Maryland bowlers take over top spot in doubles at 2023 Open Championships
March 26, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Matt Kerzic and Michael Mann Sr.
RENO, Nev. – Having to deliver a pressure-packed shot for the chance to take the lead at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships certainly can get the nerves going – just ask Matt Kerzic and Michael Mann Sr.
Kerzic and Mann knew exactly what they were chasing as they made their way toward the end of Game 3 in doubles Saturday at the National Bowling Stadium, and although both admitted to feeling nervous in the moment, they were able to complete the task and move into the lead in Standard Doubles at the 2023 event with a combined score of 1,183.
Kerzic, a 48-year-old right-hander from Lusby, Maryland, led the performance with games of 159, 229 and 247 for a 635 series. Mann, a 55-year-old right-hander from La Plata, Maryland, fired games of 167, 177 and 204 for a 548 set.
Glenn Francis and Joey Lankford of Silver City, New Mexico, had taken the lead Wednesday at the NBS with 1,165.
The pair may have started slow Saturday, but Kerzic found his look in the middle of Game 2, recording a stretch of six consecutive strikes.
Mann leaned on his teammate for some advice in hopes of finding a similar look in Game 3, which helped lead to the exciting finish for both bowlers.
“He came up to me at the end of the second game and asked how I was playing the lanes,” said Kerzic, who made his 21st USBC Open Championships appearance. “I told him I was playing them the way I play them at home, so he moved there.”
Mann appreciated the note as he started to fill frames in Game 3.
“It was great advice,” said Mann, competing in his fourth Open Championships. “I’ve known Matt for 20-plus years, and he coached me along and everything was good.”
They knew the lead was in play heading into the ninth frame, and both players were able to strike. It also marked Kerzic’s sixth strike in a row.
Kerzic added a seventh consecutive strike to start the 10th, while Mann maintained his clean game with a cover of the 2-5-7 to take over the top spot.
“We both knew the number, and when I got to the 10th frame, I was a little nervous,” said Kerzic, who added sets of 585 in singles and 547 in team for a 1,767 all-events total. “I wanted us just to go up there and stay clean. If we did that, we should be OK. I really wanted to strike out, but we’ll take it. Knowing the number added a lot of extra pressure.”
Kerzic and Mann were bowling doubles at the Open Championships for the first time, but they have been competing together at the tournament as part of a six-team group from Maryland.
Mann knows they can go to anyone in the group for direction or a good laugh, and Kerzic echoed how important the communication and teamwork was to their success at the NBS.
They also took advantage of several words of wisdom prior to their team event Friday from five-time Eagle winner Matt McNiel, who returned to the Open Championships as part of the defending Regular Team champion – Storm Products Inc. 1 of Alva, Florida – and delivered a brief speech as they were presented with their championship watches and the Joe Norris Trophy.
Although they’re not sure if the score will hold long enough for their own trophy presentation at the 2024 event in Las Vegas, they will enjoy the moment and know they performed when they needed it most.
“Like Matt McNiel said, it takes 10 people to win but only five get the trophy,” Kerzic said. “You all need to work together. Today, Mike and I worked together, but the two guys we bowled with played in the same area with us and kept the lane available to play the whole day.
“We get to see our names in lights for at least a day. Once we finished doubles in the lead, it was like a load off my shoulders. We knew we had a chance going into the ninth and 10th and said, ‘Let’s do something and see what happens.’”
Mann added sets of 586 in singles and 566 in team for a 1,700 all-events total, his best overall performance at the Open Championships.
Standard Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 311-350.
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. – Having to deliver a pressure-packed shot for the chance to take the lead at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships certainly can get the nerves going – just ask Matt Kerzic and Michael Mann Sr.
Kerzic and Mann knew exactly what they were chasing as they made their way toward the end of Game 3 in doubles Saturday at the National Bowling Stadium, and although both admitted to feeling nervous in the moment, they were able to complete the task and move into the lead in Standard Doubles at the 2023 event with a combined score of 1,183.
Kerzic, a 48-year-old right-hander from Lusby, Maryland, led the performance with games of 159, 229 and 247 for a 635 series. Mann, a 55-year-old right-hander from La Plata, Maryland, fired games of 167, 177 and 204 for a 548 set.
Glenn Francis and Joey Lankford of Silver City, New Mexico, had taken the lead Wednesday at the NBS with 1,165.
The pair may have started slow Saturday, but Kerzic found his look in the middle of Game 2, recording a stretch of six consecutive strikes.
Mann leaned on his teammate for some advice in hopes of finding a similar look in Game 3, which helped lead to the exciting finish for both bowlers.
“He came up to me at the end of the second game and asked how I was playing the lanes,” said Kerzic, who made his 21st USBC Open Championships appearance. “I told him I was playing them the way I play them at home, so he moved there.”
Mann appreciated the note as he started to fill frames in Game 3.
“It was great advice,” said Mann, competing in his fourth Open Championships. “I’ve known Matt for 20-plus years, and he coached me along and everything was good.”
They knew the lead was in play heading into the ninth frame, and both players were able to strike. It also marked Kerzic’s sixth strike in a row.
Kerzic added a seventh consecutive strike to start the 10th, while Mann maintained his clean game with a cover of the 2-5-7 to take over the top spot.
“We both knew the number, and when I got to the 10th frame, I was a little nervous,” said Kerzic, who added sets of 585 in singles and 547 in team for a 1,767 all-events total. “I wanted us just to go up there and stay clean. If we did that, we should be OK. I really wanted to strike out, but we’ll take it. Knowing the number added a lot of extra pressure.”
Kerzic and Mann were bowling doubles at the Open Championships for the first time, but they have been competing together at the tournament as part of a six-team group from Maryland.
Mann knows they can go to anyone in the group for direction or a good laugh, and Kerzic echoed how important the communication and teamwork was to their success at the NBS.
They also took advantage of several words of wisdom prior to their team event Friday from five-time Eagle winner Matt McNiel, who returned to the Open Championships as part of the defending Regular Team champion – Storm Products Inc. 1 of Alva, Florida – and delivered a brief speech as they were presented with their championship watches and the Joe Norris Trophy.
Although they’re not sure if the score will hold long enough for their own trophy presentation at the 2024 event in Las Vegas, they will enjoy the moment and know they performed when they needed it most.
“Like Matt McNiel said, it takes 10 people to win but only five get the trophy,” Kerzic said. “You all need to work together. Today, Mike and I worked together, but the two guys we bowled with played in the same area with us and kept the lane available to play the whole day.
“We get to see our names in lights for at least a day. Once we finished doubles in the lead, it was like a load off my shoulders. We knew we had a chance going into the ninth and 10th and said, ‘Let’s do something and see what happens.’”
Mann added sets of 586 in singles and 566 in team for a 1,700 all-events total, his best overall performance at the Open Championships.
Standard Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 311-350.
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.