4/10/11

By Matt Cannizzaro and Emil Williams Jr.
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - Many competitive bowlers will agree that there's nothing more exciting than team bowling, and three teams put on quite a show as they battled for the Regular Team lead at the USBC Open Championships on Saturday night.

The three-team shootout included many familiar names and produced the two highest team scores rolled in seven visits to the National Bowling Stadium.

In the end, it was Brian Brazeau Pro Shop of Ocala, Fla., that claimed the top spot with a 3,439 effort, followed closely by Cambridge 1 of Feeding Hills, Mass., with 3,410. The third contender, Pam's Boys 1 of Salem, Ore., settled into fourth place with 3,371. Janz H I of Beaver Dam, Wis., previously held the lead with 3,407.

Prior to Saturday night, the highest team score at the 16-year-old Stadium was 3,408, rolled by Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., on the way to the Regular Team title in 2010. Lava Lanes of Medford, Ore., posted the only other 3,400 in Stadium history with a 3,405 title-winning effort in 2007.

Brian Brazeau Pro Shop was consistent and composed on the way to games of 1,149, 1,150 and 1,140.

The experienced group, which has combined for 137 Open Championships appearances, four titles, two 800s and a 300 game on the tournament lanes, has led the team event several times over the years, but has yet to take home the coveted crown. Their best finish together is a third-place effort at the 2005 event in Baton Rouge, La.

This time, Jace Peterson paced the team with a 747 series and was followed by 2008 Regular Doubles champion Dennis Rakauskas (731), Rich Abboud (688), three-time Open Championships winner John Socha (665) and team captain Brian Brazeau (608).

"It feels pretty good, but it's a bit bittersweet for me," said Brazeau, who made his 35th Open Championships appearance. "I may have cost us this thing, but you never know. We've had the lead before in this tournament. One time, we had the lead for more than two months, and with two weeks left, we got beat. Who knows, maybe it will hold up. I'm happy for the guys, though. Jace has struggled in some team events in the past, and tonight, he bowled extremely well. I am very proud of him."

Abboud, who made his first appearance with the team this year, was excited to receive an invitation to bowl with the group.

"I've been chasing these guys around for years and years," said Abboud, who made his 25th Open Championships appearance. "When I got the call to come bowl with them, I was ecstatic because I knew their team was going to be very competitive. And, I'll be honest with you, I was extremely nervous because I didn't want to let them down. I didn't bowl fantastic, but we got the job done so far."

With the potential for a lead change coming down to the 10th frame and other teams around them still within striking distance, Abboud aided his new teammates with two clutch strikes.

"I've been around it enough to know you're aware of what's going on around you," said Abboud, who is a one-time Professional Bowlers Association titlist. "We saw the teams that were striking, and we knew we had to keep up with them. We thought we were probably all going to need to strike out, and then it came down to John and Dennis. I just happened to look up at the score and knew Dennis needed the first hit. He had the 7-10 standing there, and it seemed like it took 20 minutes, but it went down. It was fantastic."

Cambridge 1 posted games of 1,067, 1,130 and 1,213 and was led by Bill Webb, who rolled a 748 series. He was followed by Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe (692), Ron Nelson Jr. (673), Team USA assistant coach Bryan O'Keefe (653) and Chris Viale (644).

Pam's Boys 1 of Salem, Ore., made its run at the lead with games of 1,098, 1,191 and 1,082. The effort included Don Woolard (746), Richard Goosmann (697), PBA Senior Tour champion Kevin Croucher (679), Garret Bell (640) and Rick Satter (609).

The last time more than one team in the same year broke the 3,400 mark was 2009, when three teams accomplished the feat. That year, the eventual winner, Linds Limited of Milwaukee (3,449) and runner-up, Sack Toe of Sacramento, Calif. (3,427), bowled on the same team squad just 10 lanes apart.

Click here to watch video highlights from the 2011 Open Championships.
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.