Jensen edges into lead at 2015 Open Championships
March 20, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - For the second consecutive year, Tyler Jensen of Fort Worth, Texas, was able to see his name at the top of the leaderboard at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships after finding his way into the lead in Regular All-Events on Friday.
The 31-year-old right-hander posted sets of 707 in doubles, 676 in singles and 598 in team to finish with a 1,981 total at the El Paso Convention Center, just three pins ahead of previous leader Terrance Reeves III of Winter Haven, Florida.
Jensen took advantage of several sessions at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC at the nearby Showcase Lanes to get a feel for the 39-foot USBC Sport-certified lane condition also used for doubles and singles at the USBC Open Championships.
Since 2013, the Open Championships has featured two different lane conditions - one for team event and one for doubles and singles - and fresh oil for every squad.
"We got in a couple of sets at the Bowlers Journal, and that helped a lot," said Jensen, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance. "They are pretty tough compared to last year, so it feels good to go out and shoot that score."
As his nine games came to a close Friday, Jensen's teammates knew he had a chance to take the lead, but a brief delay at the beginning of singles was a turning point that gave him a chance to refocus on the task at hand.
"Hank (Boomershine) kept saying I needed to get one more double, so I thought I might be close to something," said Jensen, who now owns an Open Championships career average of 212.1. "It's kind of funny, after bowling well in doubles, we had a (ball return) breakdown in the middle of the first game of singles. It gave me a minute to relax and was probably a good thing."
At the 2014 event in Reno, Nevada, Jensen helped Storm Products Inc. of Brigham City, Utah, take the early lead in Regular Team on the way to a top-50 finish. On Thursday, the team fell just short of taking the lead again and settled into second place with 2,963. The Cutting Edge of Windsor, Colorado, leads Regular Team with 3,032.
Although they strive for success each year, Jensen said the opportunity to compete also is a chance to create a stronger bond for the group.
"It's more a bonding trip for us," said Jensen, a regional sales manager for Storm Products. "It's one of the best things that the Open Championships provides. It gives us a chance to spend nine games on the lanes together and is just a great experience."
The 15-time Professional Bowlers Association regional champion now will head several hours east to defend his title at the PBA Odessa Southwest Open this weekend and appreciates the challenge provided at the Open Championships.
"My teammates give me a hard time because there always seems to be a regional after nationals each year, and I have fared pretty well at those after some mediocre performances here," Jensen said. "It's a great tune up heading into that event, so I'm looking forward to trying to defend my title."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 31-year-old right-hander posted sets of 707 in doubles, 676 in singles and 598 in team to finish with a 1,981 total at the El Paso Convention Center, just three pins ahead of previous leader Terrance Reeves III of Winter Haven, Florida.
Jensen took advantage of several sessions at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC at the nearby Showcase Lanes to get a feel for the 39-foot USBC Sport-certified lane condition also used for doubles and singles at the USBC Open Championships.
Since 2013, the Open Championships has featured two different lane conditions - one for team event and one for doubles and singles - and fresh oil for every squad.
"We got in a couple of sets at the Bowlers Journal, and that helped a lot," said Jensen, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance. "They are pretty tough compared to last year, so it feels good to go out and shoot that score."
As his nine games came to a close Friday, Jensen's teammates knew he had a chance to take the lead, but a brief delay at the beginning of singles was a turning point that gave him a chance to refocus on the task at hand.
"Hank (Boomershine) kept saying I needed to get one more double, so I thought I might be close to something," said Jensen, who now owns an Open Championships career average of 212.1. "It's kind of funny, after bowling well in doubles, we had a (ball return) breakdown in the middle of the first game of singles. It gave me a minute to relax and was probably a good thing."
At the 2014 event in Reno, Nevada, Jensen helped Storm Products Inc. of Brigham City, Utah, take the early lead in Regular Team on the way to a top-50 finish. On Thursday, the team fell just short of taking the lead again and settled into second place with 2,963. The Cutting Edge of Windsor, Colorado, leads Regular Team with 3,032.
Although they strive for success each year, Jensen said the opportunity to compete also is a chance to create a stronger bond for the group.
"It's more a bonding trip for us," said Jensen, a regional sales manager for Storm Products. "It's one of the best things that the Open Championships provides. It gives us a chance to spend nine games on the lanes together and is just a great experience."
The 15-time Professional Bowlers Association regional champion now will head several hours east to defend his title at the PBA Odessa Southwest Open this weekend and appreciates the challenge provided at the Open Championships.
"My teammates give me a hard time because there always seems to be a regional after nationals each year, and I have fared pretty well at those after some mediocre performances here," Jensen said. "It's a great tune up heading into that event, so I'm looking forward to trying to defend my title."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.