Illinois team moves into Standard lead at 2018 USBC Open Championships

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Bowlers ER Tres of Park Ridge, Illinois, was able to mix its veteran leadership with a youthful spark on its way to the top of the Standard Team standings at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with a 2,843 total.

Led by Jason Intravaia's 639 series, The Bowler ER Tres rolled games of 921, 975 and 947 to cruise into the lead by more than 100 pins at the Oncenter Convention Center. AJ's Boys & Grandkids of Sparta, Michigan, previously held the lead with 2,735.

Intravaia, a first-time USBC Open Championships participant, was joined in the effort by Daniel Luncsford (613), Tracy Anderson (544), Bill Shaw (536) and Jannard Remo (511).

Luncsford, who made his 30th Open Championships appearance, was able to offer his guidance in helping prepare Intravaia and Remo, who also made his debut in 2018, for their first visit to the event.

The team practiced together prior to leaving for Syracuse, and Anderson, a two-time winner at the USBC Women's Championships, joined the group as a last-minute substitute.

The team took advantage of some time on the lanes in Syracuse to further build their chemistry as the younger players began to buy into the process of working together for the betterment of the team.

"Dan really took the younger guys under his wing," said Anderson, who helped Eagles Edge Pro Shop to the 2011 Diamond Team and 2013 Scratch Team titles at the Women's Championships. "They practiced a lot at home before the event, and I practiced with them once we got to Syracuse. It wasn't Dan's first rodeo, so he really helped them understand how to break the lane down, and they were soaking in that information. They were very open to working together and trusting our direction, and it worked. That's definitely the thing we are most proud of."

Anderson's team victory at the 2011 Women's Championships also took place at the Oncenter Convention Center, and another win in the Salt City would place her in exclusive company.

Only USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nevada, has won a title at both the Open and Women's Championships. Macpherson captured the 2006 Regular Singles title in Corpus Christi, Texas, with an 812 series, and she's claimed a total of five wins at the Women's Championships during her career.

Anderson knows she wouldn't be in this position without the support of those around her, and she credits the team's chemistry in making the run to the top of the leaderboard.

"It's quite overwhelming," said Anderson, who made her 10th Open Championships appearance. "The chemistry really brought us together, mixing the veterans with the younger players, and they bowled great. I'm very appreciative of the people around me and who support me, and I know I can't take credit by myself. You can't do things like this alone, and I'm super thankful."

Standard Team features five-player teams with combined entering averages of 901-1,045.

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