McDowell rolls 299, 300 for singles lead at 2025 USBC Open Championships
May 03, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – While glancing at the tournament archives for champions in Regular Singles at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, some notable numbers certainly jump out.
In 2003, Ron Bahr rolled back-to-back 300s to close his set for 837 and the victory in Knoxville, Tennessee. At the 2009 event in Las Vegas, USBC Hall of Famer Bo Goergen started his set with a pair of 299s on the way to a record score of 862.
In all, three 299s and 11 300s have been part of winning singles scores in the Regular Division across the first 120 editions of the USBC Open Championships.
Two-time Eagle winner Marc McDowell of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, is hoping to add one more to each list – as well as a third title to his collection – after his performance Saturday at the 121st edition of the event.
The 62-year-old right-hander put together scores of 299, 196 and 300 at the Raising Cane’s River Center to take the lead in Regular Singles by two pins with 795.
Although multiple competitors have rolled 299 and 300 during the same set at the Open Championships, McDowell has the chance to become the first champion in Regular Singles to achieve the feat if his score holds at the top of the standings in 2025.
The lead in Regular Singles now has changed hands three times this week at the River Center. Chris Karlin of Huntington, Indiana, took over the top spot Wednesday with 789 and was passed Friday by Richie Benninghoff of South Bend, Indiana, with 793.
McDowell, a five-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion, recorded his first two wins at the Open Championships in 2005 and 2011.
The performance in 2005 also took place at the River Center in Baton Rouge, as McDowell joined USBC Hall of Famers Jeff Richgels and Mike Shady, Gail Myers Jr. and Steve Richter to win Team All-Events with 9,698.
In 2011, the teammates closed their set at the National Bowling Stadium with a then-record game of 1,281 to win Regular Team with a 3,473 total.
Watch the video below to learn more about McDowell’s big day in Baton Rouge.
McDowell added sets of 622 in team and 617 in doubles to close his 38th tournament appearance with 2,034 for all-events.
The performance also was special for McDowell as he joined his father, Larry McDowell, with a perfect game at the event. Larry McDowell rolled his 300 in doubles during the 1997 Open Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
In 2003, Ron Bahr rolled back-to-back 300s to close his set for 837 and the victory in Knoxville, Tennessee. At the 2009 event in Las Vegas, USBC Hall of Famer Bo Goergen started his set with a pair of 299s on the way to a record score of 862.
In all, three 299s and 11 300s have been part of winning singles scores in the Regular Division across the first 120 editions of the USBC Open Championships.
Two-time Eagle winner Marc McDowell of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, is hoping to add one more to each list – as well as a third title to his collection – after his performance Saturday at the 121st edition of the event.
The 62-year-old right-hander put together scores of 299, 196 and 300 at the Raising Cane’s River Center to take the lead in Regular Singles by two pins with 795.
Although multiple competitors have rolled 299 and 300 during the same set at the Open Championships, McDowell has the chance to become the first champion in Regular Singles to achieve the feat if his score holds at the top of the standings in 2025.
The lead in Regular Singles now has changed hands three times this week at the River Center. Chris Karlin of Huntington, Indiana, took over the top spot Wednesday with 789 and was passed Friday by Richie Benninghoff of South Bend, Indiana, with 793.
McDowell, a five-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion, recorded his first two wins at the Open Championships in 2005 and 2011.
The performance in 2005 also took place at the River Center in Baton Rouge, as McDowell joined USBC Hall of Famers Jeff Richgels and Mike Shady, Gail Myers Jr. and Steve Richter to win Team All-Events with 9,698.
In 2011, the teammates closed their set at the National Bowling Stadium with a then-record game of 1,281 to win Regular Team with a 3,473 total.
Watch the video below to learn more about McDowell’s big day in Baton Rouge.
McDowell added sets of 622 in team and 617 in doubles to close his 38th tournament appearance with 2,034 for all-events.
The performance also was special for McDowell as he joined his father, Larry McDowell, with a perfect game at the event. Larry McDowell rolled his 300 in doubles during the 1997 Open Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.