Idaho pair just misses doubles lead at USBC Open Championships
May 20, 2010
RENO, Nev. - At a combined age of 133, Bill Ausburn of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Dale Motz of Post Falls, Idaho, proved that there's an opportunity for everyone to find success at the USBC Open Championships regardless of age or skill level.
Both bowlers turned in the best three-game sets of their Open Championships careers and teamed up to move into second place in Classified Doubles with a 1,185 total at the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday.
Motz, a 60-year-old right-hander, led the pair with a 631 series, while his 73-year-old partner added 554. Robert Blum of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Frank DeFrancesco of Poway, Calif., lead with 1,200.
"We just had a good day, and everything came together for us," said Motz, who regularly bowls at Triple Play in Hayden Lake and made his 11th Open Championships appearance. "We decided to become partners last year, and we've done all right. I knew what we needed for the lead, but he had no idea. We just decided we'd do our best and see what happened."
Entering the 2010 tournament Motz's high series on the tournament lanes was 614 in singles at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont. Ausburn's high of 520 came in doubles at the Stadium in 2007.
"This was exciting," said Ausburn, who made his sixth tournament appearance. "This is the highest I've ever been, and it was a lot of fun."
Motz added 563 in singles and 543 in team for a 1,737 all-events total, while Ausburn had 514 in team and 468 in singles for 1,536.
To be eligible for the Classified Division, bowlers must enter with a 180 average or less for singles and all-events , a combined average of 360 for doubles and 900 for team.
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.
Both bowlers turned in the best three-game sets of their Open Championships careers and teamed up to move into second place in Classified Doubles with a 1,185 total at the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday.
Motz, a 60-year-old right-hander, led the pair with a 631 series, while his 73-year-old partner added 554. Robert Blum of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Frank DeFrancesco of Poway, Calif., lead with 1,200.
"We just had a good day, and everything came together for us," said Motz, who regularly bowls at Triple Play in Hayden Lake and made his 11th Open Championships appearance. "We decided to become partners last year, and we've done all right. I knew what we needed for the lead, but he had no idea. We just decided we'd do our best and see what happened."
Entering the 2010 tournament Motz's high series on the tournament lanes was 614 in singles at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont. Ausburn's high of 520 came in doubles at the Stadium in 2007.
"This was exciting," said Ausburn, who made his sixth tournament appearance. "This is the highest I've ever been, and it was a lot of fun."
Motz added 563 in singles and 543 in team for a 1,737 all-events total, while Ausburn had 514 in team and 468 in singles for 1,536.
To be eligible for the Classified Division, bowlers must enter with a 180 average or less for singles and all-events , a combined average of 360 for doubles and 900 for team.
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.