich., 10,585. 2, Mento Produce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,444. 3, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,140. 4, Him Bowling Team 14, Chula Vista, Calif., 10,057. 5, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 9,981. 6, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 9,917. 7, Nicholas J’s Pro Shop 2, La Crosse, Wis., 9,888. 8, Storm Products Inc. 1, Alva, Fla., 9,859. 9(tie), Upper Lip Surprise, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Ansara Restaurant Group 2, Farmington Hills, Mich., 9,804.
STANDARD DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 776-875)
1, Lemont Bandits (Jason Surges, Steve Sereyka, Ronald Sereyka, Stephen Lewis, Ronald Demco), Oak Lawn, Ill., 3,097. 2, Cinderella Shoes, Bradley, Ill., 3,005. 3, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 4(tie), Merrill 2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967. 6, Kneel For The Cross, Villa Park, Ill., 2,966. 7, Parkway Bowl Team 1, Lakeside, Calif., 2,936. 8, Whitewater Cheated 3, Appleton, Wis., 2,934. 9(tie), #TeamHaidin20, Beaumont, Texas, and Les for Lawns, Alexandria, Minn., 2,933.
Doubles
(Combined Averages of 311-350)
1, Richard Oakes Jr., Fresno Calif./Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,362. 2, Douglas Becht, San Tan Valley, Ariz./Lee Rottman Sherrard, Ill., 1,360. 3, Michael Schaal, Slinger, Wis./Wade Bisick, Oconto Falls, Wis., 1,320. 4, Michael Steppert, Weston, Wis./Dan Cherek, Wausau, Wis., 1,312. 5, Anthony Dann, Dayton, Ohio/Sheldon Short, Huber Heights, Ohio, 1,291. 6, Eric Davis, Fall Creek, Wis./Michael Holzhueter, Menomonie, Wis., 1,287. 6, Keith Betts/Bryan Miloshoff, Griffith, Ind., 1,257. 8, Michael Wilcox, Decatur, Ill./Michael Parnell, Springfield, Ill., 1,254. 9(tie), Johnny Baker III, Erda, Utah/John Harris, Tooele, Utah, and Joshua Kurdziel/Caroline Pirkola, Appleton, Wis., 1,251.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Mike Paulsen, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 718. 2, Edward Zurawski Sr., Woodstock, Ill., 716. 3, William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn., 714. 4, Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., 705. 5, Monte Steenson, Lincoln, Neb., 703. 6, Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 701. 7, Walter Shaft, Freeland, Mich., 700. 8, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 699. 9, Tyler Smith, Malad City, Idaho, 697. 10, Jun Dailo, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., 695.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Gregory Witt, Phoenix, 1,982. 2, Dean Bruinsma, Clear Lake, S.D., 1,959. 3, David Lee, South Bound Brook, N.J., 1,944. 4, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,930. 5, Steve Bowling, Union, Ky., 1,910. 6, Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 1,902. 7, Allen Jackson, Belle Plaine, Minn., 1,898. 8, Michael Steppert, Weston, Wis., 1,895. 9, David Remsen, Loxahatchee, Fla., 1,894. 10, Tyler Trelles, Omaha, Neb., 1,874.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 775 and below)
1, Alamo City PINs (Miguel Villarreal, Frances Villarreal, Ruben Rodriguez, Luis Ramirez, Robert Rosas), Helotes, Texas, 2,788. 2, Witt’s Classified Family Affair, Phoenix, 2,681. 3, Rocky Mountain Insurance Group, Clancy, Mont., 2,677. 4, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 5, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 6, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 7, King Pin Lanes Team 3, Campbellsport, Wis., 2,629. 8, Northern New Mexico Elite, Ohkay Owingeh, N.M., 2,611. 9, Where’s Corby?, West Jordan, Utah, 2,606. 10, Incline Station, Duluth, Minn., 2,604.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 2, Ryan Thebarge, Windham, Maine/Dan Boothby, Buxton, Maine, 1,125. 3, Linda Carlson/Vernon Carlson, Slaughter, La., 1,115. 4, Kurtis Weber, Carrollton, Ill./James Weder, Winchester, Ill., 1,113. 5, Jason Klimek, Glenwood, Minn./David Corneliusen, Alexandria, Minn., 1,109. 6, Shiong Chu, San Gabriel, Calif./Todd Van, Temple City, Calif., 1,107. 7, Angel Olmeda Jr./Elly Olmeda, Boise, Idaho, 1,106. 8, Adam Whittington, New Ulm, Minn./Raymond Grand, Lowell, Mass., 1,105. 9, Theain Lim/David Lim, Las Vegas, 1,100. 10, Dan Rizzo/Ronald Rizzo, Florence, Ariz., 1,099.
Singles
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 665. 2, Hunter Reber, Cedar City, Utah, 657. 3, Edwin Humbert, Strasburg, Colo., 644. 4(tie), Dean Crick, Waddell, Ariz., and Benjamin Tingue, Stafford, Va., 636. 6, Billy Duvall, Bloomington, Ind., 633. 7, David Granados, El Centro, Calif., 632. 8, Chad Clapp, Casa Grande, Ariz., 630. 9, Travis Spier, Sioux Falls, S.D., 629. 10, Carl Schwabe, Waynetown, Ind., 628.
All-Events
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 1,824. 2, Tyler O’Neill, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1,783. 3, Wayne Eaves, Boynton Beach, Fla., 1,774. 4, Bruce Heekin, Woodinville, Wash., 1,744. 5, Carl Schwabe, Waynetown, Ind., 1,730. 6, Zachary Watson, Thornton, Colo., 1,728. 7(tie), Jose Ruiz, Brighton, Colo., and Drew Manor, Winona, Minn., 1,723. 9. Edmund Manning, Pahrump, Nev., 1,718. 10, Brock Green, Plymouth, Minn., 1,707.