2019 USBC Masters Notebook - Day 1
March 27, 2019
LAS VEGAS - Adam Barta of Girard, Ohio, has developed one of the strongest social media followings in the sport of bowling, and he'll have thousands of well-wishers cheering him on this week at United States Bowling Congress Masters.
But, for all the strikes he hopes to throw throughout competition at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, his ability to strike also has allowed him the opportunity to give back to families in need.
Barta, a three-time titlist at the USBC Open Championships and two-time Guinness World Record holder, and his family, have helped more than 100 families through the Barta Nation Families Foundation, and he has no intentions of stopping soon.
Barta's inspiration came from his father, Pete, who lost his battle with cancer in 2012.
"My journey started when my dad passed away on Christmas Eve in 2012," said Barta, who finished his five-game block Wednesday with a 1,077 total. "He was diagnosed in September of 2010, and the doctors only gave him a couple of weeks to live. They didn't give him many options, but there still were things he wanted to see. He wanted to see me get married and the birth of my son, Blake, and he fought like hell to make those things happen. He always used to say when you find your gift, you have to use it and try to make the world a better place."
Barta's gift was being able to knock over pins, and bowling provided an outlet for him to give back.
In 2014, he accepted the challenge of trying to set the Guinness World Record for total pinfall in an hour. Before he knew it, the donations were rolling in, helping him provide assistance to 15 families that year.
His impact in the bowling community continued to make waves across social platforms, which eventually led him to Paige Lejeune, who had been diagnosed with T-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
"I was bowling the Luci (PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles) in Houston when Paige's dad, Boyce, reached out after seeing that I was in the area," Barta said. "He told me that she was sick, and she had hoped to meet me. Without hesitation, I said absolutely. We spent a few hours talking, and I was inspired by how strong of a girl she was going through all of this at just 15 years old.
"Before I left, I told her if I ever try to break another world record, I would do it for her. When I got to the parking lot afterwards, I called my wife, Marci, and told her I have to try for another record."
That meeting led Barta to tracking down his next record - rolling the most strikes in an hour. The theme of that attempt would be "Promise to Paige."
"We had even more sponsors, custom jerseys and had it planned for November 2016," Barta said. "Two weeks before the event, Paige ended up losing her battle. We ended up flying her family out for the event, and I think they were stunned by the local support we had for the event. More than 600 people came out in support.
"I ended up with 191 strikes to get the record, but it wasn't even about that. It was about having her family there. We raised over $10,000 in one day for the family and the charity."
Barta will look to continue to find ways to strike to help others.
"My mission is to help others in need and share the message of the power of hope," Barta said. "I hope I can do it forever. When I can't, I hope my kids will carry that torch."
Belmonte competing, despite finger injury
A day after Australia's Jason Belmonte posted on social media that he would have to employ his powerful two-handed style with his ring finger and pinky after an injury to his middle finger, the four-time Masters champion was able to get to 1,010 for his five-game block Wednesday at the Gold Coast Bowling Center.
Belmonte, who won his record-setting 11th major championship last week at the Professional Bowlers Association World Championship, rolled games of 210, 201, 166 and 176 before beginning to loft the left gutter to finish with 257.
"I think my strategy today was going to be a little different just because of the injury to the finger," Belmonte said. "I probably could have been doing what I was doing the last game much earlier in the day, but I didn't actually believe I was going to be able to do it.
"The final game, I told myself that the right part of the lane to play is over the left gutter, even if I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to do it. I threw a couple of shots and it looked OK, and it hurt a little bit more to loft it. I figured if I bowled really well, maybe I could get to -20 or so, but I was able to string a bunch in a row to get to plus, which is a huge win for me."
Belmonte bowled on B Squad on Wednesday, which was contested on the "burn" variation of this week's 39-foot lane condition. That means one squad already had bowled on the pattern before Belmonte's squad took to the lanes. He'll be bowling on the fresh for the next two rounds.
"I think this pattern is so difficult that the burn squad probably was where I needed to get a few more pins," Belmonte said. "I felt with that reaction I had the last game, if I had gone to it the game before, I could have turned that 170 into 210 or 220 and get to 50 or 60 over.
"Tomorrow, with the fresh being so difficult, I feel it will be difficult for me to repeat shots with my ring finger and pinky in the ball. I'm going to have to bowl really well these next two squads, and I think the key is to not try anything too crazy - keep the ball in front of me, try to hit the 1-3 (pocket) and make every spare I leave. My goal tomorrow is to be extremely patient, keep it in play and make my spares."
The injury to Belmonte's middle finger is from a cut he sustained at a youth event prior to the event. To see Belmonte's post, click here.
International affair
The USBC Masters always draws a great deal of talent from around the world, and the 2019 edition features bowlers from 20 different countries.
