Zagar leads singles at 2015 Bowlers Journal
July 04, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - A day before making his United States Bowling Congress Open Championships debut, Ryan Zagar of Kenosha, Wisconsin, delivered two clutch strikes to take the Open Singles lead at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC.
The 21-year-old right-hander rolled games of 266, 243 and 257 for a 766 series Friday at the El Paso Convention Center and jumped ahead of the 757 previously posted by Sean Corbett of San Antonio. The estimated top prize in Open Singles this year is $10,000, based on entries.
Zagar also competed in doubles during the same set to become eligible for the Dual Entry prize list. His total also surpassed Sean Brady of Cincinnati, who previously held the lead with 754.
Although Zagar may be one of the younger competitors at the 2015 USBC Open Championships, he already has put together an impressive career that includes helping Robert Morris-Illinois capture the men's title at the 2013 XBowling Intercollegiate Team Championships and a stint on Junior Team USA in 2014.
His continued success helped him land a spot at the Open Championships with a talented young group of competitors, which includes 2013 Regular All-Events champion John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, and several of Szczerbinski's former Wichita State teammates.
Zagar leaned on their experience as he made his run on the Showcase Lanes inside the El Paso Convention Center. The Showcase Lanes are located next to the 52 lanes being used for the Open Championships, and the Bowlers Journal Championships features the 39-foot Sport Bowling-certified doubles and singles lane condition Zagar and his teammates will face in the big stage Sunday.
"Bowling with guys like John Szczerbinski, Jesse Buss, Ryan Abel, Chris Drewes, all veterans of the game and this tournament, helped me keep my emotions in check," Zagar said. "They told me to just keep making one good shot at a time, and that's what led to the big set."
Zagar did not know the exact number he needed as he made his way down the stretch, but his teammates let him know when he reached it.
"I kind of hinted to Chris that I was close, and he told me not to worry about it and that I'd be there when it was all said and done," said Zagar, who also moved into a tie for sixth place in Open Doubles with Drewes (1,394). "I ended up needing a double in the 10th and had no idea. I aced the first one and just absolutely blew the rack on the next one. He came up and gave me a big high-five with a little extra force behind it, and I knew it was enough."
This year's trip to El Paso nearly did not happen for Zagar, however, after several opportunities to join other groups fell through.
"I was planning on bowling with Marshall Kent, one of my collegiate teammates, but he ended up winning a PBA Tour title overseas and became ineligible," Zagar said. "Another collegiate teammate, Matt Gasn, tried to get me on their team but they filled their fifth spot. I get my equipment drilled by Mike Dole, and Jesse goes to the same shop. One day I was at the shop and Jesse asked me if I was bowling the USBC (Open Championships). I told him I didn't have a team, and he told me I was in. That's how I ended up here today."
Zagar and his team will be broadcast live on BowlTV on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Despite his performance Thursday, he knows a new challenge awaits at the Open Championships.
"It definitely loosened up the swing," Zagar said. "But bowling with this veteran group isn't about singles. What I did today was great, but tomorrow, it's over with. We just need to focus on our game plan and attack the lanes the way we need to and hoping for a good day tomorrow."
The Bowlers Journal Championships is in its 69th year alongside the Open Championships, and the two have been held under the same roof since 2013.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 21-year-old right-hander rolled games of 266, 243 and 257 for a 766 series Friday at the El Paso Convention Center and jumped ahead of the 757 previously posted by Sean Corbett of San Antonio. The estimated top prize in Open Singles this year is $10,000, based on entries.
Zagar also competed in doubles during the same set to become eligible for the Dual Entry prize list. His total also surpassed Sean Brady of Cincinnati, who previously held the lead with 754.
Although Zagar may be one of the younger competitors at the 2015 USBC Open Championships, he already has put together an impressive career that includes helping Robert Morris-Illinois capture the men's title at the 2013 XBowling Intercollegiate Team Championships and a stint on Junior Team USA in 2014.
His continued success helped him land a spot at the Open Championships with a talented young group of competitors, which includes 2013 Regular All-Events champion John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, and several of Szczerbinski's former Wichita State teammates.
Zagar leaned on their experience as he made his run on the Showcase Lanes inside the El Paso Convention Center. The Showcase Lanes are located next to the 52 lanes being used for the Open Championships, and the Bowlers Journal Championships features the 39-foot Sport Bowling-certified doubles and singles lane condition Zagar and his teammates will face in the big stage Sunday.
"Bowling with guys like John Szczerbinski, Jesse Buss, Ryan Abel, Chris Drewes, all veterans of the game and this tournament, helped me keep my emotions in check," Zagar said. "They told me to just keep making one good shot at a time, and that's what led to the big set."
Zagar did not know the exact number he needed as he made his way down the stretch, but his teammates let him know when he reached it.
"I kind of hinted to Chris that I was close, and he told me not to worry about it and that I'd be there when it was all said and done," said Zagar, who also moved into a tie for sixth place in Open Doubles with Drewes (1,394). "I ended up needing a double in the 10th and had no idea. I aced the first one and just absolutely blew the rack on the next one. He came up and gave me a big high-five with a little extra force behind it, and I knew it was enough."
This year's trip to El Paso nearly did not happen for Zagar, however, after several opportunities to join other groups fell through.
"I was planning on bowling with Marshall Kent, one of my collegiate teammates, but he ended up winning a PBA Tour title overseas and became ineligible," Zagar said. "Another collegiate teammate, Matt Gasn, tried to get me on their team but they filled their fifth spot. I get my equipment drilled by Mike Dole, and Jesse goes to the same shop. One day I was at the shop and Jesse asked me if I was bowling the USBC (Open Championships). I told him I didn't have a team, and he told me I was in. That's how I ended up here today."
Zagar and his team will be broadcast live on BowlTV on Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Despite his performance Thursday, he knows a new challenge awaits at the Open Championships.
"It definitely loosened up the swing," Zagar said. "But bowling with this veteran group isn't about singles. What I did today was great, but tomorrow, it's over with. We just need to focus on our game plan and attack the lanes the way we need to and hoping for a good day tomorrow."
The Bowlers Journal Championships is in its 69th year alongside the Open Championships, and the two have been held under the same roof since 2013.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.