Arizona team surges into lead at 2016 Open Championships

By Matt Cannizzaro and Christian Seaborn
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. -
For seasoned bowler David Cirigliano of Phoenix, team is extremely important, and nowhere was this more evident than at the National Bowling Stadium as he helped Bowling Dynamics.com to the top of the standings Friday.

Cirigliano, who has enjoyed individual success at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with a pair of 300 games on the tournament lanes, was able to throw a few more key strikes to help his team to a 3,300 total at the NBS this year.

The 31-time tournament participant shot 300 in singles in 1998 and doubles in 2007, both at the NBS, and Friday's performance included two strikes and a nine count in his final frame to solidify Bowling Dynamics.com's place at the top of the Regular Team standings on games of 1,041, 1,154 and 1,105. Who's Eddie Byrd of Fort Worth, Texas, previously held the lead with 3,241.

"I'm very proud of how our team worked together to carve a shot," Cirigliano said. "The conditions opened up very nicely."

The Phoenix-based Bowling Dynamics.com was locked in a battle for the lead with 2011 Regular Team winner The 11thFrame.com 1 of Oregon, Wisconsin (formerly Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1), which posted games of 1,117 and 1,009 before closing with 1,016 on the way to 12th place with a 3,142 total.

The moment showed some similarities to the 2009 tournament in Las Vegas, where the top two teams, Linds Limited of Milwaukee and Sack Toe of Sacramento, California, competed on the same squad a few lanes apart and eventually finished first and second, respectively, in the final standings.

Kelly Urrea led the way for Bowling Dynamics.com on Friday with a 739 series, and he was followed by Cirigliano (708), Warren Eales (640), Robert Lewis (630) and Steven Roberts (583).

Both groups will be back on the lanes Saturday at 4 p.m. Eastern for doubles and singles with a head start at a run at Team All-Events, led this year by defending champion Junior Team USA Support 1 of Eagan, Minnesota, with 9,672.

Cirigliano went on to point out that Urrea, Eales, Roberts and himself have been together as a team for a very long time. The 2016 event marked the 32nd appearance for Urrea, 23rd for Eales and 34th for Roberts. Lewis is the relative youngster of the team with eight trips down the famed Center Aisle.

"Over time," Urrea said. "We've built a good rapport. Clearly it shows in the team's success this evening."

The five also credit their companion team, Vice Grips of Maricopa, Arizona, for contributing to the success. Together, the goal is simple.

"Winning an eagle," Eales said. "That's why we bowl."

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