Ohio quintet surges into Standard Team lead at 2021 USBC Open Championships

By Matt Cannizzaro and Marissa Woolard
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS -
Ohio's Bob Evans said he and his Tug N Tap 2 teammates were at the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to bowl and have fun.

Topping the leaderboard was the icing on the cake for their trip, and they're now the ones to beat in the Standard Team event, which features teams with combined entering averages of 776-875.

The team's move into the top spot Thursday at the South Point Bowling Plaza was the second lead change in as many squads and included games of 973, 1,012 and 972 for a 2,957 total. Seven Pin Pro Shop 3 of Omaha, Nebraska, took the lead just a few hours earlier with 2,904.

Tug N Tap 2 was bowling together at the USBC Open Championships for the second time.

Jesse Konczos leading led the way this year with a 658 series. He was joined on the lanes by Franklin Stockdale (590), Marc Chappo (588), James Konczos (573) and Bob Evans (548).

"We honestly just came here to have fun," said Evans, who made his fourth consecutive tournament appearance, since debuting in 2017. "Our initial goal was just to hit our new averages."

The team's performance Thursday set the mark for the highest team score since the inception of the Standard Division in 2017. The previous best was 2,922, rolled by Minnesota Select Sires 1 of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on the way to the inaugural title, also at the Bowling Plaza.

"We looked up at the end and had no clue we were at the top of the leaderboard," Evans said. "It's honestly an exciting feeling and were so grateful."

Also on Thursday, a new leader emerged in Standard All-Events, with Joshua Sattazahn of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, breaking the 1,800 barrier for the first time in his 17-year Open Championships career.

The 35-year-old closed his 2021 tournament campaign with a career-best 659 series during singles, and the effort was enough to move him into a tie for third place in Standard Singles.

He was consistent over his two days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and South Point Bowling Center and added 603 in doubles and 596 in team for a 1,858 total. 

Gregory Chapman of Murray, Utah, previously held the lead in Standard All-Events with 1,813. Richard Dyson of Woodlawn, Tennessee, leads Standard Singles with 668.

Individuals in the Standard Division must have entering Championships Averages of 156-175.

The 79-day run of the 2021 Open Championships began May 1, and the tournament will conclude July 18. More than 7,700 teams across three average-based divisions are scheduled to compete.

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