New Mexico bowlers celebrate 35 years at OC
April 07, 2010
RENO, Nev. - When Jim Gray of Los Alamos, N.M., and Ed Bremer of Espanola, N.M., first learned about the USBC Open Championships, they immediately made plans to form a team.
In the process, they also formed a bond that has survived more than three decades on the tournament lanes, and the two made their 35th consecutive Open Championships doubles appearance together Tuesday.
The pair's debut came at the 1976 event in Oklahoma City, and they use the tournament as an excuse for a vacation every year. And while they are friends above all else, they do get a little competitive on the lanes sometimes, which includes a friendly wager that dates back more than 40 years.
"We have a wager during the second and third games of every series we bowl," said Bremer, who bowls regularly at Big Rock Bowl and Strike It Rich Lanes. "Each game is worth a nickel, and sometimes, that nickel is more important than the actual game."
This year, the duo combined to shoot 1,074 at the National Bowling Stadium. Jeffrey Mersch of Orlando, Fla., and Erik Vermilyea of Mansfield, Texas, lead Regular Doubles with 1,507.
Bremer, 70, and Gray, 69, have enjoyed bowling together so much, that at one point, they also held a streak of 37 consecutive doubles appearances at the city and state levels. Both Bremer and Gray think highly of one another and are quick to point out the qualities that make them such a complimentary duo.
"Well, he is such a consistent and competitive bowler," said Bremer, who owns his own construction company. "We don't get temperamental with each other, nor do we get mad at one another if we bowl badly."
Gray feels similar about Bremer.
"On December 16, 2005, Ed had both of his knees replaced," said Gray, who bowled his best doubles series of 629 at the Stadium in 1995. "Four months later, he bowled with me in Corpus Christi (Texas). He did everything he could to make sure we kept the string alive, and I don't know if I would have been able to do that in such a short period of time."
Both Gray and Bremer have enjoyed their journey, mainly because they were able to see the country and compete at the same time. Every year is a special memory because it's another year they can compete together.
"God willing, we will be back for sure," Gray said. "We have our sights set on reaching 71 appearances."
Bremer finished out his 2010 experience with 596 in doubles, 594 in singles and 561 in team for a 1,751 all-events total, while Gray had 566 in team, 523 in singles and 478 in doubles for 1,567.
Late USBC Hall of Famer Joe Norris of San Diego and the late Bill Doehrman of Fort Wayne, Ind., hold the record for Open Championships appearances with 71. They were not doubles partners, however.
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.
In the process, they also formed a bond that has survived more than three decades on the tournament lanes, and the two made their 35th consecutive Open Championships doubles appearance together Tuesday.
The pair's debut came at the 1976 event in Oklahoma City, and they use the tournament as an excuse for a vacation every year. And while they are friends above all else, they do get a little competitive on the lanes sometimes, which includes a friendly wager that dates back more than 40 years.
"We have a wager during the second and third games of every series we bowl," said Bremer, who bowls regularly at Big Rock Bowl and Strike It Rich Lanes. "Each game is worth a nickel, and sometimes, that nickel is more important than the actual game."
This year, the duo combined to shoot 1,074 at the National Bowling Stadium. Jeffrey Mersch of Orlando, Fla., and Erik Vermilyea of Mansfield, Texas, lead Regular Doubles with 1,507.
Bremer, 70, and Gray, 69, have enjoyed bowling together so much, that at one point, they also held a streak of 37 consecutive doubles appearances at the city and state levels. Both Bremer and Gray think highly of one another and are quick to point out the qualities that make them such a complimentary duo.
"Well, he is such a consistent and competitive bowler," said Bremer, who owns his own construction company. "We don't get temperamental with each other, nor do we get mad at one another if we bowl badly."
Gray feels similar about Bremer.
"On December 16, 2005, Ed had both of his knees replaced," said Gray, who bowled his best doubles series of 629 at the Stadium in 1995. "Four months later, he bowled with me in Corpus Christi (Texas). He did everything he could to make sure we kept the string alive, and I don't know if I would have been able to do that in such a short period of time."
Both Gray and Bremer have enjoyed their journey, mainly because they were able to see the country and compete at the same time. Every year is a special memory because it's another year they can compete together.
"God willing, we will be back for sure," Gray said. "We have our sights set on reaching 71 appearances."
Bremer finished out his 2010 experience with 596 in doubles, 594 in singles and 561 in team for a 1,751 all-events total, while Gray had 566 in team, 523 in singles and 478 in doubles for 1,567.
Late USBC Hall of Famer Joe Norris of San Diego and the late Bill Doehrman of Fort Wayne, Ind., hold the record for Open Championships appearances with 71. They were not doubles partners, however.
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.