North Carolina bowler rises to occasion at USBC Open Championships
April 03, 2011
RENO, Nev. - On a squad filled with hall of famers, Professional Bowlers Association champions and a former Team USA member, previously unknown Freeman Faison of Wilson, N.C., is the bowler who found his way into the spotlight with a perfect game at the USBC Open Championships on Sunday.
The 59-year-old right-hander was one of three bowlers on the squad to start a game with nine consecutive strikes and the only one to get the job done as he polished off the seventh 300 of this year's event at the National Bowling Stadium in dramatic fashion.
Faison's 10th shot was perfect, but his next offering drifted high and the 4-9 split briefly stood before both pins tipped over. His nerves got the best of him on his final shot, but a Brooklyn strike looks like any other on the scoreboard.
"This is the first time I've even been close to something like this here, and I was just hoping to keep my legs under me and get out of the ball cleanly," said Faison, who made his 16th Open Championships appearance. "I felt pretty good about the 11th shot, but it jumped on me. Then, I really tugged the last shot, but got a great break."
Faison's 300 came between games of 199 and 201 for a 700 singles series and was extra special because he got to share the moment with his daughter, Sunny, who made her first Open Championships appearance.
"This is big, and it's something I thought I would never do," Faison said. "I just hope to bowl well when I come here, so this is really special. This is a lot better than anything I've accomplished in bowling, and the fact that my daughter was here to watch me do it made it even better."
Faison added a 630 series in team and 502 in doubles for a 1,832 all-events total, while Sunny finished her debut with 575 in singles, 483 in team and 446 in doubles for 1,504.
The 59-year-old right-hander was one of three bowlers on the squad to start a game with nine consecutive strikes and the only one to get the job done as he polished off the seventh 300 of this year's event at the National Bowling Stadium in dramatic fashion.
Faison's 10th shot was perfect, but his next offering drifted high and the 4-9 split briefly stood before both pins tipped over. His nerves got the best of him on his final shot, but a Brooklyn strike looks like any other on the scoreboard.
"This is the first time I've even been close to something like this here, and I was just hoping to keep my legs under me and get out of the ball cleanly," said Faison, who made his 16th Open Championships appearance. "I felt pretty good about the 11th shot, but it jumped on me. Then, I really tugged the last shot, but got a great break."
Faison's 300 came between games of 199 and 201 for a 700 singles series and was extra special because he got to share the moment with his daughter, Sunny, who made her first Open Championships appearance.
"This is big, and it's something I thought I would never do," Faison said. "I just hope to bowl well when I come here, so this is really special. This is a lot better than anything I've accomplished in bowling, and the fact that my daughter was here to watch me do it made it even better."
Faison added a 630 series in team and 502 in doubles for a 1,832 all-events total, while Sunny finished her debut with 575 in singles, 483 in team and 446 in doubles for 1,504.