New leaders in Regular Team, Singles at 2024 USBC Open Championships
March 15, 2024
LAS VEGAS – Returning to the scene of their 2022 Regular Team victory at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the members of Storm Products Inc. 1 of Alva, Florida, again moved to the top of the standings in team competition at the South Point Bowling Plaza, posting a 3,220 total Friday.
On the next squad, Darin Craine of Burton, Michigan, raised the number in Regular Singles to 767 after rolling games of 278, 251 and 238.
For Storm Products Inc. 1, the 2024 group – featuring four of the five members from 2022 – had games of 1,007, 1,189 and 1,024 to take over the lead by 14 pins. Bowlers Headquarters had moved into the top spot in Regular Team on Monday with 3,206.
Justin Veitch led the way Friday with a 711 series and was followed by Alex Hoskins (664), Jon Rakoski (643), David Langer (634) and Matt McNiel (568).
In 2022, Veitch, Rakoski and Langer each collected their first wins at the USBC Open Championships, while McNiel claimed his fifth Eagle and first victory in team competition. Professional Bowlers Association and USBC Hall of Famer Ron Mohr was the fifth member of the team in 2022, who recorded his second win at the tournament.
The team was looking to open up the outside part of the lane to start in hopes of creating a favorable look moving ahead in the set, and they were able to post the highest team game of the 2024 event in Game 2.
The group did its best to avoid mistakes in Game 3, only recording four open frames, but strikes were tougher to come by down the stretch. Hoskins, who finished third at the USBC Masters in 2017 and as the runner-up in 2018, delivered a double in the 10th frame to put Veitch in position to just need good count to take the lead, and he was able to spare and strike to close the set.
“The first game, we just wanted to beat up the outside, and then we knew we could all move in and take advantage of it,” said Veitch, making his 11th appearance at the Open Championships. “The last game, we moved a little more to the left, but our carry went away. We wish we could have carried better the last game, but we’ll get some rest and fire away tomorrow.”
The teammates will return to the Bowling Plaza on Saturday at 6 p.m. Pacific to make their run at Team All-Events. Bowlers Headquarters leads with 9,915.
Craine, a 38-year-old right-hander, started his run with a ball change and strong finish to his doubles set.
Another ball change in Game 3 of singles resulted in five consecutive strikes leading into the final frame, before a 9 pin stood on his first delivery. Craine covered the spare the struck on his fill ball to surpass the 760 posted by Steve Rogers of Manteno, Illinois.
Craine started doubles with 181 and 191 before finishing with 246 for a 618 series.
“I definitely needed something to hook a little earlier and still play straight, so I switched to a big asymmetric ball and kept everything in line and right in front of me,” said Craine, who made his 11th tournament appearance. “In doubles it felt like we were on the right track but caught some bad breaks and didn’t carry as much as I did in the last set. I definitely was on the right track, and everything fell into place the last three games.
“In Game 3, it started hooking a little early, and I needed something to get down the lane a little longer. I didn’t even move off it – I stayed there and made the ball change. The 9 pin was the only one that didn’t strike after the ball change.”
Craine was one of three bowlers on the squad to make the turn to the final game with more than 495. Steve Breitbach Jr. of Peosta, Iowa, and Greg Klauer of Dubuque, Iowa, also moved into the top 10 of Regular Singles with 756 and 737, respectively.
He felt he had control over the moves and his execution on the way to his highest set at the Open Championships.
“I definitely felt like I still had a big opportunity for a big game,” Craine said. “The shot never really went too far, and I only had to move a little bit as each game went. My execution was really good all week, and it felt good to make the right choices in the last set.”
Craine has taken the early lead at the Open Championships in the past at the Bowling Plaza. He paired with Robert Leser of Grand Blanc, Michigan, to take the lead in Regular Doubles at the 2017 event, where they eventually finished in the top 30.
He knows it’s early in the 2024 event, but there’s a lot to take away from his performance.
