Florida duo takes doubles lead at OC
March 28, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Five-time Professional Bowlers Association national champion Tom Milton of St. Petersburg, Fla., has enjoyed individual success at bowling's highest level and now is in position for a win on the sport's most spectacular stage.
The 54-year-old right-hander was stringing strikes at the USBC Open Championships and teamed up with David Taylor of Seminole, Fla., to take the Regular Doubles lead with a 1,498 total at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday. Kenneth Stephens of Frankfort, Ky., and Randall Montoya of Albuquerque, N.M., previously held the lead with 1,434.
Milton started his first two games with eight consecutive strikes on his way to scores of 276, 267 and 198 for a 741 series. Taylor was a little bit slower out of the gate, but after a 214 start, he struck on 21 of his last 24 shots for games of 245 and 298 and a 757 series. His bid for the fifth perfect game of this year's event came to an end when his final shot drifted high and left the 4-6 split.
"I've been bowling with Tom for about four years, and with him being a five-time PBA titlist, I just wanted to have a good set with him, and we finally accomplished it, so it was really, really rewarding," said Taylor, a 47-year-old right-hander who bowls regularly at AMF Clearwater Lanes and made his seventh tournament appearance. "We bowl league together, and we know each other's games really well and can read off of each other. We both used real strong balls and played the same part of the lane. He carried really well, so I made a small adjustment, and then I got lucky and carried, too.
After injuring his back and leaving the PBA Tour in 1989, Milton chose to focus on his family, rather than his bowling career. Once his daughter was older and doing things on her own, he was able to continue his Open Championships career, which began at the 1979 event in Tampa, Fla., where he finished second in Classic Doubles.
"I've always felt like I've been a pretty good team player," Milton said. "There weren't a lot of team events for professionals back at that time, but I bowled a lot of the (World) Team Challenges when they were in our area. We even won a couple and went to the (Grand Championships). I really enjoy team bowling, and I honestly feel more pressure in that than I do as an individual because I have people counting on me."
Milton added 619 in singles and 614 in doubles and rounded out his seventh tournament with a 1,974 all-events total, while Taylor had 570 in team and 533 in singles for 1,860.
"This is a dream come true," Taylor said. "This is what you try to achieve. You want to come out to Nationals and execute and have a good day like this. You can't do any better than the best you can do, and when you have a day like this, it's a lot of fun.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, 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.
The 54-year-old right-hander was stringing strikes at the USBC Open Championships and teamed up with David Taylor of Seminole, Fla., to take the Regular Doubles lead with a 1,498 total at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday. Kenneth Stephens of Frankfort, Ky., and Randall Montoya of Albuquerque, N.M., previously held the lead with 1,434.
Milton started his first two games with eight consecutive strikes on his way to scores of 276, 267 and 198 for a 741 series. Taylor was a little bit slower out of the gate, but after a 214 start, he struck on 21 of his last 24 shots for games of 245 and 298 and a 757 series. His bid for the fifth perfect game of this year's event came to an end when his final shot drifted high and left the 4-6 split.
"I've been bowling with Tom for about four years, and with him being a five-time PBA titlist, I just wanted to have a good set with him, and we finally accomplished it, so it was really, really rewarding," said Taylor, a 47-year-old right-hander who bowls regularly at AMF Clearwater Lanes and made his seventh tournament appearance. "We bowl league together, and we know each other's games really well and can read off of each other. We both used real strong balls and played the same part of the lane. He carried really well, so I made a small adjustment, and then I got lucky and carried, too.
After injuring his back and leaving the PBA Tour in 1989, Milton chose to focus on his family, rather than his bowling career. Once his daughter was older and doing things on her own, he was able to continue his Open Championships career, which began at the 1979 event in Tampa, Fla., where he finished second in Classic Doubles.
"I've always felt like I've been a pretty good team player," Milton said. "There weren't a lot of team events for professionals back at that time, but I bowled a lot of the (World) Team Challenges when they were in our area. We even won a couple and went to the (Grand Championships). I really enjoy team bowling, and I honestly feel more pressure in that than I do as an individual because I have people counting on me."
Milton added 619 in singles and 614 in doubles and rounded out his seventh tournament with a 1,974 all-events total, while Taylor had 570 in team and 533 in singles for 1,860.
"This is a dream come true," Taylor said. "This is what you try to achieve. You want to come out to Nationals and execute and have a good day like this. You can't do any better than the best you can do, and when you have a day like this, it's a lot of fun.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, 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.