Colorado duo takes doubles lead at 2024 USBC Open Championships

LAS VEGAS – At the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships at the South Point Bowling Plaza, a new duo took over the lead in Classified Doubles.

The new leaders are James Bayarsaikhan of Centennial, Colorado, and Punsal Grish of Aurora, Colorado. Together, they put up sets of 604 by Grish (214, 184, 206) and 545 by Bayarsaikhan (166, 180, 199) for a total of 1,149.

The pair cruised to the lead by 59 pins. Brian Miller of Greeley, Colorado, and Lance Ashbrook of Timnath, Colorado, previously held the top spot with 1,090.

This was Bayarsaikhan’s first year of participation at the tournament, and Grish’s second year at the USBC Open Championships.

They made their way to Las Vegas with a six-team group that is part of the Mongolian American Bowling Association, which featured 30 bowlers from multiple cities.

Bayarsaikhan stated that, “The group we came with comes from all over. We compete as part of the Mongolian Bowling Association and come from D.C., Colorado, Chicago and San Francisco.”

The group comes to Las Vegas once a year and participates in their own tournament as well to get everyone together that belongs to the Mongolian American Bowling Association.

When they are getting ready for tournaments back in Colorado, they practice a lot to prepare for competition.

“It feels good with all the practice that we did,” Bayarsaikhan said. “We have been bowling on different Sport patterns over the past few months with other bowlers from the Mongolian Bowling Association.”

For Bayarsaikhan and Grish, winning an Eagle would mean more to them then they could imagine. Winning an Eagle would be a first for this group, and for them, it would mean so much more. Bayarsaikhan stated, “This would mean a whole lot. Coming here for the first time and winning something would be a big deal.”

Classified Doubles features pairs with combined entering averages of 310 and below.

In addition to the success in doubles, Grish and Bayarsaikhan also helped Mongols 5 of Arlington, Virginia, into the top five in Classified Team with a 2,436 total. The team currently sits in fourth place, while Primetime #6 of Houston leads with 2,457.

The team members joining Grish and Bayarsaikhan were Yanjmaa Zayat, Shirmenzagas Grish and Bayarsaihan Bavuu.

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.

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