Indiana bowlers have strong showing in minors at 2023 Open Championships
May 08, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Jordan Gray and Kyle Luckett
RENO, Nev. – The state of Indiana may be synonymous to basketball for some, but plenty of great bowlers have called the Hoosier state home and have found success at events like the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Two more bowlers added their names to the list Sunday night at the National Bowling Stadium, with plenty of action on the lanes during doubles and singles.
Jordan Gray of Columbus, Indiana, was up first Sunday, starting his doubles set with 12 strikes for the third 300 of the 2023 event. His doubles partner, Kyle Luckett of Indianapolis, took over in the next set on his way to the lead in Regular Singles with 775.
Gray, a 31-year-old right-hander who also is the head coach at Marian University in Indianapolis, was lacing up for his ninth USBC Open Championships appearance and initially was concerned his look in practice was not going to bode well for what the lanes were asking of him.
“A lot of the other guys on the pair started off throwing urethane, which kind of put me in a spot to use it to start as well. Luckily, it turned out to be the right choice,” said Gray, who was able to put that uncomfortable feeling to rest when the lanes gave him a great look after a few frames.
“My goal was actually to shoot 240, as I was never fully convinced that my look was amazing. Once I got to the seventh and eighth frames, it finally crossed my mind that I could actually get up here and shoot 300.”
Gray got up in the 10th and aced all three shots to become the first bowler to shoot 300 in the doubles event at the 2023 Open Championships.
“It is still surreal to think this even happened,” Gray said. “Every bowler that comes to the Open Championships wants that feeling. It is still so hard to wrap my head around that I not only shot 300 on bowling’s biggest stage, but I get to relive that moment every year moving forward.”
It was back to business after the perfect finish to Game 1, as Gray and Luckett worked toward the top spot in Regular Doubles. Julian Brown of Jonesboro, Georgia, and Zack Carter of Des Plaines, Illinois, took the lead May 6 with 1,401.
They entered the final frame with the chance to both strike out to tie the number but ultimately settled into third place with 1,364. Gray added 244 and 205 for 749, while Luckett began to heat up toward the end of the set after games of 180, 200 and 235 for 615.
The momentum continued for Luckett as he started his singles set with 217. He then struck on 21 of his next 23 deliveries for back-to-back games of 279 to take the lead. Jeremiah Smith of Mandan, North Dakota, had led Regular Singles with 761.
He started Game 3 with nine strikes, and at least nine pins on his first shot of the 10th frame would help him secure the lead. The 38-year-old right-hander left a 9 pin on his first delivery to officially surpass Smith’s score. He covered the spare and struck on his fill ball to conclude the set.
Luckett, participating in his 11th Open Championships, was a last-minute addition to the squad due to an injury in the group. He was just looking to have some fun with his friends and hopefully bowl well.
“I had let the guys know I would possibly be available to bowl if they needed someone,” Luckett said. “A few weeks later, Jordan Gray contacted me and asked if I would still be available to bowl, since Matt Staninger was injured and unable to compete.
“I started off Game 1 slow with 217 and left some pins out there, but I’m a stroker and really loved the ball reaction I had, which allowed me to play a little straighter because of how the lanes shaped up. My initial thoughts were that the lanes were going to get ugly with all the urethane going down the lane.”
Rolling into Game 2, Luckett started with seven consecutive strikes and began to get the feeling that it may be turning into something good.
“Truthfully, I had no idea that I was even in contention to take the lead,” Luckett said. “I knew what I had after two (games) was a good number, but I wasn’t aware of what the leading number actually was.”
After securing the top spot, Luckett was able to celebrate the moment alongside his teammates and friends.
He credited the group dynamic in helping him feel more comfortable on the lanes, and now, it may also result in a win at the Open Championships.
“I really feel that this year I was more relaxed being around this group of friends in comparison to other years I have bowled,” Luckett said. “There have been a few years between each time I have participated in this event, and this year’s performance and the time I had with this group has really given me a different perspective on the tournament. So much so that I may start to come every year.”
Gray also moved into fifth place in Regular All-Events with a 2,083 total. He added 675 in team and 659 in singles. Luckett had 592 in team to get to 1,982.
Derek Eoff of DeForest, Wisconsin, leads Regular All-Events with 2,165.
Gray and Luckett also helped Indianapolis’ Grip Sacks on Fire to seventh place in Team All-Events with 9,533.
They were joined in the effort by Ryan Kohlmeyer (1,999), Josh Burkhardt (1,802) and Stephanie Burkhardt (1,667).
Las Vegas’ Chili Garlic Edamame holds the lead in Team All-Events with 9,884.
