Doubles lead changes hands at Bowlers Journal
April 20, 2011
RENO, Nev. - Sean Riccardi of Piscataway, N.J., has enjoyed recent success at the USBC Open Championships, which included a perfect game at the 2009 event in Las Vegas.
This year, he and Paul Stolp of Edison, N.J., found their way to the top of the Open Doubles leaderboard at the nearby Storm Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC.
Stolp led the duo firing games of 257, 277, 228 and 185 for a 947 total, while Riccardi rolled games of 247, 193, 221 and 234 for 895 and a 1,842 total. Billy Orlikowski of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Kerry Kreft of Warren, Mich., previously held the lead with 1,799.
The two took advantage of the tournament's dual entry option, which allows them to use their four-game totals for doubles and singles at the same time, and Stolp moved into second place in Open Singles.
"It feels good to be in the doubles lead," said Stolp, who made his third USBC Open Championships appearance this year. "I was in the zone and was able to match up well. I worked with the same ball throughout the tournament, had a clear head and believed it would happen."
Riccardi's 300 game in the 2009 helped him to a fifth place finish in Regular All-Events and seventh place in Regular Singles. The 36-year-old right-hander is excited to find success on the big stage again and feels their score on the challenging Bowlers Journal lane condition can stand the test of time.
"Considering the scores were very low, it feels even better to be in the lead," said Riccardi, who also made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "The pattern was brutal. It feels really good. I believe we put up the first 1,800 of the tournament."
The two New Jersey natives have been bowling together for 20 years, and their experience and knowledge of each other's games paid off.
"The lanes were hooking a lot," said Riccardi, who finished 12th at the 2009 Professional Bowlers Association Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open. "I like to play way inside, and that's like my bread and butter shot. I was kind of following him and where he was going. Usually, I am a couple boards left of him because I hook it a little more. I just got comfortable. When both of us are bowling well, it makes you feel comfortable."
Stolp has been bowling since the age of 10 and has received great advice and guidance about the game over the years.
"Mike Reasoner has been like a father to me since I was 10," Stolp said. "He has meant a great deal to me. He's meant everything to me. He's my bowling coach and advisor. I gave him a call to tell him the news, and he was extremely happy for me."
As they entered their final frame, Riccardi was unaware they had a chance to take the lead. He was focused on getting as many pins as possible and helping out his partner.
"I didn't know we had a chance to take the lead," Riccardi said. "Paul was struggling a little bit, so I was just trying to pick him up. I knew if I could strike out, we would have a chance to be close. I think our number has a great chance to stay in the top five, if not win."
Riccardi closed out his sixth Open Championships campaign with a 2,001 all-events total, while Stolp finished with 1,680.
The Bowlers Journal Championships is being held in conjunction with Open Championships for the 65th year. This year's tournament is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort Casino, and bowlers can compete daily between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Presenting sponsors for the 2011 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
This year, he and Paul Stolp of Edison, N.J., found their way to the top of the Open Doubles leaderboard at the nearby Storm Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC.
Stolp led the duo firing games of 257, 277, 228 and 185 for a 947 total, while Riccardi rolled games of 247, 193, 221 and 234 for 895 and a 1,842 total. Billy Orlikowski of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Kerry Kreft of Warren, Mich., previously held the lead with 1,799.
The two took advantage of the tournament's dual entry option, which allows them to use their four-game totals for doubles and singles at the same time, and Stolp moved into second place in Open Singles.
"It feels good to be in the doubles lead," said Stolp, who made his third USBC Open Championships appearance this year. "I was in the zone and was able to match up well. I worked with the same ball throughout the tournament, had a clear head and believed it would happen."
Riccardi's 300 game in the 2009 helped him to a fifth place finish in Regular All-Events and seventh place in Regular Singles. The 36-year-old right-hander is excited to find success on the big stage again and feels their score on the challenging Bowlers Journal lane condition can stand the test of time.
"Considering the scores were very low, it feels even better to be in the lead," said Riccardi, who also made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "The pattern was brutal. It feels really good. I believe we put up the first 1,800 of the tournament."
The two New Jersey natives have been bowling together for 20 years, and their experience and knowledge of each other's games paid off.
"The lanes were hooking a lot," said Riccardi, who finished 12th at the 2009 Professional Bowlers Association Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open. "I like to play way inside, and that's like my bread and butter shot. I was kind of following him and where he was going. Usually, I am a couple boards left of him because I hook it a little more. I just got comfortable. When both of us are bowling well, it makes you feel comfortable."
Stolp has been bowling since the age of 10 and has received great advice and guidance about the game over the years.
"Mike Reasoner has been like a father to me since I was 10," Stolp said. "He has meant a great deal to me. He's meant everything to me. He's my bowling coach and advisor. I gave him a call to tell him the news, and he was extremely happy for me."
As they entered their final frame, Riccardi was unaware they had a chance to take the lead. He was focused on getting as many pins as possible and helping out his partner.
"I didn't know we had a chance to take the lead," Riccardi said. "Paul was struggling a little bit, so I was just trying to pick him up. I knew if I could strike out, we would have a chance to be close. I think our number has a great chance to stay in the top five, if not win."
Riccardi closed out his sixth Open Championships campaign with a 2,001 all-events total, while Stolp finished with 1,680.
The Bowlers Journal Championships is being held in conjunction with Open Championships for the 65th year. This year's tournament is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort Casino, and bowlers can compete daily between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Presenting sponsors for the 2011 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.