By AARON SMITH
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS — Sam Swinford of Ponca City, Okla., made a run at the lead in Regular Singles on July 8 at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, firing games of 290, 300 and 245 for an 835 series.
Swinford moved into a tie for second place with Scott Patke of Lansing, Mich. Alex George of Wichita, Kan, had taken the lead July 5 with an 848 series at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
After starting Game 1 with a spare, Swinford threw 26 strikes in a row before a 7 pin stopped his run during the fourth frame of Game 3.
“I wasn’t really thinking about how many strikes I had going,” said Swinford, who made his 12th USBC Open Championships appearance. “I was just standing in the back talking to some buddies of mine that I haven’t seen in a while. They helped me keep my mind off of bowling and what was going on with my score.”
Swinford continued to strike until a nine count and spare in the eighth frame, putting him position to strike out for 258 to tie George for the top spot.
He struck in the ninth and first shot in the 10th, but his next delivery crossed over to leave the 5-6 split. He picked up one on the conversion to tie Patke.
“Giving yourself a chance for an Eagle is what every bowler dreams of,” Swinford said. “I knew I needed all three when I got up in the 10th, but it didn’t work out; nerves got the best of me.”
Swinford had started his 2022 appearance with 619 in team and 539 in doubles for a 1,993 all-events total.
MORE 800s
In addition to Swinford, two other bowlers rolled 800 during the week, bringing the total up to 12 at the Bowling Plaza.
On the squad before Swinford’s run, Terence McQueen of Fresno, Texas, posted 804 in doubles with games of 256, 269 and 279.
McQueen bounced back after 559 in team the previous day and rolled three strikes in his final frame to secure the score. He paired with Zachary Seals of Kingsland, Ga., for a 1,361 total in doubles.
McQueen, a 30-year-old right-hander, added 698 in singles for a 2,061 all-events total.
Nathan Bohr of Round Rock, Texas, connected for an 811 set July 9, which moved him into fourth place in Regular Singles.
The 42-year-old right-hander started the block with 752 in doubles, and he followed with games of 242, 280 and 289 in singles to average more than 260 across his six games.
He started his final game with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving a 4 pin to end his run at 300.
Bohr also bounced back from some struggles in team, rolling 546. He finished all-events with 2,109.
NEW LEADER IN CLASSIFIED DOUBLES
Miguel Sanchez of Oak Park, Ill., and Joseph Costa Jr. of Chicago took advantage of a big start during their doubles set July 11 to take the Classified lead with 1,204.
The pair combined for 490 during their first game at the South Point Bowling Plaza and were able to secure the lead with marks in the final frame. The husband-and-wife team of Dennis and Melissa Burnham of White River Junction, Ver., had led with 1,188.
Costa led the way with games of 258, 196 and 162 for a 616 series, and Sanchez, the 2011 Classified All-Events champion, added 232, 159 and 197 for 588.
The duo had brought some momentum into doubles after helping TP’s Pro Shop 10 of Cicero, Illinois, into second place in Classified Team with a 2,714 total, and Costa also took over third in Classified All-Events with 1,785.
Classified Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 310 and below. Classified Team includes five-player teams with combined entering averages of 775 and below, and Classified All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
NOW 50 300 GAMES
Ron Davis of Orland Park, Ill., and Horacio Arevalo-Perez of Orlando, Fla., helped push the 300 total to 50 on July 8.
Davis, a 58-year-old right-hander, bounced back after a slow start to his team event to cap his day with 12 consecutive strikes for a 601 series.
Arevalo-Perez, a 49-year-old right-hander making his debut at the Open Championships, fired 300 during his second game of singles. He had started the set with 245 and concluded with 211 for a 756 series.
LOOKING AHEAD
The 2022 USBC Open Championships will conclude July 18.
The 118th edition of the event kicked off March 12, and the final doubles and singles squads will take place Monday starting at 2 p.m. Pacific.
The 2023 Open Championships will head to Reno, Nev., and the National Bowling Stadium from March 11 through July 17.
2022 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
South Point Bowling Plaza
Las Vegas
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
As of July 12, 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, Higgy’s Aquarium, Westerville, Ohio, 3,421. 5, Holly Lanes 3, Sanford, Mich., 3,404. 6(tie), Ten Pin Alley 300, Fitchburg, Wis., and BowlU 1, Kenmore, N.Y., 3,403. 8, Bowlers Headquarters, Muskego, Wis., 3,402. 9, Team NABR, Fairport, N.Y., 3,398. 10, Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan., 3,389.
