Florida bowler takes Regular Singles lead at 2017 USBC Open Championships
June 25, 2017
LAS VEGAS - Ron Jacobson of Jupiter, Florida, never pictured himself as being the player in position to win a title at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but rather as a supportive teammate ready to help others succeed.
The focus changed for Jacobson during his singles set at the 2017 event as the path to the pocket became clear for the 56-year-old right-hander. He went on to take the lead in Regular Singles with an 804 series.
Jacobson rolled games of 269, 258 and 277 at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Sunday to edge his way into the top spot, surpassing the 802 total posted by Matt Gasn of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Steve De Kerf Jr. of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
Gasn and De Kerf had shared the top spot for nearly three months, rolling their 800 series March 25 and March 31, respectively.
Needing 275 in his final game for a share of the lead, Jacobson started with a spare before connecting for strikes on his next eight deliveries to set up the 10th frame. He rolled his ninth consecutive strike to start the 10th and secured enough for the outright lead, despite leaving the 3-6 combination on his second shot. He was unable to convert the spare, leaving the 6 pin standing.
"Going into the final game, my attitude was that I needed them all," said Jacobson, who made his 14th USBC Open Championships appearance. "After the first one in the 10th, I went back, tried to calm myself down and took some extra time. I was nervous, no doubt about it, and ended up pulling it. I thought I needed that one, but that's when Larry Brande came running up to me to let me know I had got it. I almost started to cry."
With the way Sunday's doubles set started for Jacobson, rolling the third 800 series of the 2017 Open Championships wasn't on his mind as he lost his look on the outside portion of the lane.
However, Jacobson relied on his teammates bowling one pair to the right, to see how they were attacking the lane condition.
"I was lost and couldn't stay outside," said Jacobson, who added sets of 656 in team and 564 in doubles for a 2,024 all-events total, a personal best on the championship lanes. "Normally, that's where I like to be, but I couldn't stay there anymore and wasn't sure where to move to. I walked behind them to see where they were playing and asked what they were trying to do. By the end of doubles, I was able to get into that area, and it opened up."
Upon joining a talented group of Open Championships competitors, including Brande, four-time Professional Bowlers Association titlist Steve Wilson, Paul Koehler, Mark Booke and Andrew Colon, who rolled a perfect game at the 2013 event, Jacobson wanted to do what he could to help them find success.
Finding individual success was secondary, but now Jacobson will join his teammates in waiting for the conclusion of the 2017 event, which ends July 16. The 2017 Open Championships kicked off Feb. 18.
"When they invited me to be on the companion team, I told them I wasn't Eagle material, but I'd be more than happy to be the guy trying to help them set up the shot," said Jacobson, who rolled 28 strikes in his singles set. "I never thought I'd be in a position to win an Eagle, but it would really mean the world if I was able to hold on."
Regular Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 210 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
The focus changed for Jacobson during his singles set at the 2017 event as the path to the pocket became clear for the 56-year-old right-hander. He went on to take the lead in Regular Singles with an 804 series.
Jacobson rolled games of 269, 258 and 277 at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Sunday to edge his way into the top spot, surpassing the 802 total posted by Matt Gasn of Clarksville, Tennessee, and Steve De Kerf Jr. of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
Gasn and De Kerf had shared the top spot for nearly three months, rolling their 800 series March 25 and March 31, respectively.
Needing 275 in his final game for a share of the lead, Jacobson started with a spare before connecting for strikes on his next eight deliveries to set up the 10th frame. He rolled his ninth consecutive strike to start the 10th and secured enough for the outright lead, despite leaving the 3-6 combination on his second shot. He was unable to convert the spare, leaving the 6 pin standing.
"Going into the final game, my attitude was that I needed them all," said Jacobson, who made his 14th USBC Open Championships appearance. "After the first one in the 10th, I went back, tried to calm myself down and took some extra time. I was nervous, no doubt about it, and ended up pulling it. I thought I needed that one, but that's when Larry Brande came running up to me to let me know I had got it. I almost started to cry."
With the way Sunday's doubles set started for Jacobson, rolling the third 800 series of the 2017 Open Championships wasn't on his mind as he lost his look on the outside portion of the lane.
However, Jacobson relied on his teammates bowling one pair to the right, to see how they were attacking the lane condition.
"I was lost and couldn't stay outside," said Jacobson, who added sets of 656 in team and 564 in doubles for a 2,024 all-events total, a personal best on the championship lanes. "Normally, that's where I like to be, but I couldn't stay there anymore and wasn't sure where to move to. I walked behind them to see where they were playing and asked what they were trying to do. By the end of doubles, I was able to get into that area, and it opened up."
Upon joining a talented group of Open Championships competitors, including Brande, four-time Professional Bowlers Association titlist Steve Wilson, Paul Koehler, Mark Booke and Andrew Colon, who rolled a perfect game at the 2013 event, Jacobson wanted to do what he could to help them find success.
Finding individual success was secondary, but now Jacobson will join his teammates in waiting for the conclusion of the 2017 event, which ends July 16. The 2017 Open Championships kicked off Feb. 18.
"When they invited me to be on the companion team, I told them I wasn't Eagle material, but I'd be more than happy to be the guy trying to help them set up the shot," said Jacobson, who rolled 28 strikes in his singles set. "I never thought I'd be in a position to win an Eagle, but it would really mean the world if I was able to hold on."
Regular Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 210 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.