New Yorker takes all-events lead at OC
April 16, 2011
RENO, Nev. - Ray Edwards of Middle Island, N.Y., arrived at the National Bowling Stadium unsure about how a recent back injury would affect his performance at the 2011 USBC Open Championships.
As it turned out, being hurt worked to his advantage as he averaged 250.8 and raced into the Regular All-Events lead with a 2,258 total Saturday. Kelly Bonta of Wichita, Kan., previously held the lead with 2,177.
"I was bowling a PBA regional tournament last weekend and pulled something in my back, so I was a little concerned about that," said Edwards, who made his 14th Open Championships appearance. "The last couple days, I had back spasms, and it probably slowed me down a little bit, which is always a good thing, since I couldn't over throw the ball. I just kept taking Advil, and the pain wasn't so bad that I couldn't bowl."
Edwards was cautious on the approach, but it didn't show as he started his 2011 tournament campaign with a 274 game and never looked back. He finished team with a 768 series and added 774 in doubles and 716 in singles. Heading into singles, Edwards knew the lead was a possibility, but he had no idea that the all-events record still was within reach, too.
"Going into singles, I didn't really know what my scores were," said Edwards, a 46-year-old right-hander, who needed a 784 singles series to match Matt McNiel's 2,326 all-events record, which was shot at the Stadium in 2010. "I was just trying to make good shots and not blow out my back. I was taking it easy, and I really didn't know what the numbers were. But I knew I was close."
Edwards posted 87 clean frames on the way to the top of the leaderboard and finished the day with the second highest nine-game score in the 16-year history of the Stadium. The effort also is the fifth-highest score in tournament history.
McNiel, of Chanhassen, Minn., actually was in the building watching Edwards make his run. The 25-year-old left-hander enjoyed the opportunity to see things unfold from a different perspective and will use the experience as motivation as he prepares to put his title on the line Sunday and Monday.
"It looks a lot harder when you're watching from the other side," McNiel said. "I can't believe I held it together as well as I did last year. It was a pleasure to watch him bowl today. It was impressive to see him keep up with the moves and keep striking. He's a really nice guy and very deserving of that score."
Edwards credits his Ebonite HQ 1 teammates for helping him to the highest three-game and nine-game performances of his Open Championships career, and together, they moved into second place in Team All-Events with a 9,933 total. Cambridge 1 of Feeding Hills, Mass., which includes Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe and Team USA assistant coach Bryan O'Keefe, leads with 10,023.
"You really can't do it without a good team," Edwards said. "My team really helped me out because we broke the lanes down right. We had a game plan going in and stuck to it, and it ended up working out pretty well."
The three-time PBA East Region Player of the Year was joined on the lanes this week by 10-time PBA champion Bryan Goebel (2,031), Ken Carson (1,963), Mitchell Sacks (1,879) and Ebonite Brand Manager Ed Gallagher (1,802).
For Edwards, who owns one Professional Bowlers Association national title and 18 PBA regional victories, the team aspect of the Open Championships is what makes the annual event special.
"We've been coming out here for many years, and we always have a goal to be in the top five and maybe even win the team event," said Edwards, who bowls regularly at Bowl Long Island in Patchogue, N.Y. "Doubles and singles is just fun, and that's the way I look at it. I really bear down for team and then just see what we can do for doubles and singles."
Heading into the 10th frame of his second singles game, Edwards still had a shot at a record score, and McNiel was nervously watching from behind the lanes.
"I certainly was getting nervous because of how well he was throwing it," McNiel said. "I definitely expected to be heading down there to shake his hand and congratulate him on breaking the record. I'm not sure what would be worse, being there to watch someone break it, or to get that phone call. I'll admit, I'm a little relieved. But 2,258 is still a great score and has a good chance to win. It was exciting to watch and really has me amped up to bowl."
Two of Edwards' teammates actually bowled on the doubles and singles squad after him and became part of a three-team race for the Team All-Events lead.
Led by Ray Eddy III of Saginaw, Mich., who posted a 2,104 all-events total, Northern Lanes Rec of Sanford, Mich., landed in fourth place in Team All-Events with 9,864.
Eddy was followed by Jeffrey Grego (2,062), Richard Goergen (2,023), Bill Kazmierski (2,012) and Victor Vanhentenryck (1,663). They also are fifth in Regular Team with 3,357. Brian Brazeau Pro Shop of Ocala, Fla., leads with 3,439.
Down at the other end of the National Bowling Stadium, Chad Nelson of Owatonna, Minn., fired the ninth perfect game of the 2011 event on the way to a 756 singles series and career-best, 2,123, all-events total to help The Locker Guy 1 of Mankato, Minn., into sixth place in Team All-Events with 9,834.