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, Michael Nape Jr./Michael Nape Sr., Yorkville, Ill., 1,512. 4, David Jecko, Whitesboro, N.Y./Steven Arehart, Holland Patent, N.Y., 1,485. 5(tie), Chris Barnes, Denton, Texas/Billy Rogers, Denison, Texas, and Gregory Young Jr., East Dundee, Ill./Aaron Ruiz, Nashville, Tenn., 1,479. 7(tie), Christopher Lamb, Rochester, N.Y./Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., and Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas/Marc Heninger, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 1,471. 9, Chad Meyer/Antonio Tejeda, Alexandria, Minn., 1,465. 10(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, Alex George, Wichita, Kan., 848. 2(tie), Scott Patke, Lansing, Mich., and Sam Swinford, Ponca City, Okla., 835. 4, Nathan Bohr, Round Rock, Texas, 811. 5(tie), Jeff Nimke, Appleton, Wis., and Brandon Vallone, Clarksburg, Mass., 796. 7(tie), Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., and William Gensch, Greenwood Village, Colo., 791. 9, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 790. 10, Frank Calca, Vernon, Conn., 789.
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, Bowlers Headquarters, Muskego, Wis., 10,307. 6, Little Bears Pro Shop 1, Charlotte, N.C., 10,147. 7, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 10,140. 8, K and J Finishing 1, Carpentersville, Ill., 10,118. 9, Lightning Strikes Pro Shop, Rochester, N.Y., 10,116. 10, Strike & Buddies Pro Shops, Fall River, Mass., 10,111.
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, Benjamin Brindle, Odessa, Fla., 737. 3, Troy Cubbage, Cumberland, Md., 732. 4, Joseph Saccente, West Sayville, N.Y., 730. 5, Mike Paulsen, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 718. 6, Edward Zurawski, Woodstock, Ill., 716. 7(tie), William Kolstad, Mendota Heights, Minn., Richard Zaitonia, Chesterfield, Mich., and Janelle Griffin, Upper Marlboro, Md., 714. 10, Chuck Herman, Broken Bow, Neb., 711.
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, Matteo Bergonzi, Lubbock, Texas, 1,942. 8, James Lamb, Rock Hill, S.C., 1,935. 9, Joe Loper, Cottonwood, Ariz., 1,930. 10, James Hamrick, Springfield, Ill., 1,927.
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, TP’s Pro Shop 10, Cicero, Ill., 2,714. 3, Kulshan Brewery, Bellingham, Wash., 2,694. 4, Just Luck No Skills, San Diego, 2,690. 5, Witt’s Classified Family Affair, Phoenix, 2,681. 6, Carters Royal, Cleveland, Ga., 2,678. 7, Rocky Mountain Insurance Group, Clancy, Mont., 2,677. 8, Wildcards, Aurora, Colo., 2,673. 9, BG Pizza Hut, Fostoria, Ohio, 2,669. 10, Farmers Grain, Greenville, Miss., 2,668.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 310 and below)
1, Joseph Costa Jr., Chicago/Miguel Sanchez, Oak Park, Ill., 1,204. 2, Melissa Burnham/Dennis Burnham, White River Junction, Vt., 1,188. 3, Terri Donahue, Ulster Park, N.Y./Ronald Jackson, Stone Ridge, N.Y., 1,165. 4, Jason Clark/Kenneth Clark, Crowley, Texas, 1,164. 5, John Brazzillo, Los Banos, Calif./Anthony Carvalho, Morgan Hill, Calif., 1,153. 6, Brenden Hutchinson/Robert Schuller, Salem, Ore., 1,146. 7, Robert Spiegel/Justin Baird, Lake Placid, Fla., 1,145. 8, Betsy Nigh/Nathan Nigh, Rushville, Ind., 1,138. 9, Arick Shibata, Hilo, Hawaii/Ricky Torres Jr., Kea’au, Hawaii, 1,132. 10, Amber Wurz, Rohnert Park, Calif./Chris Ledda, Tiburon, Calif., 1,131.
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, Joseph Costa Jr., Chicago, 1,785. 4, Tyler O’Neill, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 1,783. 5, Wayne Eaves, Boynton Beach, Fla.,1,774. 6, Joseph Constantino, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 1,772. 7, Bruce Heekin, Jamestown, Tenn., 1,744. 8, Joseph Callas, Spring Grove, Ill., 1,738. 9, Mitch Jones, Costa Mesa, Calif., 1,734. 10, Jonathan Viernes, Galveston, Texas, 1,733.