Colorado bowler takes Classified Singles lead at 2024 USBC Open Championships
February 28, 2024
LAS VEGAS – The competition during the opening week of the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships has arrived, and the tournament is underway at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Jeri Ault of Broomfield, Colorado, is no stranger to the field, as this year was his 26th year of participation. His first year at the USBC Open Championships dates back to the 1996 event in Salt Lake City, but his trip this week to Las Vegas marked the first year that he left with the Classified Singles lead for his high set of 598 on Monday.
Ault started the day by bowling doubles with Denver’s Michael Dodson. The pair put together a total score of 913, with scores of 142, 184 and 147 by Ault for a 473 series. After finishing doubles, they went right into bowling singles, and things seemed to get easier for Ault.
“Doubles was rough, but I made an adjustment going into singles, and it seemed to have felt better,” Ault said. “I noticed that it kept going long and missing right, so I moved right, and it seemed to line itself up. The ball came in really nice and started to carry.”
This seemed to work out for Ault, because he improved to games of 193, 216 and 189 to take over the Classified lead.
“I am thrilled to death – I really am,” said Ault, after finding out he took the early lead.
Ault returned to the Open Championships in 2023 after taking a few years off since 2019 due to COVID-19 and overcoming some injuries. Going into this year, he said that he had achieved the goal that meant the most to him.
“If I made 25 years, my name would be right under (Professional Bowlers Association and USBC Hall of Famer) Mike Aulby, and that is why I did it and kept going,” Ault said.
This year, Ault bowled his second highest set for singles at the Open Championships, with his top performance being a 602 series during the 2000 event in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His other scores for this year also landed him in second place for Classified All-Events as well, with his pinfall standing at 1,564. He’s right behind Jodee Bell of Denver, who is sitting in first with a pinfall of 1,572.
“One of my biggest goals is to win an Eagle, and if I did win it in the Classified Division, I would be thrilled to death,” said Ault, who’s also excited to head back into competition next year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “I come out to have fun and bowl with my buddies from Lakewood.”
Ault’s performance this year started off with a 493 set in team, before adding 473 in doubles and 598 in singles.
The Classified Division 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.
Jeri Ault of Broomfield, Colorado, is no stranger to the field, as this year was his 26th year of participation. His first year at the USBC Open Championships dates back to the 1996 event in Salt Lake City, but his trip this week to Las Vegas marked the first year that he left with the Classified Singles lead for his high set of 598 on Monday.
Ault started the day by bowling doubles with Denver’s Michael Dodson. The pair put together a total score of 913, with scores of 142, 184 and 147 by Ault for a 473 series. After finishing doubles, they went right into bowling singles, and things seemed to get easier for Ault.
“Doubles was rough, but I made an adjustment going into singles, and it seemed to have felt better,” Ault said. “I noticed that it kept going long and missing right, so I moved right, and it seemed to line itself up. The ball came in really nice and started to carry.”
This seemed to work out for Ault, because he improved to games of 193, 216 and 189 to take over the Classified lead.
“I am thrilled to death – I really am,” said Ault, after finding out he took the early lead.
Ault returned to the Open Championships in 2023 after taking a few years off since 2019 due to COVID-19 and overcoming some injuries. Going into this year, he said that he had achieved the goal that meant the most to him.
“If I made 25 years, my name would be right under (Professional Bowlers Association and USBC Hall of Famer) Mike Aulby, and that is why I did it and kept going,” Ault said.
This year, Ault bowled his second highest set for singles at the Open Championships, with his top performance being a 602 series during the 2000 event in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His other scores for this year also landed him in second place for Classified All-Events as well, with his pinfall standing at 1,564. He’s right behind Jodee Bell of Denver, who is sitting in first with a pinfall of 1,572.
“One of my biggest goals is to win an Eagle, and if I did win it in the Classified Division, I would be thrilled to death,” said Ault, who’s also excited to head back into competition next year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “I come out to have fun and bowl with my buddies from Lakewood.”
Ault’s performance this year started off with a 493 set in team, before adding 473 in doubles and 598 in singles.
The Classified Division 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.