Former Team USA member takes Open Singles lead at Bowlers Journal Championships
April 29, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Former Team USA member Derek Eoff of Arlington, Texas, may be quiet and reserved in demeanor off the lanes, but while competing, his performance often speaks volumes, and he has evolved into the type of bowler people stop to watch.
This week, the 29-year-old right-hander turned heads at the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, where he fired games of 258, 289 and 268 for an 815 series and added a 202 for a 1,017 four-game total, which moved him into the top spot in Open Singles. David Ewald of Macomb, Mich., previously held the lead with 992.
"The first set I bowled, I didn't have a very good ball reaction," said Eoff, who won the 2008 USBC Team USA Trials. "After trying different balls and various parts of the lane during the first set, I decided to bowl again. A thought popped into my head about something that might work, and I threw a few practice balls to try it out. I thought I had a pretty good look, not an 815 for three games look, but I was making good shots and it turned into a really good ball reaction."
Eoff has had success in Reno before. At the USBC Open Championships in 2007, he rolled a 300 game on the way to a runner-up finish in Regular Doubles with Richard Volhard of Marathon, Wis. Earlier this year, Eoff finished 51st out of 268 competitors at the USBC Masters, which was held at the National Bowling Stadium just before the start of the 2010 Open Championships.
"Prior to 2007, I really hadn't bowled that well at the Stadium," said Eoff, who is a rules counselor at USBC Headquarters in Arlington, Texas. "Nothing has changed much, other than the fact that I have improved as a bowler. I am able to make better decisions and ball choices. My last few times here, I have bowled pretty well."
Eoff finished the 2007 event with a career-best 2,075 all-events total, and nearly matched that this year, shooting 697 in team, 688 in doubles and 650 in singles for 2,035.
One of the ways that Eoff has improved his game is through the USBC Sport Bowling program. USBC Sport leagues provide bowlers with the opportunity to test their skills on challenging lane conditions and improve on their weaknesses. Eoff was the USBC Sport Bowling national high average winner for the 2006-07 season and the runner-up for 2004-05.
"I used to only bowl in Sport leagues," said Eoff, who made his 10th Open Championships appearance this year. "Just by competing and seeing these types of patterns on a weekly basis, it helps. In my opinion, it helps with making better shots, making adjustments, reading lane transitions and ball selection. Sport Bowling has definitely contributed to my success as a bowler."
As the new leader at the Bowlers Journal, Eoff now will be watching the leaderboard until the Bowlers Journal Championships ends in July.
"It's a big score," said Eoff, who won the 2008 QubicaAMF World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. "There is a lot of time left and plenty of good bowlers yet to bowl, but I hope it holds up. I will be watching it more than I normally would."
The Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC is being held alongside the Open Championships for the 64th year. It is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino and competition runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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.
This week, the 29-year-old right-hander turned heads at the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, where he fired games of 258, 289 and 268 for an 815 series and added a 202 for a 1,017 four-game total, which moved him into the top spot in Open Singles. David Ewald of Macomb, Mich., previously held the lead with 992.
"The first set I bowled, I didn't have a very good ball reaction," said Eoff, who won the 2008 USBC Team USA Trials. "After trying different balls and various parts of the lane during the first set, I decided to bowl again. A thought popped into my head about something that might work, and I threw a few practice balls to try it out. I thought I had a pretty good look, not an 815 for three games look, but I was making good shots and it turned into a really good ball reaction."
Eoff has had success in Reno before. At the USBC Open Championships in 2007, he rolled a 300 game on the way to a runner-up finish in Regular Doubles with Richard Volhard of Marathon, Wis. Earlier this year, Eoff finished 51st out of 268 competitors at the USBC Masters, which was held at the National Bowling Stadium just before the start of the 2010 Open Championships.
"Prior to 2007, I really hadn't bowled that well at the Stadium," said Eoff, who is a rules counselor at USBC Headquarters in Arlington, Texas. "Nothing has changed much, other than the fact that I have improved as a bowler. I am able to make better decisions and ball choices. My last few times here, I have bowled pretty well."
Eoff finished the 2007 event with a career-best 2,075 all-events total, and nearly matched that this year, shooting 697 in team, 688 in doubles and 650 in singles for 2,035.
One of the ways that Eoff has improved his game is through the USBC Sport Bowling program. USBC Sport leagues provide bowlers with the opportunity to test their skills on challenging lane conditions and improve on their weaknesses. Eoff was the USBC Sport Bowling national high average winner for the 2006-07 season and the runner-up for 2004-05.
"I used to only bowl in Sport leagues," said Eoff, who made his 10th Open Championships appearance this year. "Just by competing and seeing these types of patterns on a weekly basis, it helps. In my opinion, it helps with making better shots, making adjustments, reading lane transitions and ball selection. Sport Bowling has definitely contributed to my success as a bowler."
As the new leader at the Bowlers Journal, Eoff now will be watching the leaderboard until the Bowlers Journal Championships ends in July.
"It's a big score," said Eoff, who won the 2008 QubicaAMF World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. "There is a lot of time left and plenty of good bowlers yet to bowl, but I hope it holds up. I will be watching it more than I normally would."
The Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC is being held alongside the Open Championships for the 64th year. It is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino and competition runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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.