Perfect game caps off exciting day at USBC Open Championships
May 22, 2010
RENO, Nev. - The action at the USBC Open Championships on Friday night definitely was worth the price of parking as bowling fans got to see Chris Klerk of Chandler, Ariz., roll the 17th perfect game of this year's event on one side of the house and Bowlers Universe 2 of Rockford, Ill., make a run at the lead on the other.
Klerk came into this year's tournament extra motivated after a disappointing performance in 2009. He spent the last month doing what he could to make sure he was prepared, and it paid off after games of 256 and 191 at the National Bowling Stadium.
"I had a really good look the first game, but it started to go away," said Klerk, who made his ninth Open Championships appearance. "I played it safe a lot longer than I should have, but I finally decided to make a ball change, and it worked out for me."
The 29-year-old right-hander closed out the night with a 300 game and 747 series to help K & K Bowling Services 3 of Las Vegas to a 3,206 team total, which is just inside the top 30. The feat makes Klerk the fourth member of his team who will be recognized as a celebrity at the Open Championships next year.
Klerk's team includes Les Shirwindt, who rolled a 299 game and 842 series in doubles at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont., Phil Platko, who shot 300 in singles that same year and Ron Mohr, who was a Team All-Events champion in 2001.
Adam Ishman added a 649 series for K & K Bowling Services 3 and was followed by Mohr (645), Shirwindt (595) and Platko (570).
"Tonight was by far the most nervous I have ever been shooting 300 or trying to win a tournament," said Klerk, who was a member of Junior Team USA in 2002 and won a silver medal in doubles at the 2002 World Youth Championships in Thailand. "This is an amazing feeling, and to do it in team is even better. It's not just you out there, and there's extra pressure because you want to perform for your team, but it's also nice because they get to be a part of it."
In addition to their individual success on the championship lanes, Klerk and his teammates also came together to take the early lead in team at the 2008 tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., before eventually finishing 19th overall.
Even with the desire to repeat that performance and the personal motivation Klerk had to improve on last year's career-low 1,758 all-events total, Friday's success still came as a bit of a surprise because he has struggled at the National Bowling Stadium in the past.
"I've bowled at the Stadium a lot, but I never really figured out what the trick might be to bowl really well here," said Klerk, who shot 1,845 at the Stadium in 2007 and 1,769 in 2004. "The more you bowl here, the more you have an idea, but if this was going to happen to me, I wouldn't have guessed it would happen here. I'm really glad it did, though. Winning a medal with Junior Team USA was top of the line, but this is right up there."
The night didn't end quite as well for Bowlers Universe 2, however, as an explosive start fizzled into a fifth-place effort in Regular Team with a 3,381 total. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.
The team started the night with 1,153, the second-highest opening game of the 2010 Open Championships and followed it up with 1,148. After struggling early in the finale, three of the five team members threw at least a double in the 10th frame to secure their spot in the top five, one pin out of fourth place, five pins out of third and nine pins behind second place.
"We know it's going to be very intense out there, and we put a lot of effort into it," said former USBC Sport Bowling National High Average award winner Mark London, who made his 20th tournament appearance and led Bowlers Universe 2 with a 747 series Friday. "I'm usually pretty even keel at other tournaments, but here, you put the pedal to the floor, and it's three hours of unadulterated adrenaline. Ever since I started bowling in this tournament, the team event has been the most special because you get to share it. It's about five guys, and if you have a companion team, they get to share in it, too. Winning a team title could keep a smile on your face for years."
London, his teammates and their companion team, Bowlers Universe 1, practiced together before making the trip to Reno this year, and they arrived early to see how other top teams were doing.
"We practice as a team on the tournament pattern so all 10 of us can work together to see how the lanes will break down," said London, who shot 790 in team on the way to a fourth-place all-events finish (2,148) at the Stadium in 2007. "Then, I arrive a few days early to scout out other teams to see what they're doing."
This year, London got to watch KR Strikeforce of Decatur, Ill., the 2005 Regular Team champion, make a run at the top spot before settling into third place with a 3,386 total Wednesday night.
London was joined on the lanes Friday by John Lee (719), Richard Rucker (689), Jim Rood (681) and first-time participant Rob Cabello (545). Bowlers Universe 1 also bowled well, finishing with 3,138.
