By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — Clancy Mueller of St. Charles, Mo., added to his legacy at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as he became the 25th bowler to reach 100,000 pins for his career June 17 at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 85-year-old right-hander entered his third game of doubles needing two pins to secure the milestone, and he delivered an eight count, leaving a 6-10 combination, and converted the spare as he was welcomed to one of the tournament’s most elite clubs.
Mueller, a St. Louis USBC Hall of Famer, was presented with the coveted crystal pin awarded to members of the 100,000-Pin Club at the USBC Open Championships after he finished the frame, and with his 61st appearance now complete, he has toppled 100,671 pins for a lifetime average of 183.3.
Needing 845 pins at the 2022 event to achieve the feat, Mueller rolled sets of 545 in team, 437 in doubles and 534 in singles for a 1,516 all-events total.
“I was pressing, no doubt about it,” Mueller said about his nerves leading up to the moment. “There isn’t much I haven’t accomplished in bowling for a so-so bowler, and to do this is really quite a deal for me. I’m really just happy to be here.”
Mueller made his debut at the 1955 Open Championships in Fort Wayne, Ind., and his 50th appearance took place in 2010 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
He became the 28th bowler in tournament history to reach 60 years at the event last year at South Point, and now is one of 32 to achieve six decades on the championship lanes over 118 editions of the Open Championships.
TAKING CLASSIFIED ALL-EVENTS LEADAndrew Hall of Safety Harbor, Fla., turned in the top two sets of his 17-year career at the USBC Open Championships to move into the lead in Classified All-Events at the 2022 event.
The 40-year-old right-hander rolled scores of 643 in team, 617 in doubles and 597 in singles for a 1,857 total. Ronald Hilliard of Lancaster, Calif., had held the lead in Classified All-Events since March 16, the fourth day of the 2022 event, with 1,824. Hilliard still holds the lead in Classified Singles with 665.
Classified All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
MAGIC 50
Fran Engro of Phoenixville, Pa., made his 50th consecutive appearance at the USBC Open Championships on June 15.
The 71-year-old began his tournament career at the 1971 event in Detroit, and he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin at the South Point Bowling Plaza to commemorate the achievement.
He was joined in his milestone march to the lanes by his son, Dan, and longtime doubles partner, Larry Baldassano. Engro and Baldassano have bowled doubles together at the Open Championships for their last 48 appearances.
In his 50th appearance, Engro rolled sets of 573 in doubles, 542 in singles and 526 in team for an all-events total of 1,641. He now has a career pinfall of 84,241 for a lifetime average of 187.2.
LOOKING AHEAD
The next milestone presentation at the 2022 USBC Open Championships will be for Frankie May of Sinking Springs, Pa.
May will celebrate his 55th appearance June 23 at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 79-year-old right-hander has toppled 96,068 pins in his first 54 trips to the event for a lifetime average of 197.7.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of June 21, 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, Holly Lanes 3, Sanford, Mich., 3,404. 5(tie), Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., and BowlU 1, Kenmore, N.Y., 3,403. 7, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 3,398. 8, Bay Area Pro Shop — Motiv, San Jose, Calif., 3,373. 9, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,372. 10, Next Gen Pro Shop 1, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,358.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 351 and above)
1, Kyle Krol, Tinley Park, Ill./Kyle Damon, Orland Park, Ill., 1,522. 2, Nick Powanda, San Diego/Tony Odom, Palm Springs, Calif., 1,518. 3, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y./Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 1,485. 4(tie), Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas/Billy Rogers, Denison, Texas, and Gregory Young Jr., East Dundee, Ill./Aaron Ruiz, Nashville, Tenn., 1,479. 6(tie), Christopher Lamb, Rochester, N.Y./Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., and Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas/Marc Heninger, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 1,471. 8, Chad Meyer/Antonio Tejeda, Alexandria, Minn., 1,465. 9(tie), Jay Lang, Sterling Heights, Mich./Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., and Jacob Klein, Islip, N.Y./Ryan Reese, Buffalo, N.Y., 1,455.
Singles
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Scott Patke, Lansing, Mich., 835. 2, Jeff Nimke, Appleton, Wis., 796. 3(tie), Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., and William Gensch, Greenwood Village, Colo., 791. 5, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 790. 6, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 788. 7, Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 787. 8(tie), Brandon St. Onge, Zephyrhills, Fla., Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., Paul Enright, Henderson, Nev., and Dusten Moore, San Antonio, 781.
All-Events
(Averages of 176 and above)
1, Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., 2,241. 2, Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., 2,222. 3, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 2,220. 4, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2,219. 5, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y., 2,212. 6, EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., 2,203. 7, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Redford, Mich., 2,201. 8, Thomas Sorce, Blasdell, N.Y., 2,199. 9(tie), Perry Crowell IV, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas, 2,197.
Team All-Events
1, DiLaura Brothers 1 (Jay Lang, John Buffa, Ryan VanHecke, John Kelley, Ronnie Sparks Jr.), Clinton Township, Mich., 10,585. 2, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 10,538. 3, Mento Produce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,444. 4, BowlU 1, Kenmore, N.Y., 10,422. 5, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,140. 6, K and J Finishing 1, Carpentersville, Ill., 10,118. 7, Lightning Strikes Pro Shop, Rochester, N.Y., 10,116. 8, Him Bowling Team 14, Chula Vista, Calif., 10,057. 9, Finish Him!!!, Melissa, Texas, 10,009. 1, Vi Jines Bar, Ingleside, Ill., 9,982.
