Hall of Famer Boresch leads singles at 2018 USBC Open Championships
April 08, 2018
By Matt Cannizzaro and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wisconsin, showed the persistence and resilience that earned him a spot in the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame as he took the lead Sunday in Regular Singles at the 2018 USBC Open Championships.
Boresch, a three-time Open Championships titlist, struck on 27 of his first 30 deliveries during singles, including a stretch of 18 consecutive strikes, on the way to games of 280, 279 and 225 for a 784 series at the Oncenter Convention Center. Rameses Chambers of Kansas City, Missouri, previously held the lead with 771.
Boresch, 55-year-old right-hander, faced several ups and downs during his preceding doubles set. He started doubles with seven consecutive strikes and finished with a 246 game, but he saw his look go away as he added 174 and 177 for a 597 total.
"After the way I started doubles, I thought I had a really good shot and was going to have a good day," said Boresch, who had 570 in team for a 1,951 all-events total. "All of a sudden, they changed a bit, and I couldn't strike. I went through every ball I had to try and carry, and it got frustrating. I felt like I tried everything, and I think I was a little too firm."
After evaluating his options for his final three games, Boresch made a switch to a less-aggressive bowling ball and relied on some of the tricks that have helped him earn three Professional Bowlers Association 50 Tour titles and seven medals at the World Bowling Senior Championships as a member of Senior Team USA.
Boresch still had the first 800 series of the 2018 event in his sights with two frames left to go, before a 10 pin in the ninth frame ended his run. After starting with five of the first six strikes in Game 3, Boresch was unable to strike until his fill ball.
"I ended up switching to something weaker and tried to get on top of it a little more, and straighter at it, because I think I had no other choice," said Boresch, who made his 37th Open Championships appearance. "I had a really good look and made the right adjustments, but it kind of caught up with me at the end. It would have been nice to get to 800, since that's been one of my goals here, and add a few more pins onto the lead, but that was a lot fun."
Boresch's previous high series on the championship lanes was a 755 set in doubles at the 1997 tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, while a career-best all-events effort of 2,223, including his second 300 game at the Open Championships, helped Linds Limited to the Regular Team and Team All-Events titles in 2009.
This year's trip to Syracuse already had a special meaning for Boresch as he was able to see his son, Jacob, be recognized for his third-place finish in Regular All-Events from last year's Open Championships in Las Vegas.
In addition to the coveted Eagle trophy awarded to the champion in each event at the Open Championships, the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each division also receive a commemorative watch.
It's been a great experience for Boresch and his fellow teammates - USBC Hall of Famers Gary Daroszewski, Dale Traber and Gus Yannaras and three-time titlist Ryan Lever - to help guide the next generation to success at an event they hold extremely close to their hearts.
"It's been so fun to watch Jacob and his teammates continue to grow and get better and better out here," said Boresch, who is one of 29 bowlers in tournament history to record multiple 300s on the championship lanes. "I know he sees how intense we are at this tournament, and sometimes may put some extra pressure on himself, but I'm so incredibly proud of him. To get to see him get that kind of recognition before we started bowling was really, really great."
Boresch now gets to experience a familiar wait as he leaves with his name at the top of the leaderboard. He thinks his score will be passed by the time the 2018 event comes to a close July 8 but knows the only way you can get a title is by putting yourself in position to win.
"It's hard to say since it's so early, but I don't think it's going to be enough to win," Boresch said. "But, it sure is fun taking the lead. That's what it's all about when we come out here."
Boresch also raised the bar earlier in the week at the nearby Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC, being held at Strike 'N Spare Lanes.
He teamed with Yannaras to take the Senior Doubles lead with a 1,448 total, which included a balanced effort from each player. Yannaras set the pace with games of 254, 257 and 224 for a 735 series, while Boresch added 206, 249 and 258 for 713.
The Bowlers Journal features the same lane condition used during doubles and singles at the Open Championships.
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wisconsin, showed the persistence and resilience that earned him a spot in the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame as he took the lead Sunday in Regular Singles at the 2018 USBC Open Championships.
Boresch, a three-time Open Championships titlist, struck on 27 of his first 30 deliveries during singles, including a stretch of 18 consecutive strikes, on the way to games of 280, 279 and 225 for a 784 series at the Oncenter Convention Center. Rameses Chambers of Kansas City, Missouri, previously held the lead with 771.
Boresch, 55-year-old right-hander, faced several ups and downs during his preceding doubles set. He started doubles with seven consecutive strikes and finished with a 246 game, but he saw his look go away as he added 174 and 177 for a 597 total.
"After the way I started doubles, I thought I had a really good shot and was going to have a good day," said Boresch, who had 570 in team for a 1,951 all-events total. "All of a sudden, they changed a bit, and I couldn't strike. I went through every ball I had to try and carry, and it got frustrating. I felt like I tried everything, and I think I was a little too firm."
After evaluating his options for his final three games, Boresch made a switch to a less-aggressive bowling ball and relied on some of the tricks that have helped him earn three Professional Bowlers Association 50 Tour titles and seven medals at the World Bowling Senior Championships as a member of Senior Team USA.
Boresch still had the first 800 series of the 2018 event in his sights with two frames left to go, before a 10 pin in the ninth frame ended his run. After starting with five of the first six strikes in Game 3, Boresch was unable to strike until his fill ball.
"I ended up switching to something weaker and tried to get on top of it a little more, and straighter at it, because I think I had no other choice," said Boresch, who made his 37th Open Championships appearance. "I had a really good look and made the right adjustments, but it kind of caught up with me at the end. It would have been nice to get to 800, since that's been one of my goals here, and add a few more pins onto the lead, but that was a lot fun."
Boresch's previous high series on the championship lanes was a 755 set in doubles at the 1997 tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, while a career-best all-events effort of 2,223, including his second 300 game at the Open Championships, helped Linds Limited to the Regular Team and Team All-Events titles in 2009.
This year's trip to Syracuse already had a special meaning for Boresch as he was able to see his son, Jacob, be recognized for his third-place finish in Regular All-Events from last year's Open Championships in Las Vegas.
In addition to the coveted Eagle trophy awarded to the champion in each event at the Open Championships, the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each division also receive a commemorative watch.
It's been a great experience for Boresch and his fellow teammates - USBC Hall of Famers Gary Daroszewski, Dale Traber and Gus Yannaras and three-time titlist Ryan Lever - to help guide the next generation to success at an event they hold extremely close to their hearts.
"It's been so fun to watch Jacob and his teammates continue to grow and get better and better out here," said Boresch, who is one of 29 bowlers in tournament history to record multiple 300s on the championship lanes. "I know he sees how intense we are at this tournament, and sometimes may put some extra pressure on himself, but I'm so incredibly proud of him. To get to see him get that kind of recognition before we started bowling was really, really great."
Boresch now gets to experience a familiar wait as he leaves with his name at the top of the leaderboard. He thinks his score will be passed by the time the 2018 event comes to a close July 8 but knows the only way you can get a title is by putting yourself in position to win.
"It's hard to say since it's so early, but I don't think it's going to be enough to win," Boresch said. "But, it sure is fun taking the lead. That's what it's all about when we come out here."
Boresch also raised the bar earlier in the week at the nearby Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC, being held at Strike 'N Spare Lanes.
He teamed with Yannaras to take the Senior Doubles lead with a 1,448 total, which included a balanced effort from each player. Yannaras set the pace with games of 254, 257 and 224 for a 735 series, while Boresch added 206, 249 and 258 for 713.
The Bowlers Journal features the same lane condition used during doubles and singles at the Open Championships.