Iowa bowler perfect at 2015 Open Championships
April 28, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - Gregory Engelkes of Cedar Falls, Iowa, enjoys bowling doubles at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with his father, Joseph, and the two have a new memory to share after Gregory rolled the fourth perfect game of the 2015 event Tuesday.
The 29-year-old right-hander kicked off his doubles event at the El Paso Convention Center with 12 consecutive strikes and added games of 181 and 225 for a 706 series. Joseph, making his 39th USBC Open Championships appearance, chipped in with a 599 set to give the pair a final tally of 1,305, which sits just outside of the top 10 in Regular Doubles.
Jeremy Sonnenfeld, a 2001 Team All-Events champion, and Tom Woodworth of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, lead Regular Doubles with 1,372.
"That was pretty cool," said Engelkes, who made his 11th tournament appearance. "There aren't many things I can do that he already hasn't done. It couldn't be a better feeling than doing that with him as my doubles partner."
Engelkes used a session at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC to prepare for his time at the Open Championships, and although nerves were present in the 10th frame of his 300 run, he delivered three terrific shots to earn his place in the record books.
"We bowled the Bowlers Journal, and I had a pretty good look and similar reaction over there," said Engelkes, who bowls league at Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo, Iowa. "I was a little more nervous than usual. I just wanted to make sure to make good shots. I threw the first one pretty good and got a little lucky on the second one. On the third one, I felt really relaxed, and it was good off of my hand."
Several members of Engelkes' group also have been able to connect for a perfect game on the championship lanes. Gordon Kilpatrick of Waterloo, Iowa, posted a 300 game during singles at the 2009 event in Las Vegas, while Matthew Smith of Altoona, Iowa, delivered 12 consecutive strikes during singles in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2012.
Now, Engelkes looks forward in getting to share in that recognition each year as a tournament celebrity.
"It's pretty awesome," Engelkes said. "We were joking that I was only one in our group who doesn't have at least 20 years. But, now, I'll get my name called, and I get to get off the bench. I'm pretty excited about that."
Shortly after Gregory and Joseph finished doubles and singles, another father-son duo hit the lanes at the El Paso Convention Center.
Defending Regular Doubles champions Clark and Carl Poelzer of Arden Hills, Minnesota, were presented with their championship watches prior to their team event, and they will return Wednesday to put their title on the line live on BowlTV at 3 p.m. EDT.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 29-year-old right-hander kicked off his doubles event at the El Paso Convention Center with 12 consecutive strikes and added games of 181 and 225 for a 706 series. Joseph, making his 39th USBC Open Championships appearance, chipped in with a 599 set to give the pair a final tally of 1,305, which sits just outside of the top 10 in Regular Doubles.
Jeremy Sonnenfeld, a 2001 Team All-Events champion, and Tom Woodworth of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, lead Regular Doubles with 1,372.
"That was pretty cool," said Engelkes, who made his 11th tournament appearance. "There aren't many things I can do that he already hasn't done. It couldn't be a better feeling than doing that with him as my doubles partner."
Engelkes used a session at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC to prepare for his time at the Open Championships, and although nerves were present in the 10th frame of his 300 run, he delivered three terrific shots to earn his place in the record books.
"We bowled the Bowlers Journal, and I had a pretty good look and similar reaction over there," said Engelkes, who bowls league at Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo, Iowa. "I was a little more nervous than usual. I just wanted to make sure to make good shots. I threw the first one pretty good and got a little lucky on the second one. On the third one, I felt really relaxed, and it was good off of my hand."
Several members of Engelkes' group also have been able to connect for a perfect game on the championship lanes. Gordon Kilpatrick of Waterloo, Iowa, posted a 300 game during singles at the 2009 event in Las Vegas, while Matthew Smith of Altoona, Iowa, delivered 12 consecutive strikes during singles in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2012.
Now, Engelkes looks forward in getting to share in that recognition each year as a tournament celebrity.
"It's pretty awesome," Engelkes said. "We were joking that I was only one in our group who doesn't have at least 20 years. But, now, I'll get my name called, and I get to get off the bench. I'm pretty excited about that."
Shortly after Gregory and Joseph finished doubles and singles, another father-son duo hit the lanes at the El Paso Convention Center.
Defending Regular Doubles champions Clark and Carl Poelzer of Arden Hills, Minnesota, were presented with their championship watches prior to their team event, and they will return Wednesday to put their title on the line live on BowlTV at 3 p.m. EDT.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.