Success continues for first-timer at 2015 USBC Open
July 05, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - Ryan Zagar of Kenosha, Wisconsin, experienced a roller coaster of emotions this week at the El Paso Convention Center, but it all made for an unforgettable debut at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The 21-year-old right-hander threw many terrific shots during his nine games at the 2015 USBC Open Championships, exceeded his all-events goal and walked off the lanes in the top 10 in four events, but there's only one shot he'll be playing back in his mind for the time being.
He stepped up in his final frame Sunday needing two strikes and five pins to claim the top spot in the Regular Singles standings. The scenario was similar to the one he faced while securing the Open Singles lead at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC on Friday, but this time, the result wasn't as kind.
After calmly delivering the first strike, Zagar's second shot got away from him and crept high. He left the 6-9 combination, which he converted, but that left him in second place in Regular Singles with a 787 series. Ronnie Sparks Jr. of Redford, Michigan, leads with 793.
"It's hard when you throw the first one so well, but then you don't give the next one a chance," said Zagar, who had games of 255, 266 and 266. "You don't get that many chances at possibly winning an eagle, and to let it get away like that is going to sting for a while."
The first-timer added sets of 667 in doubles and 650 in team for a 2,104 total, which is seventh in Regular All-Events and well past his goal of 2,000. Three-time champion Matt McNiel of Prior Lake, Minnesota, leads this year with 2,226.
Zagar's efforts also helped High Five Gear of Wichita, Kansas, into eighth place in Regular Team with a 3,214 total and 10th place in Team All-Events with 9,628. Zagar was joined by Jesse Buss (1,994), 2013 Regular All-Events winner John Szczerbinski (1,976), Chris Drewes (1,838) and Ryan Abel (1,716).
In coming from Wisconsin, Zagar has grown up hearing tales of the Open Championships, where his father, Matt, rolled a 300 game at the 2002 event in Billings, Montana, and his mentor, Lennie Boresch Jr., collected three titles on the way to the USBC Hall of Fame.
Zagar understands the history and tradition of the event and was fortunate to have the support of a talented and experienced group of teammates, while making his first march down Center Aisle.
"In team event, nerves got me early, but talking with my teammates really helped calm me down," Zagar said. "Winning the team title was the initial goal, and I know how special that would be. This tournament is about digging deep, and I feel like I did that the best I could today. There's few words to describe what happened this week."
While the week may have ended with a long, emotional moment of reflection at the back of the approach behind lane 13, Zagar will use that as motivation as he continues his Open Championships career in 2016.
He also knows that once he's on the plane back to Wisconsin, everything will sink in, and his final memories of his time in El Paso will be a little different.
With the 2015 tournaments scheduled to conclude in just six days, Zagar is in position to take home approximately $10,000 if he can hold onto to the Open Singles title at the Bowlers Journal Championships. He leads with a 766 total, bowled on the same 39-foot Sport Bowling-certified lane condition he saw on the main tournament lanes Sunday.
He'll also snag a nice share of the multi-million-dollar prize fund at the Open Championships, and a couple of top-10 finishes would be a nice start to a hall-of-fame resume.
"Because I love bowling so much, I'm sure in a few hours I'll still be a little bitter about what happened today, but I know that was on me, and I didn't make the best shot I could when I needed to," Zagar said. "But, when I get on that plane and it all sets in, I'll realize how special this week really was."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
The 21-year-old right-hander threw many terrific shots during his nine games at the 2015 USBC Open Championships, exceeded his all-events goal and walked off the lanes in the top 10 in four events, but there's only one shot he'll be playing back in his mind for the time being.
He stepped up in his final frame Sunday needing two strikes and five pins to claim the top spot in the Regular Singles standings. The scenario was similar to the one he faced while securing the Open Singles lead at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC on Friday, but this time, the result wasn't as kind.
After calmly delivering the first strike, Zagar's second shot got away from him and crept high. He left the 6-9 combination, which he converted, but that left him in second place in Regular Singles with a 787 series. Ronnie Sparks Jr. of Redford, Michigan, leads with 793.
"It's hard when you throw the first one so well, but then you don't give the next one a chance," said Zagar, who had games of 255, 266 and 266. "You don't get that many chances at possibly winning an eagle, and to let it get away like that is going to sting for a while."
The first-timer added sets of 667 in doubles and 650 in team for a 2,104 total, which is seventh in Regular All-Events and well past his goal of 2,000. Three-time champion Matt McNiel of Prior Lake, Minnesota, leads this year with 2,226.
Zagar's efforts also helped High Five Gear of Wichita, Kansas, into eighth place in Regular Team with a 3,214 total and 10th place in Team All-Events with 9,628. Zagar was joined by Jesse Buss (1,994), 2013 Regular All-Events winner John Szczerbinski (1,976), Chris Drewes (1,838) and Ryan Abel (1,716).
In coming from Wisconsin, Zagar has grown up hearing tales of the Open Championships, where his father, Matt, rolled a 300 game at the 2002 event in Billings, Montana, and his mentor, Lennie Boresch Jr., collected three titles on the way to the USBC Hall of Fame.
Zagar understands the history and tradition of the event and was fortunate to have the support of a talented and experienced group of teammates, while making his first march down Center Aisle.
"In team event, nerves got me early, but talking with my teammates really helped calm me down," Zagar said. "Winning the team title was the initial goal, and I know how special that would be. This tournament is about digging deep, and I feel like I did that the best I could today. There's few words to describe what happened this week."
While the week may have ended with a long, emotional moment of reflection at the back of the approach behind lane 13, Zagar will use that as motivation as he continues his Open Championships career in 2016.
He also knows that once he's on the plane back to Wisconsin, everything will sink in, and his final memories of his time in El Paso will be a little different.
With the 2015 tournaments scheduled to conclude in just six days, Zagar is in position to take home approximately $10,000 if he can hold onto to the Open Singles title at the Bowlers Journal Championships. He leads with a 766 total, bowled on the same 39-foot Sport Bowling-certified lane condition he saw on the main tournament lanes Sunday.
He'll also snag a nice share of the multi-million-dollar prize fund at the Open Championships, and a couple of top-10 finishes would be a nice start to a hall-of-fame resume.
"Because I love bowling so much, I'm sure in a few hours I'll still be a little bitter about what happened today, but I know that was on me, and I didn't make the best shot I could when I needed to," Zagar said. "But, when I get on that plane and it all sets in, I'll realize how special this week really was."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.