On the Lanes with Gail Myers Jr.
March 23, 2010
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 Gail Myers Jr., the tournament's new lifetime average leader.
The 44-year-old right-hander tops the Open Championships lifetime average list with a 216.6 mark for 21 tournaments. He is one of just 19 bowlers in tournament history to roll multiple 300 games on the championship lanes (1993 and 1998) and also tossed a 299 game in 1993.
HOMETOWN: Monroe, Wis.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This year is 22.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: One - TEAM ALL-EVENTS (2005)
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 16
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: STORM
ONE all-time favorite host city: I love visiting all the cities we go to, but there is no other city that compares to Las Vegas!!
TWO best Open Championships memories: There are many, but nothing compares to winning an EAGLE as we did as a team in 2005. Also, last year in Las Vegas was my best year ever at the Open Championships (2,111 all-events).
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. team play; 2. being able to make adjustments according to how the lanes play and how the lanes break down; 3. MAKE SPARES!!
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: Not too many. I enjoy and look forward to every Open Championships. Getting together with friends on/off the lanes and enjoying the atmosphere is something that can't be replaced.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Pete Weber, Norm Duke, Chris Barnes, Mike Shady and Lennie Boresch Jr. I have to add that Jeff Richgels can not ever be replaced for what he does for our group of bowlers and what he brings to the lanes as well as off.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: This year, I will have three INVASIONS, PARADIGM, VIRTUAL GRAVITY and a STORM spare ball.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Las Vegas, San Diego, Orlando, Fla., New Orleans, Atlantic City, N.J. Atlanta, and close to home in Madison, Wis.
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Hammer NAIL, Blue Hammer, Columbia Beast, Brunswick Teale Rhino Pro, Storm Thunder Road, Storm Paradigm, Storm Virtual Energy, Storm Invasion
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: My current teammates- John Wittkowske, Bret Faulkner, Tom Howery, Mike Walters, Dan Goepfert, Marc McDowell, Steve Richter, Jeff Richgels and Mike Shady. In a perfect world, I would also add my brother Mike and my dad.
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: There are so many bowlers that I enjoy watching, but as long as I can remember, I have always liked Pete Weber.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Deep breath and make a shot.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: Hopefully still bowling and/or being involved with a sport that has given me so much.
This week, we heard from Gail Myers Jr., the tournament's new lifetime average leader.
The 44-year-old right-hander tops the Open Championships lifetime average list with a 216.6 mark for 21 tournaments. He is one of just 19 bowlers in tournament history to roll multiple 300 games on the championship lanes (1993 and 1998) and also tossed a 299 game in 1993.
HOMETOWN: Monroe, Wis.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This year is 22.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: One - TEAM ALL-EVENTS (2005)
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 16
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: STORM
ONE all-time favorite host city: I love visiting all the cities we go to, but there is no other city that compares to Las Vegas!!
TWO best Open Championships memories: There are many, but nothing compares to winning an EAGLE as we did as a team in 2005. Also, last year in Las Vegas was my best year ever at the Open Championships (2,111 all-events).
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. team play; 2. being able to make adjustments according to how the lanes play and how the lanes break down; 3. MAKE SPARES!!
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: Not too many. I enjoy and look forward to every Open Championships. Getting together with friends on/off the lanes and enjoying the atmosphere is something that can't be replaced.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Pete Weber, Norm Duke, Chris Barnes, Mike Shady and Lennie Boresch Jr. I have to add that Jeff Richgels can not ever be replaced for what he does for our group of bowlers and what he brings to the lanes as well as off.
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: This year, I will have three INVASIONS, PARADIGM, VIRTUAL GRAVITY and a STORM spare ball.
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Las Vegas, San Diego, Orlando, Fla., New Orleans, Atlantic City, N.J. Atlanta, and close to home in Madison, Wis.
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Hammer NAIL, Blue Hammer, Columbia Beast, Brunswick Teale Rhino Pro, Storm Thunder Road, Storm Paradigm, Storm Virtual Energy, Storm Invasion
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: My current teammates- John Wittkowske, Bret Faulkner, Tom Howery, Mike Walters, Dan Goepfert, Marc McDowell, Steve Richter, Jeff Richgels and Mike Shady. In a perfect world, I would also add my brother Mike and my dad.
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: There are so many bowlers that I enjoy watching, but as long as I can remember, I have always liked Pete Weber.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Deep breath and make a shot.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: Hopefully still bowling and/or being involved with a sport that has given me so much.