By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — United States Bowling Congress and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Glenn Allison became just the fourth bowler to reach 70 years of participation at the USBC Open Championships during his milestone appearance May 6.
The 91-year-old right-hander from Corona, California, made his first Open Championships appearance at the 1947 event in Los Angeles and has made his annual trek to the tournament each year since 1954.
Allison is a four-time titlist at the Open Championships (1962 Classic Doubles, 1964 and 1966 Classic Team, 1970 Classic Singles), one of 24 members of the 100,000-Pin Club and is third overall in career pinfall with 122,468 pins toppled on the championship lanes.
Fellow hall of famers Bill Lillard Sr. and Joe Norris are the top names on the career pinfall list with 124,087 and 123,770 pins, respectively.
“Bill Lillard and Joe Norris were two of the best gentlemen I have ever met, and we became great friends,” Allison said. “I think of them often, and I know they would be very happy for me for today’s accomplishments.”
Allison now joins Norris, USBC Hall of Famer William Doehrman and Sylvester Thiel as the only bowlers to reach 70 appearances at the Open Championships. Norris, Doehrman and Thiel each finished their careers with 71 tournament appearances.
In his 70th appearance, Allison rolled 421 in singles, 385 in doubles and 361 in team for a 1,167 all-events total.
PA. BOWLER ADDS TO FAMILY LEGACY
Johnathan Bower of Middletown, Pa., joins his father, Darryl, and uncle, Gary, in the USBC Open Championships record book after rolling a 300 game to finish his singles set May 8 at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 33-year-old right-hander started singles with games of 248 and 191 before connecting for 12 consecutive strikes to finish with a 739 series.
Gary Bower is a USBC Hall of Famer and two-time titlist at the Open Championships. Darryl Bower is a PBA Tour champion and has collected one win at the Open Championships.
Johnathan Bower’s 300 game was the 22nd of the 2022 event.
CALIFORNIA PAIR TOPS CLASSIFIED DOUBLES
John Brazzillo of Los Banos, California, and Anthony Carvalho of Morgan Hill, California, took over the top spot in Classified Doubles on May 7 at the 2022 USBC Open Championships, posting a 1,153 total.
Brazzillo, a 72-year-old right-hander, rolled his highest set in five tournament appearances with games of 214, 215 and 191 for a 620 series. Carvalho, a 54-year-old right-hander, bounced back after a 150 start to finish with 201 and 182 for a 533 total.
The husband-and-wife team of Nathan and Betsy Nigh of Rushville, Ind., held the lead with 1,138.
Classified Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 310 and below.
PA. BOWLERS MAKES 50TH STRAIGHT APPEARANC
Peter Schmehl of Wernersville, Pa., became the latest bowler to join the 50-Year Club at the 2022 USBC Open Championships on May 5.
The 78-year-old right-hander is the 19th bowler to celebrate the milestone this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to recognize his longevity and dedication to the event.
Schmehl’s appearance marked his 50th consecutive trip to the Open Championships. His journey on the championship lanes started at the 1972 event in Long Beach, California.
He rolled sets of 453 in singles, 433 in team and 406 in doubles for a 1,292 all-events total. For his career, he has knocked over 71,607 pins.
A look ahead
The 2021 Regular Doubles champions will return to the USBC Open Championships this week and put their title on the line at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Chris Pierson of West Bend, Wis., and David Labinski of Milwaukee will bowl doubles May 14 at 9 p.m. in hopes of returning to the top of the leaderboard after winning in 2021 with a 1,466 total.
Pierson led the way at the South Point Bowling Center in 2021 with games of 269, 232 and 246 for a 747 series, and Labinski added games of 204, 246 and 269 for a 719 series.
The win marked the second victory at the Open Championships for both Pierson and Labinski. They teamed together to help Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wis., win Team All-Events at the 2018 event in Syracuse, N.Y.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of May 10, 2022
REGULAR DIVISION
Team
(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, Ballard’s Bowling Academy #3, Keller, Texas, 3,426. 4, Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., 3,403. 5, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 6, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358. 7, S.W.O.R.D., Rochester, N.Y., 3,357. 8, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,335. 9, Big O Tires, Oakley, Calif., 3,329. 10, Enhance That #1, Allen, Texas, 3,326.
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, Robert Rose Jr., Melvindale, Mich., 775. 7, Jeff Carroll, Missoula, Mont., 773. 8, Ryan Schlotfeld, Lincoln, Neb., 772. 9, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 771. 10, Ryan VanHecke, Chesterfield Township, Mich., 770.
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, Fran’s Pro Shop #3, Waterloo, Iowa, 9,879. 9, Storm Products Inc. 1, Alva, Fla., 9,859. 10(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, Imperial Lanes, Clinton, Iowa, 2,977. 4, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 5(tie), Merrill-2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967. 7, Kneel For The Cross, Villa Park, Ill., 2,966. 8, Go Nuts For Kokonuts!, Providence, R.I., 2,943. 9, Parkway Bowl Team #1, Lakeside, Calif., 2,936. 10, Whitewater Cheated 3, Appleton, Wis., 2,934.
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. 7, Raffy Stodomingo, Torrance, Calif./Hermie LeBaquin, Cerritos, Calif., 1,267. 8, Brad Suttorp/Ron Morrison, Columbus, Ohio, 1,258. 9, Keith Betts/Bryan Miloshoff, Griffith, Ind., 1,257. 10, Michael Wilcox, Decatur, Ill./Michael Parnell, Springfield, Ill., 1,254.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Mike Paulsen, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 718. 2, Edward Zurawski, Woodstock, Ill., 716. 3, William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn., 714. 4, Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., 705. 5, Monte Steenson, Lincoln, Neb., 703. 6(tie), Richard Howerton, University Place, Wash., and Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 701. 8, Walter Shaft, Freeland, Mich., 700. 9, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 699. 10, Tyler Smith, Malad City, Idaho, 697.
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, Brad Suttorp, Columbus, Ohio, 1,907. 7, Gregory Box, Waukesha, Wis., 1,902. 8, Allen Jackson, Belle Plaine, Minn., 1,898. 9, Michael Steppert, Weston, Wis., 1,895. 10, David Remsen, Loxahatchee, Fla., 1,894.
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, BG Pizza Hut, Fostoria, Ohio, 2,669. 5, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 6, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 7, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 8, King Pin Lanes Team 3, Campbellsport, Wis., 2,629. 9, Northern New Mexico Elite, Ohkay Owingeh, N.M., 2,611. 10, Sam Harren Team 2, Jackson, Mich., 2,609.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, John Brazzillo, Los Banos, Calif./Anthony Carvalho, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1,153. 2, Betsy Nigh/Nathan Nigh, Rushville, Ind., 1,138. 3, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 4, Ryan Thebarge, Windham, Maine/Dan Boothby, Buxton, Maine, 1,125. 5, Linda Carlson/Vernon Carlson, Slaughter, La., 1,115. 6, Kurtis Weber, Carrollton, Ill./James Weder, Winchester, Ill., 1,113. 7, James Retta/Shawn Mullings, Littleton, Colo., 1,110. 8, Jason Klimek, Glenwood, Minn./David Corneliusen, Alexandria, Minn., 1,109. 9, Shiong Chu, San Gabriel, Calif./Todd Van, Temple City, Calif., 1,107. 10, Angel Olmeda Jr./Elly Olmeda, Boise, Idaho, 1,106.
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, Tony Snyder, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,717.