Brothers tie top spot in Classified Doubles at 2017 Open Championships
April 05, 2017
LAS VEGAS - After being asked to bowl in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships for several years, Brody Hagen of Benson, Minnesota, knew the time was right to make his debut in 2017 when his brother, Aaron, was ready to join him on the championship lanes.
The brothers headed to the South Point Bowling Plaza alongside a group of past champions from their area this week, and they left their own mark on the standings Wednesday as they moved into a tie for the Classified Doubles lead.
Brody, a 31-year-old right-hander, led the doubles effort with games of 195, 190 and 189 for a 574 series, while Aaron, a 29-year-old right-hander, added 134, 244 and 150 for 528 to push the pair to a 1,102 total. Mark Nelson of Clitherall, Minnesota, and Lynn Good of Battle Lake, Minnesota, also first-time participants, posted their 1,102 set March 30.
Heading into the final frame, both players needed to mark for a chance at the lead. After Aaron and Brody recorded a spare and strike, respectively, Aaron finished with a six count on his fill ball to force Brody to double for the lead or spare for a tie.
Brody left a 3-6-10 on his 11th shot and secured the conversion for a share lead.
"After the first two games, we knew we might have a shot and it, but we had to keep it going," said Brody, who bowls regularly at Benson Entertainment Center. "I didn't know for sure what we needed at the end to get there, but it didn't take very long for everybody to tell us afterwards that we got enough to tie for first. It's a pretty awesome feeling."
Aaron and Brody hit the lanes alongside several teams that have found success as of late at the USBC Open Championships, including members of the 2014 and 2015 Classified Team champions as well the 2014 Classified Doubles winners, Chad Razink and Paul Beyer.
"Jon Lee, who runs our group, has been asking me to bowl, but it never seemed to be the right time," Brody said. "Aaron got into bowling a few years ago, and I thought it would be fun if we both came out here to give it a shot. It's definitely past due. You hear about all this stuff, but until you experience it, you don't know. This tournament makes you feel like you're part of something big, and it was a lot of fun for us. It would be pretty cool to bring a title back home."
Aaron's tournament debut not only resulted in taking the lead, but he also was able to connect for a personal best during Tuesday's team event, firing a 571 series.
"I felt like it went pretty well this week," said Aaron, who added a 406 series in singles for a 1,505 all-events total in the Classified Division. "I've only been bowling for a few years, so to be in this position right now is pretty ridiculous. I'm kind of awestruck by it all."
Brody added sets of 603 in singles and 544 in team for a 1,721 all-events total while competing in the Standard Division. Stephanie Sanders of Bakersfield, California, leads Standard All-Events with 1,826, while Cody Maier of Spring Creek, Nevada, leads Classified All-Events with 1,686.
Classified Doubles includes bowlers with combined averages of 360 and below, while Classified All-Events features bowlers with averages of 180 and below.
Standard All-Events consists of bowlers with averages of 181-209.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
The brothers headed to the South Point Bowling Plaza alongside a group of past champions from their area this week, and they left their own mark on the standings Wednesday as they moved into a tie for the Classified Doubles lead.
Brody, a 31-year-old right-hander, led the doubles effort with games of 195, 190 and 189 for a 574 series, while Aaron, a 29-year-old right-hander, added 134, 244 and 150 for 528 to push the pair to a 1,102 total. Mark Nelson of Clitherall, Minnesota, and Lynn Good of Battle Lake, Minnesota, also first-time participants, posted their 1,102 set March 30.
Heading into the final frame, both players needed to mark for a chance at the lead. After Aaron and Brody recorded a spare and strike, respectively, Aaron finished with a six count on his fill ball to force Brody to double for the lead or spare for a tie.
Brody left a 3-6-10 on his 11th shot and secured the conversion for a share lead.
"After the first two games, we knew we might have a shot and it, but we had to keep it going," said Brody, who bowls regularly at Benson Entertainment Center. "I didn't know for sure what we needed at the end to get there, but it didn't take very long for everybody to tell us afterwards that we got enough to tie for first. It's a pretty awesome feeling."
Aaron and Brody hit the lanes alongside several teams that have found success as of late at the USBC Open Championships, including members of the 2014 and 2015 Classified Team champions as well the 2014 Classified Doubles winners, Chad Razink and Paul Beyer.
"Jon Lee, who runs our group, has been asking me to bowl, but it never seemed to be the right time," Brody said. "Aaron got into bowling a few years ago, and I thought it would be fun if we both came out here to give it a shot. It's definitely past due. You hear about all this stuff, but until you experience it, you don't know. This tournament makes you feel like you're part of something big, and it was a lot of fun for us. It would be pretty cool to bring a title back home."
Aaron's tournament debut not only resulted in taking the lead, but he also was able to connect for a personal best during Tuesday's team event, firing a 571 series.
"I felt like it went pretty well this week," said Aaron, who added a 406 series in singles for a 1,505 all-events total in the Classified Division. "I've only been bowling for a few years, so to be in this position right now is pretty ridiculous. I'm kind of awestruck by it all."
Brody added sets of 603 in singles and 544 in team for a 1,721 all-events total while competing in the Standard Division. Stephanie Sanders of Bakersfield, California, leads Standard All-Events with 1,826, while Cody Maier of Spring Creek, Nevada, leads Classified All-Events with 1,686.
Classified Doubles includes bowlers with combined averages of 360 and below, while Classified All-Events features bowlers with averages of 180 and below.
Standard All-Events consists of bowlers with averages of 181-209.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.