On the Lanes with Bo Goergen

In the coming months, we'll talk with some of the best-known bowlers at the USBC Open Championships and get their thoughts on their time at the tournament and what it takes to succeed on the championship lanes.

This week, we heard from 2009 Regular Singles champion, Bo Goergen, who tossed 32 out of a possible 36 strikes en route to games of 299, 299 and 264 for an 862 singles series last year in Las Vegas. His effort was the highest three-game set in tournament history. He added a 700 series in doubles and 628 in team for a 2,190 all-events total, which was third overall.

The 49-year-old right-hander has an overall average of 204.1 through 31 tournaments. His previous-high singles total was 715, tossed at the 1993 event in Tulsa, Okla.

This year, Goergen will take to the lanes on May 5-6 as he looks to become the first bowler in tournament history to win back-to-back singles titles.

HOMETOWN: Midland, Mich.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This is 32.

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES:
1 (Regular Singles, 2009)

BOWLING BALL WEIGHT:
15    

FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS:
Storm    

ONE all-time favorite host city:
Las Vegas

TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. winning the Regular Singles event for an eagle; 2. setting record while doing it

THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. teamwork; 2. communication; 3. positive attitudes

FOURgettable Open Championships moment:
Tampa, Fla. (1979), Louisville, Ky. (1980), Memphis, Tenn. (1981), Baltimore (1982) *These were Goergen's first four tournaments.

FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Dick Weber, Mike Aulby, Chris Barnes, Tim Mack and my uncle, Bernie Schrieber

SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Storm HyRoad (2), Storm Virtual Energy, Ebonite Mission, Track 505c, spare ball

SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Orlando; Las Vegas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Miami; Dallas; Los Angeles; San Diego

EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Columbia U-Dot, Brunswick Absolute Inferno, Brunswick Vapor Zone, Storm HyRoad, Magnum 12, Ebonite V2, Storm HyRoad and Storm HyRoad

NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Dale Hofmeister, Dan Maclelland, Brad Snell, Jeff Richgels, Steve Richter, Marc McDowell, Mike Shady, Tom Smallwood and Tim Mack

TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?:
Dick Weber

ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Relax, stay slow and execute

TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: Having a successful career on the PBA Senior Tour and hopefully working with young adults on their bowling careers