STANDARD DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 776-875)
1, JW’s All Stars (Andrew Lawson, Edwin Jawdy, Russell Weltzien, Bryan Jones, Keith Bradford), Wellington, Fla., 3,132. 2, Lemont Bandits, Oak Lawn, Ill., 3,097. 3, Dale Diamond Team 2, Chatham, Ill., 3,079. 4, Cinderella Shoes, Bradley, Ill., 3,005. 5, Explosive Pin Action, Leesburg, Ga., 3,003. 6, Sunshine POS, Phoenix, 3,001. 7, Imperial Lanes, Clinton, Iowa, 2,977. 8, Sweetheart Tenpin Bowling, Loveland, Colo., 2,970. 9(tie), Merrill-2, Mondovi, Wis., and Bowlers Pro Shop 3, Denham Springs, La., 2,967.
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, Devin Shepherd, Pylesville, Md./Ryan Bass, Northfield, Ohio, 1,304. 6, Anthony Dann, Dayton, Ohio/Sheldon Short, Huber Heights, Ohio, 1,291. 7, Eric Davis, Fall Creek, Wis./Michael Holzhueter, Menomonie, Wis., 1,287. 8, Raffy Stodomingo, Torrance, Calif./Hermie LaBaquin, Cerritos, Calif., 1,267. 9, Brad Suttorp/Ron Morrison, Columbus, Ohio, 1,258. 10, Keith Betts/Bryan Miloshoff, Griffith, Ind., 1,257.
Singles
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Sky Gettys, Thornville, Ohio, 763. 2, Joseph Saccente, West Sayville, N.Y., 730. 3, Mike Paulsen, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 718. 4, Edward Zurawski, Woodstock, Ill., 716. 5(tie), William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn., and Richard Zaitonia, Chesterfield, Mich., 714. 7, Chuck Herman, Broken Bow, Neb., 711. 8, Devin Norton, Lakeland, Fla., 706. 9(tie), Daryl Stephens, Gilbert, Ariz., and Chris Walcher, Springfield, Ill., 705.
All-Events
(Averages of 156-175)
1, Dustin Sword, Rittman, Ohio, 1,994. 2, Gregory Witt, Phoenix, 1,982. 3, William Bradford, Plano, Ill., 1,972. 4, Dean Bruinsma, Clear Lake, S.D., 1,959. 5, Sky Gettys, Thornville, Ohio, 1,947. 6, David Lee, South Bound Brook, N.J., 1,944. 7, James Lamb, Rock Hill, S.C., 1,935. 8, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,930. 9, James Hamrick, Springfield, Ill., 1,927. 10, Kurtis Baird, Meadville, Pa., 1,914.
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, Kulshan Brewery, Bellingham, Wash., 2,694. 3, Witt’s Classified Family Affair, Phoenix, 2,681. 4, Rocky Mountain Insurance Group, Clancy, Mont., 2,677. 5, Wildcards, Aurora, Colo., 2,673. 6, BG Pizza Hut, Fostoria, Ohio, 2,669. 6, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668. 8, Halos, Bloomington, Ill., 2,662. 9, Walker Farms, Portales, N.M., 2,648. 10, King Pin Lanes Team 3, Campbellsport, Wis., 2,629.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, Melissa Burnham/Dennis Burnham, White River Junction, Vt., 1,188. 2, Terri Donahue, Ulster Park, N.Y./Ronald Jackson, Stone Ridge, N.Y., 1,165. 3, Jason Clark/Kenneth Clark, Crowley, Texas, 1,164. 4, John Brazzillo, Los Banos, Calif./Anthony Carvalho, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1,153. 5, Brenden Hutchinson/Robert Schuller, Salem, Ore., 1,146. 6, Betsy Nigh/Nathan Nigh, Rushville, Ind., 1,138. 7, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 8, Ryan Thebarge, Windham, Maine/Dan Boothby, Buxton, Maine, 1,125. 9, Gordon Hudson, Arbela, Mo./Tom Bridgman, Bloomfield, Iowa, 1,120. 10, Linda Carlson/Vernon Carlson, Slaughter, La., 1,115.
Singles
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 665. 2, Hunter Reber, Cedar City, Utah, 657. 3, John Lesner, Cave Creek, Ariz., 653. 4, Joseph Callas, Spring Grove, Ill., 648. 5, Edwin Humbert, Strasburg, Colo., 644. 6, Bruce Cody, Salem, Ohio, 643. 7(tie), Dean Crick, Waddell, Ariz., and Benjamin Tingue, Stafford, Va., 636. 9(tie), Billy Duvall, Bloomington, Ind., Lucas Janda, Leander, Texas, and Tony Untalan, Del Rio, Texas, 633.
All-Events
(Averages of 155 and below)
1, Andrew Hall, Safety Harbor, Fla., 1,857. 2, Ronald Hilliard, Lancaster, Calif., 1,824. 3, Tyler O’Neill, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1,783. 4, Wayne Eaves, Boynton Beach, Fla.,1,774. 5, Joseph Constantino, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 1,772. 6, Bruce Heekin, Jamestown, Tenn., 1,744. 7, Joseph Callas, Spring Grove, Ill., 1,738. 8, Mitch Jones, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,734. 9, Jonathan Viernes, Galveston, Texas, 1,733. 10, Daxdon Marrott, Santaquin, Utah, 1,732.