Nearly 70 international players are in this week's 450-player field.
Countries competing this week include: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Sweden, United States and Venezuela.
But, for all the strikes he hopes to throw throughout competition at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, his ability to strike also has allowed him the opportunity to give back to families in need.
Barta, a three-time titlist at the USBC Open Championships and two-time Guinness World Record holder, and his family, have helped more than 100 families through the Barta Nation Families Foundation, and he has no intentions of stopping soon.
Barta's inspiration came from his father, Pete, who lost his battle with cancer in 2012.
"My journey started when my dad passed away on Christmas Eve in 2012," said Barta, who finished his five-game block Wednesday with a 1,077 total. "He was diagnosed in September of 2010, and the doctors only gave him a couple of weeks to live. They didn't give him many options, but there still were things he wanted to see. He wanted to see me get married and the birth of my son, Blake, and he fought like hell to make those things happen. He always used to say when you find your gift, you have to use it and try to make the world a better place."
Barta's gift was being able to knock over pins, and bowling provided an outlet for him to give back.
In 2014, he accepted the challenge of trying to set the Guinness World Record for total pinfall in an hour. Before he knew it, the donations were rolling in, helping him provide assistance to 15 families that year.
His impact in the bowling community continued to make waves across social platforms, which eventually led him to Paige Lejeune, who had been diagnosed with T-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
"I was bowling the Luci (PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles) in Houston when Paige's dad, Boyce, reached out after seeing that I was in the area," Barta said. "He told me that she was sick, and she had hoped to meet me. Without hesitation, I said absolutely. We spent a few hours talking, and I was inspired by how strong of a girl she was going through all of this at just 15 years old.
"Before I left, I told her if I ever try to break another world record, I would do it for her. When I got to the parking lot afterwards, I called my wife, Marci, and told her I have to try for another record."
That meeting led Barta to tracking down his next record - rolling the most strikes in an hour. The theme of that attempt would be "Promise to Paige."
"We had even more sponsors, custom jerseys and had it planned for November 2016," Barta said. "Two weeks before the event, Paige ended up losing her battle. We ended up flying her family out for the event, and I think they were stunned by the local support we had for the event. More than 600 people came out in support.
"I ended up with 191 strikes to get the record, but it wasn't even about that. It was about having her family there. We raised over $10,000 in one day for the family and the charity."
Barta will look to continue to find ways to strike to help others.
"My mission is to help others in need and share the message of the power of hope," Barta said. "I hope I can do it forever. When I can't, I hope my kids will carry that torch."
Belmonte competing, despite finger injury
A day after Australia's Jason Belmonte posted on social media that he would have to employ his powerful two-handed style with his ring finger and pinky after an injury to his middle finger, the four-time Masters champion was able to get to 1,010 for his five-game block Wednesday at the Gold Coast Bowling Center.
Belmonte, who won his record-setting 11th major championship last week at the Professional Bowlers Association World Championship, rolled games of 210, 201, 166 and 176 before beginning to loft the left gutter to finish with 257.
"I think my strategy today was going to be a little different just because of the injury to the finger," Belmonte said. "I probably could have been doing what I was doing the last game much earlier in the day, but I didn't actually believe I was going to be able to do it.
"The final game, I told myself that the right part of the lane to play is over the left gutter, even if I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to do it. I threw a couple of shots and it looked OK, and it hurt a little bit more to loft it. I figured if I bowled really well, maybe I could get to -20 or so, but I was able to string a bunch in a row to get to plus, which is a huge win for me."
Belmonte bowled on B Squad on Wednesday, which was contested on the "burn" variation of this week's 39-foot lane condition. That means one squad already had bowled on the pattern before Belmonte's squad took to the lanes. He'll be bowling on the fresh for the next two rounds.
"I think this pattern is so difficult that the burn squad probably was where I needed to get a few more pins," Belmonte said. "I felt with that reaction I had the last game, if I had gone to it the game before, I could have turned that 170 into 210 or 220 and get to 50 or 60 over.
"Tomorrow, with the fresh being so difficult, I feel it will be difficult for me to repeat shots with my ring finger and pinky in the ball. I'm going to have to bowl really well these next two squads, and I think the key is to not try anything too crazy - keep the ball in front of me, try to hit the 1-3 (pocket) and make every spare I leave. My goal tomorrow is to be extremely patient, keep it in play and make my spares."
The injury to Belmonte's middle finger is from a cut he sustained at a youth event prior to the event. To see Belmonte's post, click here.
International affair
The USBC Masters always draws a great deal of talent from around the world, and the 2019 edition features bowlers from 20 different countries.
Nearly 70 international players are in this week's 450-player field.
Countries competing this week include: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Sweden, United States and Venezuela.