Pete McCordic shoots 300 en route to doubles lead at 2017 Bowlers Journal Championships

LAS VEGAS - After recently celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of the most iconic 300 games in the history of the Professional Bowlers Association, Pete McCordic of Katy, Texas, added another perfect game to his portfolio as he connected for 12 consecutive strikes at the 2017 Bowlers Journal Championships presented by the United States Bowling Congress.

PaulPeteMcCordic_637The 63-year-old right-hander rolled the second 300 of the 2017 event between games of 215 and 182 for a 697 series Sunday at the South Point Bowling Center, and he paired with his twin brother, Paul McCordic of Sugar Land, Texas, to take the lead in Senior Doubles with a 1,294 total. Paul contributed games of 228, 177 and 192 for a 597 series.

Kyle Sherman of O'Fallon, Missouri, rolled the first perfect game at the 2017 Bowlers Journal Championships on Wednesday, and Robert A. Bures of Mentor, Ohio, and Larry Strell of Eastlake, Ohio, previously held the lead in Senior Doubles with 1,255.

The Bowlers Journal Championships is an annual tradition for McCordic, who will be making his 42nd USBC Open Championships appearance this week at the nearby South Point Bowling Plaza. He was able to record his perfect game during his fourth set at the event.

"We always come in early to bowl a couple shifts to loosen up and get some competition in," said McCordic, a two-time PBA Tour titlist. "I haven't been able to practice much lately, so I was really trying to use this as a way to get ready for the Open Championships. The shot for me was very playable, and I felt if I made good shots, I could put up some scores. I'm still working on my game to get a little sharper, but fortunately, I made 12 really good shots during that game."

Although McCordic only was entered in doubles for that set, his first performance at the event moved him into a tie for second place in Super Senior Singles with 677. Bures leads with 680.

McCordic was entered into the tournament's High Game Jackpot, however, so he'll take home some additional prize money from the jackpot's prize-fund-style payout.

In January, McCordic graced the cover of Bowlers Journal International magazine, which looked back at his performance at the 1987 Greater Los Angeles Open. McCordic rolled the fourth televised perfect game in PBA Tour history on his way to a $100,000 bonus for the effort.

As part of the entry fee at the Bowlers Journal Championships, bowlers receive a one-year subscription to the magazine.

"I'd really like to thank Bob Johnson for writing that article," McCordic said. "It was great to relive that moment through the interview, and to be able to roll 300 at this event right after is pretty neat."

As the regional manager of the PBA's Southwest Region, McCordic may spend more time organizing and running events than competing nowadays, but being able to bowl with his brother and two sons is something he looks forward to each year.

"Being able to bowl with my brother and take the lead is special for us," said McCordic, who finished second with Paul in Regular Doubles in their first Open Championships appearance at the 1973 event in Syracuse, New York. "We both struggled a little bit on the last pair today, otherwise we could have had a really big set. All in all, it was a good set and good day. Bowling together is something we've always enjoyed, and it's great that we also get compete with my two sons and a friend we've had since high school."

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