Classified Division gets new leaders in doubles, team at 2017 OC

By Matt Cannizzaro and Brian Hirsch
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS -
A few Classified Division bowlers took to the lanes Tuesday at the South Point Bowling Plaza with the same thoughts that almost every bowler has heading into the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships - leaving in the top spot in the standings.

Charles and John Lindeman, a father-son duo from Montana, found their way to the top of leaderboard in Classified Doubles, while Dusty's Floor Covering of Twin Valley, Minnesota, raised the bar in Classified Team.

After an absence of more than a decade, the Lindemans had a memorable return to the USBC Open Championships, combining for a 1,058 doubles total.

John set the pace with a 552 series and Charles added a 506 series to help the two past Mike Ignacio of Seaside, California, and Anthony Souza of Watsonville, California, who previously held the lead with 1,034.

The Lindemans were surprised to hear they'd taken the lead. Ultimately, they were just happy to be back on the lanes together. Their last Open Championships appearance together came in 2005, when the tournament was held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Charlie bowled the following year in Corpus Christi, Texas, but not again until 2017.

DustysFloorCovering2017OCForWeb250x140Dusty's Floor Covering made its leaderboard climb with games of 864, 763 and 860 for a 2,487 total, surpassing Decorah Auto Center of Calmar, Iowa, which previously held the lead with 2,437.

Ricky Crane led the way for Dusty's Floor Covering with a 559 series and was followed by team captain Lynn Christianson (512), Douglas Fugleberg (507), Jody Bueng (462) and Corey Hanson with (447).

"My main job was to motivate, encourage and remind the guys to give it their all," said Christianson, who made his eighth Open Championships appearance and first since the 2009 event, also in Las Vegas.

The team will be back on the championship lanes Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern, looking to add their names to the leaderboard in doubles, singles and all-events.

The Classified Division at the 2017 Open Championships is for teams with combined entering averages of 900 or below, combined doubles averages of 360 and below and individual averages of 180 and below.

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