Nelson was joined by Dan Bock (1,975), David Langer (1,962), Dan Langer (1,939) and Sam Sylvester (1,835).
Presenting sponsors for the 2011 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, 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.
As it turned out, being hurt worked to his advantage as he averaged 250.8 and raced into the Regular All-Events lead with a 2,258 total Saturday. Kelly Bonta of Wichita, Kan., previously held the lead with 2,177.
"I was bowling a PBA regional tournament last weekend and pulled something in my back, so I was a little concerned about that," said Edwards, who made his 14th Open Championships appearance. "The last couple days, I had back spasms, and it probably slowed me down a little bit, which is always a good thing, since I couldn't over throw the ball. I just kept taking Advil, and the pain wasn't so bad that I couldn't bowl."
Edwards was cautious on the approach, but it didn't show as he started his 2011 tournament campaign with a 274 game and never looked back. He finished team with a 768 series and added 774 in doubles and 716 in singles. Heading into singles, Edwards knew the lead was a possibility, but he had no idea that the all-events record still was within reach, too.
"Going into singles, I didn't really know what my scores were," said Edwards, a 46-year-old right-hander, who needed a 784 singles series to match Matt McNiel's 2,326 all-events record, which was shot at the Stadium in 2010. "I was just trying to make good shots and not blow out my back. I was taking it easy, and I really didn't know what the numbers were. But I knew I was close."
Edwards posted 87 clean frames on the way to the top of the leaderboard and finished the day with the second highest nine-game score in the 16-year history of the Stadium. The effort also is the fifth-highest score in tournament history.
McNiel, of Chanhassen, Minn., actually was in the building watching Edwards make his run. The 25-year-old left-hander enjoyed the opportunity to see things unfold from a different perspective and will use the experience as motivation as he prepares to put his title on the line Sunday and Monday.
"It looks a lot harder when you're watching from the other side," McNiel said. "I can't believe I held it together as well as I did last year. It was a pleasure to watch him bowl today. It was impressive to see him keep up with the moves and keep striking. He's a really nice guy and very deserving of that score."
Edwards credits his Ebonite HQ 1 teammates for helping him to the highest three-game and nine-game performances of his Open Championships career, and together, they moved into second place in Team All-Events with a 9,933 total. Cambridge 1 of Feeding Hills, Mass., which includes Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe and Team USA assistant coach Bryan O'Keefe, leads with 10,023.
"You really can't do it without a good team," Edwards said. "My team really helped me out because we broke the lanes down right. We had a game plan going in and stuck to it, and it ended up working out pretty well."
The three-time PBA East Region Player of the Year was joined on the lanes this week by 10-time PBA champion Bryan Goebel (2,031), Ken Carson (1,963), Mitchell Sacks (1,879) and Ebonite Brand Manager Ed Gallagher (1,802).
For Edwards, who owns one Professional Bowlers Association national title and 18 PBA regional victories, the team aspect of the Open Championships is what makes the annual event special.
"We've been coming out here for many years, and we always have a goal to be in the top five and maybe even win the team event," said Edwards, who bowls regularly at Bowl Long Island in Patchogue, N.Y. "Doubles and singles is just fun, and that's the way I look at it. I really bear down for team and then just see what we can do for doubles and singles."
Heading into the 10th frame of his second singles game, Edwards still had a shot at a record score, and McNiel was nervously watching from behind the lanes.
"I certainly was getting nervous because of how well he was throwing it," McNiel said. "I definitely expected to be heading down there to shake his hand and congratulate him on breaking the record. I'm not sure what would be worse, being there to watch someone break it, or to get that phone call. I'll admit, I'm a little relieved. But 2,258 is still a great score and has a good chance to win. It was exciting to watch and really has me amped up to bowl."
Two of Edwards' teammates actually bowled on the doubles and singles squad after him and became part of a three-team race for the Team All-Events lead.
Led by Ray Eddy III of Saginaw, Mich., who posted a 2,104 all-events total, Northern Lanes Rec of Sanford, Mich., landed in fourth place in Team All-Events with 9,864.
Eddy was followed by Jeffrey Grego (2,062), Richard Goergen (2,023), Bill Kazmierski (2,012) and Victor Vanhentenryck (1,663). They also are fifth in Regular Team with 3,357. Brian Brazeau Pro Shop of Ocala, Fla., leads with 3,439.
Down at the other end of the National Bowling Stadium, Chad Nelson of Owatonna, Minn., fired the ninth perfect game of the 2011 event on the way to a 756 singles series and career-best, 2,123, all-events total to help The Locker Guy 1 of Mankato, Minn., into sixth place in Team All-Events with 9,834.
Nelson was joined by Dan Bock (1,975), David Langer (1,962), Dan Langer (1,939) and Sam Sylvester (1,835).
Presenting sponsors for the 2011 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, 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.