Former champions challenge lead at USBC Open Championships
May 20, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Five years ago, KR Strikeforce of Decatur, Ill., conquered a very demanding lane condition and outdistanced its nearest competitor by 119 pins to take home the Regular Team title at the USBC Open Championships.
With success comes added pressure, and one of the team's main goals since winning has been to prove that the victory wasn't just a fluke. The group has only cracked the top 100 one time since winning, but nearly reclaimed the top spot at the National Bowling Stadium on Wednesday night.
Scott Rains, who was the low man on the way to the win in 2005, led the way this year with games of 269, 266 and 236 for a 771 series and helped KR Strikeforce into third place in Regular Team with a 3,386 total. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.
"I was low on the team that year, and even though we won, it still bothers me," said Rains, a 37-year-old right-hander who shot 586 in the 3,302 winning effort in Baton Rouge, La., in 2005. "Winning definitely added pressure, and we just wanted to come back and prove that we deserved what we got. We haven't had a solid team set since, but I think this year solidified our place out here."
Rains and his teammates got advice from other bowlers who had already been to this year's Open Championships. The general consensus was that their biggest challenge would come in the opening game, but if they could stick to their game plan and grind out a solid start, they'd set themselves up for bigger scores.
Instead, KR Strikeforce opened with 1,197, the sixth-highest team game of the year, and was excited to get off to such a good start.
"People said Game 1 was going to be a struggle, so we were surprised, in a good way, with how we did," said Rains, who made his 21st tournament appearance. "I was very confident with the look I had, even though I wasn't sure how they were going to break down. I had the right ball in my hand and didn't have to go through the major moves some of the other guys did. I just tried to relay to them what I was seeing and what I thought they could do to get through the transition."
The group shot 1,089 in its second game and had a clear chance at the lead heading into the final frame of the night. Unfortunately, only one team member managed to strike on the first shot in 10th frame, and that, combined with 12 holes on the night, including four single-pin misses, left them short of the lead after a 1,100 finale.
Tom Adcock added 690 for KR Strikeforce and was followed by Mike Peters (670), Butch Woollen (637) and left-hander Doug Anderson (618).
"Having one eagle is really special, but having two puts you in some pretty good company, so tonight's finish is going to be a little hard to live with for a while," said Rains, who bowls at Highland Park Bowl in Moline, Ill. "It was still out there in the 10th frame, but we couldn't get there. We definitely missed some spares we shouldn't have, so we'll always look back on that and wonder, but we also got some breaks along the way that gave us a chance. We're happy to be third, but we're also disappointed. We'd love to have that 10th frame over again."
To help prepare for his 2010 tournament campaign, Rains practiced on this year's lane condition at Town and Country Lanes near Rockford, Ill.
"Practicing on the pattern really helped, even though it didn't play quite the same," Rains said. "What we bowled on at home played much tougher than what we saw here, and that made the shot tonight seem much more open and forgiving. Overall, it was a great night and a solid performance for us."
On Thursday morning, 2009 Classified Singles champion, Vernon Daniels of Bermuda, made his Regular Division debut.
He posted a 603 singles set to go along with 580 in team and 558 in doubles for a career- high 1,741 all-events total. His best effort in 11 previous trips to the Open Championships was 1,704 at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Daniels took home the Classified Singles title at last year's tournament in Las Vegas with a 692 series.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. 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.
With success comes added pressure, and one of the team's main goals since winning has been to prove that the victory wasn't just a fluke. The group has only cracked the top 100 one time since winning, but nearly reclaimed the top spot at the National Bowling Stadium on Wednesday night.
Scott Rains, who was the low man on the way to the win in 2005, led the way this year with games of 269, 266 and 236 for a 771 series and helped KR Strikeforce into third place in Regular Team with a 3,386 total. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.
"I was low on the team that year, and even though we won, it still bothers me," said Rains, a 37-year-old right-hander who shot 586 in the 3,302 winning effort in Baton Rouge, La., in 2005. "Winning definitely added pressure, and we just wanted to come back and prove that we deserved what we got. We haven't had a solid team set since, but I think this year solidified our place out here."
Rains and his teammates got advice from other bowlers who had already been to this year's Open Championships. The general consensus was that their biggest challenge would come in the opening game, but if they could stick to their game plan and grind out a solid start, they'd set themselves up for bigger scores.
Instead, KR Strikeforce opened with 1,197, the sixth-highest team game of the year, and was excited to get off to such a good start.
"People said Game 1 was going to be a struggle, so we were surprised, in a good way, with how we did," said Rains, who made his 21st tournament appearance. "I was very confident with the look I had, even though I wasn't sure how they were going to break down. I had the right ball in my hand and didn't have to go through the major moves some of the other guys did. I just tried to relay to them what I was seeing and what I thought they could do to get through the transition."
The group shot 1,089 in its second game and had a clear chance at the lead heading into the final frame of the night. Unfortunately, only one team member managed to strike on the first shot in 10th frame, and that, combined with 12 holes on the night, including four single-pin misses, left them short of the lead after a 1,100 finale.
Tom Adcock added 690 for KR Strikeforce and was followed by Mike Peters (670), Butch Woollen (637) and left-hander Doug Anderson (618).
"Having one eagle is really special, but having two puts you in some pretty good company, so tonight's finish is going to be a little hard to live with for a while," said Rains, who bowls at Highland Park Bowl in Moline, Ill. "It was still out there in the 10th frame, but we couldn't get there. We definitely missed some spares we shouldn't have, so we'll always look back on that and wonder, but we also got some breaks along the way that gave us a chance. We're happy to be third, but we're also disappointed. We'd love to have that 10th frame over again."
To help prepare for his 2010 tournament campaign, Rains practiced on this year's lane condition at Town and Country Lanes near Rockford, Ill.
"Practicing on the pattern really helped, even though it didn't play quite the same," Rains said. "What we bowled on at home played much tougher than what we saw here, and that made the shot tonight seem much more open and forgiving. Overall, it was a great night and a solid performance for us."
On Thursday morning, 2009 Classified Singles champion, Vernon Daniels of Bermuda, made his Regular Division debut.
He posted a 603 singles set to go along with 580 in team and 558 in doubles for a career- high 1,741 all-events total. His best effort in 11 previous trips to the Open Championships was 1,704 at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Daniels took home the Classified Singles title at last year's tournament in Las Vegas with a 692 series.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. 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.