Pennsylvania bowler leads two Classified events at 2021 USBC Open Championships

By Matt Cannizzaro and David Waswo
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS -
Joseph Snyder of Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, had realistic expectations heading into the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and he was pleasantly surprised by his consistent performance at the South Point Bowling Plaza and South Point Bowling Center.

The 33-year-old right-hander turned in career-best scores in every category over the weekend and left South Point on Sunday with the lead in Classified Singles and Classified All-Events.

Snyder's success was extra rewarding because he admittedly hasn't been bowling his best, and he also had the additional challenge of having to find a substitute for doubles, when his original partner had to back out at the last minute.

Despite the adversity, he finished his third USBC Open Championships campaign with sets of 608 in singles, 562 in team and 551 in doubles for a 1,721 total.

Gregory Kennedy of Elizabeth, Colorado, previously held the lead in Classified Singles with 578, and John Hardesty of London, Ohio, was the previous Classified All-Events leader with 1,646.

"I had been struggling this year and really didn't think I would bowl so well," Snyder said. "I was surprised my shot stayed for so long, as I had almost no transition and only moved three boards all night."

Snyder had been working on his game at Lin Van Lanes in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in preparation for the tournament, but he still felt he wasn't bowling well. That all changed as he stepped up on the biggest stage, and he'll now potentially have to endure more than two months of waiting to see if his scores are enough to hold on for an Eagle or two.

He said he really isn't a scoreboard watcher typically, but he did know if he had a good last game, he had a shot at the lead in two events.

His 213 finish secured both, and he said he was in disbelief.

This year's singles set marked the first 600 series of his tournament career, and his all-events total was an improvement of more than 250 pins.

The 2021 Open Championships got underway May 1 and will run for 79 consecutive days, concluding July 18. More than 7,700 five-player teams will take the lanes at South Point during that time.

Classified Singles and All-Events are for bowlers with entering tournament averages of 155 and below.

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