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above. Regular Singles and All-Events includes bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
RENO, Nev. – The state of Indiana may be synonymous to basketball for some, but plenty of great bowlers have called the Hoosier state home and have found success at events like the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Two more bowlers added their names to the list Sunday night at the National Bowling Stadium, with plenty of action on the lanes during doubles and singles.
Jordan Gray of Columbus, Indiana, was up first Sunday, starting his doubles set with 12 strikes for the third 300 of the 2023 event. His doubles partner, Kyle Luckett of Indianapolis, took over in the next set on his way to the lead in Regular Singles with 775.
Gray, a 31-year-old right-hander who also is the head coach at Marian University in Indianapolis, was lacing up for his ninth USBC Open Championships appearance and initially was concerned his look in practice was not going to bode well for what the lanes were asking of him.
“A lot of the other guys on the pair started off throwing urethane, which kind of put me in a spot to use it to start as well. Luckily, it turned out to be the right choice,” said Gray, who was able to put that uncomfortable feeling to rest when the lanes gave him a great look after a few frames.
“My goal was actually to shoot 240, as I was never fully convinced that my look was amazing. Once I got to the seventh and eighth frames, it finally crossed my mind that I could actually get up here and shoot 300.”
Gray got up in the 10th and aced all three shots to become the first bowler to shoot 300 in the doubles event at the 2023 Open Championships.
“It is still surreal to think this even happened,” Gray said. “Every bowler that comes to the Open Championships wants that feeling. It is still so hard to wrap my head around that I not only shot 300 on bowling’s biggest stage, but I get to relive that moment every year moving forward.”
It was back to business after the perfect finish to Game 1, as Gray and Luckett worked toward the top spot in Regular Doubles. Julian Brown of Jonesboro, Georgia, and Zack Carter of Des Plaines, Illinois, took the lead May 6 with 1,401.
They entered the final frame with the chance to both strike out to tie the number but ultimately settled into third place with 1,364. Gray added 244 and 205 for 749, while Luckett began to heat up toward the end of the set after games of 180, 200 and 235 for 615.
The momentum continued for Luckett as he started his singles set with 217. He then struck on 21 of his next 23 deliveries for back-to-back games of 279 to take the lead. Jeremiah Smith of Mandan, North Dakota, had led Regular Singles with 761.
He started Game 3 with nine strikes, and at least nine pins on his first shot of the 10th frame would help him secure the lead. The 38-year-old right-hander left a 9 pin on his first delivery to officially surpass Smith’s score. He covered the spare and struck on his fill ball to conclude the set.
Luckett, participating in his 11th Open Championships, was a last-minute addition to the squad due to an injury in the group. He was just looking to have some fun with his friends and hopefully bowl well.
“I had let the guys know I would possibly be available to bowl if they needed someone,” Luckett said. “A few weeks later, Jordan Gray contacted me and asked if I would still be available to bowl, since Matt Staninger was injured and unable to compete.
“I started off Game 1 slow with 217 and left some pins out there, but I’m a stroker and really loved the ball reaction I had, which allowed me to play a little straighter because of how the lanes shaped up. My initial thoughts were that the lanes were going to get ugly with all the urethane going down the lane.”
Rolling into Game 2, Luckett started with seven consecutive strikes and began to get the feeling that it may be turning into something good.
“Truthfully, I had no idea that I was even in contention to take the lead,” Luckett said. “I knew what I had after two (games) was a good number, but I wasn’t aware of what the leading number actually was.”
After securing the top spot, Luckett was able to celebrate the moment alongside his teammates and friends.
He credited the group dynamic in helping him feel more comfortable on the lanes, and now, it may also result in a win at the Open Championships.
“I really feel that this year I was more relaxed being around this group of friends in comparison to other years I have bowled,” Luckett said. “There have been a few years between each time I have participated in this event, and this year’s performance and the time I had with this group has really given me a different perspective on the tournament. So much so that I may start to come every year.”
Gray also moved into fifth place in Regular All-Events with a 2,083 total. He added 675 in team and 659 in singles. Luckett had 592 in team to get to 1,982.
Derek Eoff of DeForest, Wisconsin, leads Regular All-Events with 2,165.
Gray and Luckett also helped Indianapolis’ Grip Sacks on Fire to seventh place in Team All-Events with 9,533.
They were joined in the effort by Ryan Kohlmeyer (1,999), Josh Burkhardt (1,802) and Stephanie Burkhardt (1,667).
Las Vegas’ Chili Garlic Edamame holds the lead in Team All-Events with 9,884.
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above. Regular Singles and All-Events includes bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.