LAS VEGAS - Defending United States Bowling Congress Masters champion Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan, has two blocks and 10 games under his belt at the 2019 event, and he's starting to hone in on his strategy looking ahead to match play.

The 23-year-old right-hander posted a five-game block of 1,046 on Thursday at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, and his overall total for 10 games is 2,004. Heading into Thursday's final squad, Anderson is tied for 101st place.

As the defending champion, Anderson is guaranteed a spot in the tournament's double-elimination bracket, but he can improve his seeding through qualifying. If he is unable to reach the top 64, he'll be awarded the No. 64 seed and face the tournament's top overall qualifier.

Anderson started his title defense on the "burn" variation of this week's 39-foot lane condition, meaning one squad already had hit the lanes prior to his squad. He finished with a 958 total during Wednesday's opening block.

"I thought I was going to score a little better on the burn," Anderson said. "I still don't want to be the 64th seed, so I'm trying to dig my way out of the hole I made yesterday. I feel like I'm bowling pretty well, but the scores really aren't showing it just yet."

His scoring pace has been consistent through two rounds, too. Eight of his 10 games have ended with scores between 192 and 208, with a low of 164 (Game 5 - Round 1) and high of 245 (Game 4 - Round 2).

Anderson has taken advantage of his pass into match play and has given quite a few bowling balls in his bag a try in hopes of setting himself up for another long run through the bracket.

At last year's event in Syracuse, New York, Anderson went undefeated in match play to secure the top seed for the stepladder finals.

"I'm just trying to figure out what it's going to take to win matches," Anderson said. "I've probably gone through eight or nine balls, but most of them were on the burn squad. I tried to settle in a little more today to get some shot repetition. Hopefully, I can make a game plan for tomorrow, so I'm more prepared for match play."

His final preparation will include drilling a few new bowling balls and planning his strategy to get closer to the outside portion of the lane.

"I really think it's going to be a urethane type of year in match play," Anderson said. "A lot of the guys who are striking now are throwing reactive, but match play is such a different environment. Everybody is going to try and play straighter, and they're so much flatter. You'll have a lot of bowlers playing the same part of the lane, and personally, I think I'll be in urethane a lot. That's going to be my game plan, but if it doesn't work, I have plenty of options."

Past champions in this year's field
In addition to Anderson, this week's field at Gold Coast includes nine additional past USBC Masters champions on the lanes, and even one two-time titlist off the lanes serving a new role.

Past Masters champions competing this week include: Jason Belmonte (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017), Parker Bohn III (2001), Norm Duke (1993), Tom Hess (2011), Sean Rash (2007), Anthony Simonsen (2016), Chris Warren (1990), Walter Ray Williams Jr. (2004, 2010) and Brett Wolfe (2002).

The 1991 and 2006 Masters champion, USBC Hall of Famer Doug Kent, also is in attendance this week but serving as a bowling ball representative.

Tune-up for 2019 PWBA Tour season
In late April, the 2019 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour season will be getting underway at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio, and 11 PWBA players are getting ready for the upcoming season by lacing up at the 2019 Masters.

The contingent includes: Lindsay Boomershine, Sandra Gongora, Clara Guerrero, Kaleena Henning-Shannon, Liz Johnson, Danielle McEwan, Daria Pajak, Missy Parkin, Rocio Restrepo, Maria José Rodriguez and Tannya Roumimper.

The Nationwide Greater Cleveland Open will take place April 25-27 and have its live stepladder finals featured on BowlTV.