2015 Senior Championships underway in Green Bay
August 06, 2015
GREEN BAY, Wis. - At 93 years old, Harold Ogata Sr. of Honolulu is the oldest participant at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Senior Championships, and he's part of a 12-person contingent that traveled more than 4,200 miles for this year's event in Green Bay.
This week marks Ogata's first trip to Wisconsin since visiting The Badger State during his military service in 1948, and the opportunity is as much a family vacation as it is a chance to compete on the national level. He is joined on the adventure by his son Harold Ogata Jr. and daughter-in-law, Bonnie.
The group flew from Hawaii into Milwaukee and made the two-hour drive to Green Bay, where they've enjoyed the local culture, including a tour of the famed Lambeau Field, the home of the 13-time world champion Green Bay Packers.
"We don't have as many opportunities to bowl in Hawaii, but we practice when we can, and we compete in a monthly bowling club at one of the Air Force bases," Harold Ogata Jr. said. "We're having a great time on the trip so far, and if my Dad does well, that makes it even better."
Ogata, who has an entering average of 118, is one of eight bowlers representing Hawaii at the two-day USBC Senior Championships. He is bowling in the Open Division category for bowlers age 75 and older.
While he knows it will be tough to keep up with some of the younger bowlers in his age bracket, Ogata simply is proud to represent his home state and show off his two bowling balls, both of which are more than three decades old.
"I know there's better bowlers than me here, but I really enjoy competing," said Ogata, who uses an 11-pound Manhattan Rubber bowling ball and a 12-pound Mikasa acrylic ball. "Since I'm retired, I have plenty of time to come bowl, and it has been a nice trip."
Harold Jr. is especially proud of his father and even a little bit envious that he was able to qualify for this week's tournament. Harold Jr. competed in the 60-64 category at the state level but did not advance.
During the first round of qualifying Thursday at the Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley, Ogata rolled games of 118, 101 and 95 for a 314 scratch series and 587 with handicap. He is 26th overall. Roger Ehlers of Cary, Illinois, leads with a 768 handicap series.
The 2015 Senior Championships features two divisions - Open and Women's - with six age classifications (50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and above).
All Senior Championships competitors will bowl six games over two days, after which the field in each category will be cut to the top six bowlers, who will return to the lanes Friday at 7:30 p.m. EDT for a three-game medal round. All pinfall will carry over, and winners will be determined based on their nine-game totals.
The 2015 Senior Championships is a national event for bowlers who have qualified through their state's senior tournament. This year's event features more than 400 participants from across the United States and Canada vying for a share of a prize fund of more than $40,000.
It is the third USBC tournament held at the Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in recent weeks. The run started with the USBC Senior Masters, which was followed by the International Training and Research Center Super Senior Classic.
This week marks Ogata's first trip to Wisconsin since visiting The Badger State during his military service in 1948, and the opportunity is as much a family vacation as it is a chance to compete on the national level. He is joined on the adventure by his son Harold Ogata Jr. and daughter-in-law, Bonnie.
The group flew from Hawaii into Milwaukee and made the two-hour drive to Green Bay, where they've enjoyed the local culture, including a tour of the famed Lambeau Field, the home of the 13-time world champion Green Bay Packers.
"We don't have as many opportunities to bowl in Hawaii, but we practice when we can, and we compete in a monthly bowling club at one of the Air Force bases," Harold Ogata Jr. said. "We're having a great time on the trip so far, and if my Dad does well, that makes it even better."
Ogata, who has an entering average of 118, is one of eight bowlers representing Hawaii at the two-day USBC Senior Championships. He is bowling in the Open Division category for bowlers age 75 and older.
While he knows it will be tough to keep up with some of the younger bowlers in his age bracket, Ogata simply is proud to represent his home state and show off his two bowling balls, both of which are more than three decades old.
"I know there's better bowlers than me here, but I really enjoy competing," said Ogata, who uses an 11-pound Manhattan Rubber bowling ball and a 12-pound Mikasa acrylic ball. "Since I'm retired, I have plenty of time to come bowl, and it has been a nice trip."
Harold Jr. is especially proud of his father and even a little bit envious that he was able to qualify for this week's tournament. Harold Jr. competed in the 60-64 category at the state level but did not advance.
During the first round of qualifying Thursday at the Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley, Ogata rolled games of 118, 101 and 95 for a 314 scratch series and 587 with handicap. He is 26th overall. Roger Ehlers of Cary, Illinois, leads with a 768 handicap series.
The 2015 Senior Championships features two divisions - Open and Women's - with six age classifications (50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and above).
All Senior Championships competitors will bowl six games over two days, after which the field in each category will be cut to the top six bowlers, who will return to the lanes Friday at 7:30 p.m. EDT for a three-game medal round. All pinfall will carry over, and winners will be determined based on their nine-game totals.
The 2015 Senior Championships is a national event for bowlers who have qualified through their state's senior tournament. This year's event features more than 400 participants from across the United States and Canada vying for a share of a prize fund of more than $40,000.
It is the third USBC tournament held at the Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in recent weeks. The run started with the USBC Senior Masters, which was followed by the International Training and Research Center Super Senior Classic.