Minnesota team makes run at lead at USBC Open Championships

RENO, Nev. - Linds Lakers 1 of Minneapolis fired games of 1,103, 1,184 and 1,103 for a 3,390 total and just missed taking the Regular Team lead at the USBC Open Championships on Tuesday night. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.

John Eiss and newcomer to the team, Luke Voaklander, each rolled 279 games and 715 series, and they were joined by Sam Lantto (708), USBC Hall of Famer Todd Savoy (684) and Gary Green (568).

The experienced group boasts 124 years of Open Championships experience, 12 titles on the championship lanes and a handful of international medals. Eiss, Lantto, Savoy and Green teamed up to win Team All-Events in 2002 and 2006.

"I think we were a little caught off guard with the right lane," said Eiss, who made his 37th Open Championships appearance. "The right lane moves were more than we expected, and that may have caused us to tighten up a little. We were right there, and because of that, we tightened up and couldn't quite get the carry or have the strings we needed."

The team finished tied for 35th place last year in Las Vegas with a 3,155 total, but the five players felt they didn't execute their game plan the way they wanted. After their team event, they immediately began planning and working toward success this year.

"We executed our plan very well tonight," said Eiss, who rolled a 300 game in doubles at the 1993 tournament in Tulsa, Okla. "Everything kind of set up the way we expected, but we just didn't quite finish it off."

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.