“It means a lot,” said Craine, who had 606 in team for a 1,991 all-events total this year in Las Vegas. “I’ve been there before in doubles, and it’s the same scenario. It’s early, and you’re not where you really want to be to feel comfortable, but right now, I feel good about it. I threw the ball really, really well, and you can’t do much more than that.”
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
On the next squad, Darin Craine of Burton, Michigan, raised the number in Regular Singles to 767 after rolling games of 278, 251 and 238.
For Storm Products Inc. 1, the 2024 group – featuring four of the five members from 2022 – had games of 1,007, 1,189 and 1,024 to take over the lead by 14 pins. Bowlers Headquarters had moved into the top spot in Regular Team on Monday with 3,206.
Justin Veitch led the way Friday with a 711 series and was followed by Alex Hoskins (664), Jon Rakoski (643), David Langer (634) and Matt McNiel (568).
In 2022, Veitch, Rakoski and Langer each collected their first wins at the USBC Open Championships, while McNiel claimed his fifth Eagle and first victory in team competition. Professional Bowlers Association and USBC Hall of Famer Ron Mohr was the fifth member of the team in 2022, who recorded his second win at the tournament.
The team was looking to open up the outside part of the lane to start in hopes of creating a favorable look moving ahead in the set, and they were able to post the highest team game of the 2024 event in Game 2.
The group did its best to avoid mistakes in Game 3, only recording four open frames, but strikes were tougher to come by down the stretch. Hoskins, who finished third at the USBC Masters in 2017 and as the runner-up in 2018, delivered a double in the 10th frame to put Veitch in position to just need good count to take the lead, and he was able to spare and strike to close the set.
“The first game, we just wanted to beat up the outside, and then we knew we could all move in and take advantage of it,” said Veitch, making his 11th appearance at the Open Championships. “The last game, we moved a little more to the left, but our carry went away. We wish we could have carried better the last game, but we’ll get some rest and fire away tomorrow.”
The teammates will return to the Bowling Plaza on Saturday at 6 p.m. Pacific to make their run at Team All-Events. Bowlers Headquarters leads with 9,915.
Craine, a 38-year-old right-hander, started his run with a ball change and strong finish to his doubles set.
Another ball change in Game 3 of singles resulted in five consecutive strikes leading into the final frame, before a 9 pin stood on his first delivery. Craine covered the spare the struck on his fill ball to surpass the 760 posted by Steve Rogers of Manteno, Illinois.
Craine started doubles with 181 and 191 before finishing with 246 for a 618 series.
“I definitely needed something to hook a little earlier and still play straight, so I switched to a big asymmetric ball and kept everything in line and right in front of me,” said Craine, who made his 11th tournament appearance. “In doubles it felt like we were on the right track but caught some bad breaks and didn’t carry as much as I did in the last set. I definitely was on the right track, and everything fell into place the last three games.
“In Game 3, it started hooking a little early, and I needed something to get down the lane a little longer. I didn’t even move off it – I stayed there and made the ball change. The 9 pin was the only one that didn’t strike after the ball change.”
Craine was one of three bowlers on the squad to make the turn to the final game with more than 495. Steve Breitbach Jr. of Peosta, Iowa, and Greg Klauer of Dubuque, Iowa, also moved into the top 10 of Regular Singles with 756 and 737, respectively.
He felt he had control over the moves and his execution on the way to his highest set at the Open Championships.
“I definitely felt like I still had a big opportunity for a big game,” Craine said. “The shot never really went too far, and I only had to move a little bit as each game went. My execution was really good all week, and it felt good to make the right choices in the last set.”
Craine has taken the early lead at the Open Championships in the past at the Bowling Plaza. He paired with Robert Leser of Grand Blanc, Michigan, to take the lead in Regular Doubles at the 2017 event, where they eventually finished in the top 30.
He knows it’s early in the 2024 event, but there’s a lot to take away from his performance.
“It means a lot,” said Craine, who had 606 in team for a 1,991 all-events total this year in Las Vegas. “I’ve been there before in doubles, and it’s the same scenario. It’s early, and you’re not where you really want to be to feel comfortable, but right now, I feel good about it. I threw the ball really, really well, and you can’t do much more than that.”
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.