Calgary bowler claims Classified lead at 2024 USBC Open Championships
July 20, 2024
LAS VEGAS – Stephen Wong of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is used to watching his daughters throw strikes across some of the sport’s biggest stages, but he joined in on the fun Friday during his appearance at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships by taking the lead in Classified Singles.
After a 163 game to start his singles set, the 69-year-old right-hander made a ball change and rolled scores of 229 and 245 to get to the top spot by four pins with a 637 series at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Jason Sarno of Erie, Colorado, had held the lead since May 21 with 633.
Wong’s final game started with five strikes, before a nine count and spare in the sixth frame. He connected for three more strikes to set up his final frame.
Needing eight pins on his first delivery in the 10th to secure the top spot, Wong got the necessary count, leaving the 3-6. Although he chopped the spare attempt to close the set, the 16 strikes delivered in Games 2 and 3 were enough to place his name at the top of the standings.
“It feels great, but I wasn’t expecting it at all given how I had been bowling this week,” said Wong, who had 441 in doubles and 430 in team for a 1,508 all-events total. “The pins were cooperating. I used a ball I didn’t think I needed to use. All of the other balls were hooking too much, so I tried it and the pins started falling.
“I wasn’t bowling well and feeling a little bit discouraged, but after this, it’s all different now.”
Wong’s family ties to the sport include his daughters – Felicia Wong and Samantha How. Both daughters are Intercollegiate Team Championships winners at Wichita State University and have represented Canada as members of both the adult and junior teams during their career.
Felicia also competes on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour and made her first stepladder appearance in May at the USBC Queens, finishing in fifth place.
Her run at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, Wisconsin, made for a busy day of travel for Stephen and his wife, Elizabeth, but they made sure to make the TV finals on CBS Sports Network.
Felicia and Elizabeth joined Stephen on the lanes Thursday and Friday at the Bowling Plaza, while Samantha competed at the 2024 Open Championships in June.
“We were watching (Felicia at the Queens) on BowlTV, and when she made the stepladder, my wife was scurrying to book the flight to be there,” Wong said. “We managed to book the flight and flew out that morning. We arrived in the afternoon to watch the show and watch her bowl on TV, and then flew back home the next day. It was quite the travel day, but worth it for sure.”
While Wong has only made four appearances at the Open Championships, he knows the significance of leaving the event with the lead.
He didn’t necessarily come in with any expectations but had a goal in mind.
“I wasn’t expecting anything like this at all,” Wong said. “The pins just started falling. I was hoping to get to 200 for one of my games – that was my goal. I hit it in one game, and then another.
“Hopefully I can stay there, and if I’m not first, I hope to still be among the top. We’ll see how the pins fall for the other bowlers who bowl in the final 10 days or so.”
Classified Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
After a 163 game to start his singles set, the 69-year-old right-hander made a ball change and rolled scores of 229 and 245 to get to the top spot by four pins with a 637 series at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Jason Sarno of Erie, Colorado, had held the lead since May 21 with 633.
Wong’s final game started with five strikes, before a nine count and spare in the sixth frame. He connected for three more strikes to set up his final frame.
Needing eight pins on his first delivery in the 10th to secure the top spot, Wong got the necessary count, leaving the 3-6. Although he chopped the spare attempt to close the set, the 16 strikes delivered in Games 2 and 3 were enough to place his name at the top of the standings.
“It feels great, but I wasn’t expecting it at all given how I had been bowling this week,” said Wong, who had 441 in doubles and 430 in team for a 1,508 all-events total. “The pins were cooperating. I used a ball I didn’t think I needed to use. All of the other balls were hooking too much, so I tried it and the pins started falling.
“I wasn’t bowling well and feeling a little bit discouraged, but after this, it’s all different now.”
Wong’s family ties to the sport include his daughters – Felicia Wong and Samantha How. Both daughters are Intercollegiate Team Championships winners at Wichita State University and have represented Canada as members of both the adult and junior teams during their career.
Felicia also competes on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour and made her first stepladder appearance in May at the USBC Queens, finishing in fifth place.
Her run at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, Wisconsin, made for a busy day of travel for Stephen and his wife, Elizabeth, but they made sure to make the TV finals on CBS Sports Network.
Felicia and Elizabeth joined Stephen on the lanes Thursday and Friday at the Bowling Plaza, while Samantha competed at the 2024 Open Championships in June.
“We were watching (Felicia at the Queens) on BowlTV, and when she made the stepladder, my wife was scurrying to book the flight to be there,” Wong said. “We managed to book the flight and flew out that morning. We arrived in the afternoon to watch the show and watch her bowl on TV, and then flew back home the next day. It was quite the travel day, but worth it for sure.”
While Wong has only made four appearances at the Open Championships, he knows the significance of leaving the event with the lead.
He didn’t necessarily come in with any expectations but had a goal in mind.
“I wasn’t expecting anything like this at all,” Wong said. “The pins just started falling. I was hoping to get to 200 for one of my games – that was my goal. I hit it in one game, and then another.
“Hopefully I can stay there, and if I’m not first, I hope to still be among the top. We’ll see how the pins fall for the other bowlers who bowl in the final 10 days or so.”
Classified Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.