First-timer connects for 300 at 2017 Open Championships
May 13, 2017
LAS VEGAS - Despite starting his United States Bowling Congress Open Championships career with three consecutive open frames, Luis Cantu of Austin, Texas, settled in and entered the record books as he rolled a perfect game during his team event at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 22-year-old right-hander connected on 12 consecutive strikes during his second game to become the third bowler of the 2017 event to achieve perfection. He surrounded it with games of 161 and 204 for a 665 series to help Fat Kid Loves Cake of Austin to a 2,836 total. Team NABR of Fairport, New York, leads Regular Team with 3,266.
Cantu felt the initial nerves many first-time participants can relate to while making their debut on the championship lanes, but he stayed clean after the early miscues and developed a rhythm.
"I had been talking to my good friend Dave Back about it, and he asked me if I wanted to bowl," said Cantu, who works as an assistant manager at Highland Lanes in Austin. "He told me it was in Vegas, and I had never been to Las Vegas, either, so I knew I had to do it. I'm glad they invited me. I was really nervous to start, and the jitters were crazy. It was awesome doing the march out, and after those three opens, I finally calmed down and started relaxing."
Heading into the final frame of Game 2, Cantu relied on his previous experiences in the same situation. He recorded four USBC-certified 300 games prior to his run at the Bowling Plaza on Friday.
"Stepping up, I just told myself I needed three more and that I've done this before," Cantu said. "I just needed to keep doing what I had been doing. The 10th shot was decent, but I was shaking on the 11th one. That's always my worst shot. I was lucky to trip the 4 pin. I felt I made a really good shot on the last one, and it struck. It really felt great."
The moment was made even more special with Cantu's parents, Gerardo and Rose, in attendance for the performance.
"My parents have never seen me bowl a 300 or any honor score," Cantu said. "For them to see me roll 300 here, at this tournament, is something special. It was heartwarming."
David Watters of Billings, Montana, is the only bowler in USBC Open Championships history to roll a 300 in the first game of his tournament career, doing so in his hometown at the 2002 event.
Although Cantu fell one game short of that record, he appreciates what it means to be a part of the tournament's long and storied history.
"Everyone told me afterwards that this was something special," Cantu said. "And it didn't really hit me until now. It feels great to know that I'll be recognized, and it's really a privilege. I'm speechless."
Regular Team features five-player teams with combined entering averages of 1,046 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
The 22-year-old right-hander connected on 12 consecutive strikes during his second game to become the third bowler of the 2017 event to achieve perfection. He surrounded it with games of 161 and 204 for a 665 series to help Fat Kid Loves Cake of Austin to a 2,836 total. Team NABR of Fairport, New York, leads Regular Team with 3,266.
Cantu felt the initial nerves many first-time participants can relate to while making their debut on the championship lanes, but he stayed clean after the early miscues and developed a rhythm.
"I had been talking to my good friend Dave Back about it, and he asked me if I wanted to bowl," said Cantu, who works as an assistant manager at Highland Lanes in Austin. "He told me it was in Vegas, and I had never been to Las Vegas, either, so I knew I had to do it. I'm glad they invited me. I was really nervous to start, and the jitters were crazy. It was awesome doing the march out, and after those three opens, I finally calmed down and started relaxing."
Heading into the final frame of Game 2, Cantu relied on his previous experiences in the same situation. He recorded four USBC-certified 300 games prior to his run at the Bowling Plaza on Friday.
"Stepping up, I just told myself I needed three more and that I've done this before," Cantu said. "I just needed to keep doing what I had been doing. The 10th shot was decent, but I was shaking on the 11th one. That's always my worst shot. I was lucky to trip the 4 pin. I felt I made a really good shot on the last one, and it struck. It really felt great."
The moment was made even more special with Cantu's parents, Gerardo and Rose, in attendance for the performance.
"My parents have never seen me bowl a 300 or any honor score," Cantu said. "For them to see me roll 300 here, at this tournament, is something special. It was heartwarming."
David Watters of Billings, Montana, is the only bowler in USBC Open Championships history to roll a 300 in the first game of his tournament career, doing so in his hometown at the 2002 event.
Although Cantu fell one game short of that record, he appreciates what it means to be a part of the tournament's long and storied history.
"Everyone told me afterwards that this was something special," Cantu said. "And it didn't really hit me until now. It feels great to know that I'll be recognized, and it's really a privilege. I'm speechless."
Regular Team features five-player teams with combined entering averages of 1,046 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.