Kentucky bowler connects for 300 at 2022 USBC Open Championships
July 03, 2022
LAS VEGAS - When Tanner Johnson of Owensboro, Kentucky, came to Las Vegas to bowl the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, he had very little event-specific experience to draw upon. That's because Johnson was making just his second USBC Open Championships appearance.
Nevertheless, despite having far fewer games than many of his fellow competitors, Johnson can now lay claim to an accomplishment that most Open Championships bowlers can only dream of achieving on the championship lanes, shooting 300.
The 27-year-old right-hander earned that distinction when he connected for 300 during his third game of doubles at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Saturday.
Despite having multiple 300s under his belt, Johnson acknowledged that the feeling was far different when trying to accomplish the feat at the Open Championships.
"I've never been nervous going for 300 like I was going for this one," said Johnson, who started his doubles set with 150 and 212. "The ball felt like it weighed a hundred pounds during the 10th frame, but I just kept telling myself to stay behind it. Thankfully, it worked."
Johnson's 300 was the 45th perfect game rolled during the 2022 Open Championships. It finished off a 662 series for Johnson and moved him and partner Roger Farmer, also of Owensboro, into a tie for 58th place in Standard Doubles with 1,205.
Standard Doubles is for pairs whose combined averages fall between 311 and 350.
The 300 not only demonstrated Johnson's shot-making prowess, but it also put his ability to read and decode challenging lane patterns on full display, which is a skill he learned while bowling collegiately.
"I bowled in college for Webber International, and they have a great program that really teaches you how to play all types of patterns," Johnson said. "Honestly, I just feel like I got lucky and figured it out a little bit quicker than some people do, and that allowed me to get lined up and make 12 good shots."
Johnson threw a lot more than 12 good shots during this year's tournament as is supported by his 1,938 total in Regular All-Events, which is more than 200 pins higher than the score he put up during his Open Championships debut in 2021.
The Regular Division features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
"In terms of score, my expectations going in ended up right about where I landed," said Johnson, who had 680 in team and 596 in singles. "I left a lot of pins out there, but it's hard to be disappointed after walking away with 300. It's been a phenomenal trip."
The trip would have been even more phenomenal had Johnson's father been in attendance to watch his son shoot 300 in person. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible as his father was forced to skip this year's Open Championships due to health problems.
Nevertheless, Johnson was very happy to be able to provide his dad with an amazing Open Championships memory from afar.
"My dad was supposed to come, but he was diagnosed with lung cancer, so, unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it out here this time," Johnson said. "Thankfully, we were able to move some things around and still make the trip. I'm really happy that happened and that I was able to shoot a score like this for my dad, since he wasn't able to be here; he's already at home celebrating."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Nevertheless, despite having far fewer games than many of his fellow competitors, Johnson can now lay claim to an accomplishment that most Open Championships bowlers can only dream of achieving on the championship lanes, shooting 300.
The 27-year-old right-hander earned that distinction when he connected for 300 during his third game of doubles at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Saturday.
Despite having multiple 300s under his belt, Johnson acknowledged that the feeling was far different when trying to accomplish the feat at the Open Championships.
"I've never been nervous going for 300 like I was going for this one," said Johnson, who started his doubles set with 150 and 212. "The ball felt like it weighed a hundred pounds during the 10th frame, but I just kept telling myself to stay behind it. Thankfully, it worked."
Johnson's 300 was the 45th perfect game rolled during the 2022 Open Championships. It finished off a 662 series for Johnson and moved him and partner Roger Farmer, also of Owensboro, into a tie for 58th place in Standard Doubles with 1,205.
Standard Doubles is for pairs whose combined averages fall between 311 and 350.
The 300 not only demonstrated Johnson's shot-making prowess, but it also put his ability to read and decode challenging lane patterns on full display, which is a skill he learned while bowling collegiately.
"I bowled in college for Webber International, and they have a great program that really teaches you how to play all types of patterns," Johnson said. "Honestly, I just feel like I got lucky and figured it out a little bit quicker than some people do, and that allowed me to get lined up and make 12 good shots."
Johnson threw a lot more than 12 good shots during this year's tournament as is supported by his 1,938 total in Regular All-Events, which is more than 200 pins higher than the score he put up during his Open Championships debut in 2021.
The Regular Division features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
"In terms of score, my expectations going in ended up right about where I landed," said Johnson, who had 680 in team and 596 in singles. "I left a lot of pins out there, but it's hard to be disappointed after walking away with 300. It's been a phenomenal trip."
The trip would have been even more phenomenal had Johnson's father been in attendance to watch his son shoot 300 in person. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible as his father was forced to skip this year's Open Championships due to health problems.
Nevertheless, Johnson was very happy to be able to provide his dad with an amazing Open Championships memory from afar.
"My dad was supposed to come, but he was diagnosed with lung cancer, so, unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it out here this time," Johnson said. "Thankfully, we were able to move some things around and still make the trip. I'm really happy that happened and that I was able to shoot a score like this for my dad, since he wasn't able to be here; he's already at home celebrating."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.