By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — Scott Patke of Lansing, Mich., took over the lead in Regular Singles at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on May 20 with an 835 series.
The 32-year-old right-hander rolled games of 279, 278 and 278 in a 30-strike performance at the South Point Bowling Plaza to record the fourth 800 series of the 2022 event.
Two-time USBC Open Championships titlist Jeff Nimke of Appleton, Wis., previously led Regular Singles with 796.
Patke made a jump to the left after slowing down in doubles. He started with 235, before finishing his first set of the day with 174 and 196 for a 605 series.
After starting singles with back-to-back spares, Patke delivered 16 consecutive strikes.
“I think we stayed too far right for too long,” said Patke, who made his third Open Championships appearance. “Once we all jumped in as a team, it started to come together.”
Patke made the turn at 557 and started his final game with seven consecutive strikes, before leaving a 10-pin in the eighth frame. A strike in the ninth frame all but locked up the lead and 800 series, and he delivered two more in the 10th to post the highest score in singles in more than 10 years at the event.
The last winning score in Regular Singles at the Open Championships above 835 was the record-setting 862 set rolled by USBC Hall of Famer Bo Goergon of Sanford, Mich., at the 2009 event, held across town at the Cashman Center.
To top off the big day at South Point, Patke also collected the first 800 series of his career.
“I feel like it hasn’t set in yet,” said Patke, who had 650 in team for a 2,090 all-events total. “It’s definitely a big accomplishment for sure. I’ve never really done anything like this before, so to even have a chance at this is pretty cool. You come out here to take a shot at the Eagle. It’s one of the most prestigious trophies you can get, and it would mean a lot for sure.”
Regular Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
PLENTY OF HONOR SCORES
In addition to Patke’s 835 in singles, this week at the 2022 USBC Open Championships featured two 800 series and eight 300 games.
Michael Grimm of Newburgh, Ind., rolled an 820 set during his doubles block May 18. He rolled games of 253, 299 and 268.
Stephen Dale Jr. of Windham, N.H., fired 31 strikes during his doubles set May 20 on the way to games of 280, 279 and 267 for an 826 series.
The bowlers connecting for 300 in the last week at the South Point Bowling Plaza include:
Antonio Tejeda, Alexandria, Minn. (singles — May 19)
Zach Weidman, Indianapolis (team — May 19)
Christopher Wiley, Freeport, Ill. (doubles — May 21)
Chris Allen, Gilbert, Arizona (team — May 21)
Tyler Coplan, Manchester, N.H. (singles — May 23)
David Hansen, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (doubles — May 23)
Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich. (doubles — May 24)
Greg Young Jr., East Dundee, Ill. (doubles — May 24)
A total of 34 300s have been rolled at the 2022 Open Championships.
OHIO BOWLER TAKES ALL-EVENTS LEAD
Dustin Sword of Rittman, Ohio, took the lead in Standard All-Events with a record score May 20 at the 2022 USBC Open Championships.
Sword compiled sets of 702 in team, 672 in doubles and 620 in singles to post a 1,994 total. Gregory Witt of Phoenix had been leading Standard All-Events since March 15 with 1,982.
The 30-year-old right-hander stepped up in the 10th frame of his final game with several scenarios to take the outright lead. He needed at least eight on his first delivery to keep his hopes intact.
Sword removed all doubt by opening the 10th with a strike to seal the deal. He knew exactly what he needed at the time.
“I definitely knew,” Sword said. “I knew that 1,982 was sitting on top.”
Sword, who started his singles set with 228, did start to see things change in Game 2 of singles and was feeling things tighten up for him at that point.
“I did feel it a little,” Sword said. “The lanes were tightening up, and I started to box myself in mentally as well in the second game of singles. After that 181 in Game 2, I put myself in a pickle.”
He finished his final game of singles with 211.
With the lead in Standard All-Events at the 129-day USBC Open Championships, which ends this year on July 18, one would think Sword would be watching the scoreboard from home in Ohio.
“I’m not going to watch for at least the first week,” Sword explained. “I’m going to take a break for a week and not make myself too anxious, but I will watch it after that week.”
Getting his game to this level has been a struggle physically for Sword, who tore his bicep five years ago. It took him a lot of time and hard work to get to this day.
“It was a struggle for several years to get back to form after the injury,” said Sword, who made his fifth consecutive Open Championships appearance. “I took plenty of physical therapy and slowly worked my way back.”
While reflecting on his accomplishments and holding the lead at the Open Championships, Sword said, “Bowling well in this tournament always means the most. Finally getting to prove myself feels good.”
Witt also had held the record for the highest all-events total in the Standard Division since its introduction at the 2017 event.
Standard All-Events consists of bowlers with an entering average of 156-175.
MORE MILESTONES
Three bowlers made milestone appearances during the same squad May 22.
Lawrence Kubiak of Daytona Beach, Calif., was the first to be recognized as he joined the tournament’s 50-Year Club. Kubiak began his tournament career at the 1972 event in Long Beach, California, and he now was knocked over 75,596 pins for a lifetime average of 171.4 in 50 appearances.
Up next, Mike Schmid of Minneapolis became the 31st bowler in tournament history to make his 60th appearance at the Open Championships. Schmid joined the 100,000-Pin Club at the South Point Bowling Plaza in 2019, and he now stands with a career pinfall of 103,487 in 60 appearances for an average of 190.5.
Finally, Robert Teeters of Lapel, Ind., was recognized for his 65th appearance. He’s now one of just 16 bowlers to reach 65 years on the championship lanes. Teeters began his journey at the Open Championships at the age of 12 in 1955, and he also is part of the 100,000-Pin Club. After his appearance this week, Teeters now has toppled 106,953 pins for a lifetime average of 182.8.
A total of 24 bowlers have joined the 100,000-Pin Club at the Open Championships.
LOOKING AHEAD
Two Regular Division champions will put their titles on the line this week.
Andrew Anderson of Holly, Mich., was the only bowler at the 2021 Open Championships to roll an 800 series in singles competition, firing games of 269, 277 and 256 for an 802 set to win Regular Singles.
The 2018 USBC Masters champion and Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year will defend his singles title May 28 during the 10:30 a.m. (Pacific) squad.
On May 29, Chris Via of Blacklick, Ohio, will begin his title defense of Regular All-Events after posting the third highest nine-game score in tournament history in 2021 with a 2,303 effort.
The 2021 U.S. Open champion started his run at the 2021 event with an 825 series in team and added sets of 768 in singles and 710 in doubles to become the third player to eclipse 2,300 at the Open Championships. He will take to the lanes May 29 at 9:30 p.m. (Pacific) for his team event and return at the same time May 30 for doubles and singles.