Minnesota bowler rolls 18th perfect game of 2021 USBC Open Championships

By Sam Neves
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS -
Shooting 300 typically isn't easy, especially when you add in the pressure of doing so in the largest annual participatory sporting event in the world, the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

Justin Coste, a 41-year-old right-hander from Moorhead, Minnesota, handled the opportunity with poise Monday night at the South Point Bowling Center to become the 18th bowler to reach that milestone this year at the 2021 edition of the event.

Coste was able to string 12 consecutive strikes during his second game of the doubles, and it was sandwiched between games of 187 and 178 for a 665 series. He teamed with Larry Bormann (569) for a 1,234 doubles total.

David Labinski of Milwaukee and Chris Pierson of West Bend, Wisconsin, lead Regular Doubles this year with 1,466.

"Man, it felt amazing," said Coste, who made his ninth consecutive USBC Open Championships appearance. "It felt remarkable to me even having the first five in a row, so getting all 12 was something special."

Coste was able to maintain the momentum in singles and added games of 233, 200 and 258 for 691 series. With his 531 team set Sunday, he finished with a 1,887 all-events total, the second-highest of his tournament career.

Coste's best finish came in 2015 at the El Paso Convention Center in El Paso, Texas, where he posted a 1,926 all-events total.

Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan, leads Regular Singles this year with 802, and Kevin Bienko of Kenmore, New York, leads Regular All-Events with 2,226.

Coste now has a 24-hour drive back to Moorhead, where he'll get to celebrate with his friends and teammates at Sunset Lanes.

"With such a long drive ahead of me, the excitement from tonight will definitely make the time pass by a little bit quicker," Coste said.

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