"Our two teams work together really well, and usually, whoever carries better, scores better," London said. "A lot of the time, they are the ones making a run at the top 10, and it was fun to watch them finish second in 2006. Last time we were in Reno, we both bowled well, and this time, we made our first trip into this territory. You sometimes want to pick out a ball or two that would've been the difference, but you really can't do that. There's no disappointment. I think we all did a great job, and I'm proud of all of our guys."
Two other companion teams also bowled well Friday as Team Ebonite/Hammer of Waukesha, Wis., shot 3,237 (20th overall), and Bluemound Bowl of Milwaukee also shot 3,206 on the same pair of lanes. Bill Monce, the anchor bowler for Team Ebonite/Hammer, was high in the group with a 783 series.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, 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.
Klerk came into this year's tournament extra motivated after a disappointing performance in 2009. He spent the last month doing what he could to make sure he was prepared, and it paid off after games of 256 and 191 at the National Bowling Stadium.
"I had a really good look the first game, but it started to go away," said Klerk, who made his ninth Open Championships appearance. "I played it safe a lot longer than I should have, but I finally decided to make a ball change, and it worked out for me."
The 29-year-old right-hander closed out the night with a 300 game and 747 series to help K & K Bowling Services 3 of Las Vegas to a 3,206 team total, which is just inside the top 30. The feat makes Klerk the fourth member of his team who will be recognized as a celebrity at the Open Championships next year.
Klerk's team includes Les Shirwindt, who rolled a 299 game and 842 series in doubles at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont., Phil Platko, who shot 300 in singles that same year and Ron Mohr, who was a Team All-Events champion in 2001.
Adam Ishman added a 649 series for K & K Bowling Services 3 and was followed by Mohr (645), Shirwindt (595) and Platko (570).
"Tonight was by far the most nervous I have ever been shooting 300 or trying to win a tournament," said Klerk, who was a member of Junior Team USA in 2002 and won a silver medal in doubles at the 2002 World Youth Championships in Thailand. "This is an amazing feeling, and to do it in team is even better. It's not just you out there, and there's extra pressure because you want to perform for your team, but it's also nice because they get to be a part of it."
In addition to their individual success on the championship lanes, Klerk and his teammates also came together to take the early lead in team at the 2008 tournament in Albuquerque, N.M., before eventually finishing 19th overall.
Even with the desire to repeat that performance and the personal motivation Klerk had to improve on last year's career-low 1,758 all-events total, Friday's success still came as a bit of a surprise because he has struggled at the National Bowling Stadium in the past.
"I've bowled at the Stadium a lot, but I never really figured out what the trick might be to bowl really well here," said Klerk, who shot 1,845 at the Stadium in 2007 and 1,769 in 2004. "The more you bowl here, the more you have an idea, but if this was going to happen to me, I wouldn't have guessed it would happen here. I'm really glad it did, though. Winning a medal with Junior Team USA was top of the line, but this is right up there."
The night didn't end quite as well for Bowlers Universe 2, however, as an explosive start fizzled into a fifth-place effort in Regular Team with a 3,381 total. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.
The team started the night with 1,153, the second-highest opening game of the 2010 Open Championships and followed it up with 1,148. After struggling early in the finale, three of the five team members threw at least a double in the 10th frame to secure their spot in the top five, one pin out of fourth place, five pins out of third and nine pins behind second place.
"We know it's going to be very intense out there, and we put a lot of effort into it," said former USBC Sport Bowling National High Average award winner Mark London, who made his 20th tournament appearance and led Bowlers Universe 2 with a 747 series Friday. "I'm usually pretty even keel at other tournaments, but here, you put the pedal to the floor, and it's three hours of unadulterated adrenaline. Ever since I started bowling in this tournament, the team event has been the most special because you get to share it. It's about five guys, and if you have a companion team, they get to share in it, too. Winning a team title could keep a smile on your face for years."
London, his teammates and their companion team, Bowlers Universe 1, practiced together before making the trip to Reno this year, and they arrived early to see how other top teams were doing.
"We practice as a team on the tournament pattern so all 10 of us can work together to see how the lanes will break down," said London, who shot 790 in team on the way to a fourth-place all-events finish (2,148) at the Stadium in 2007. "Then, I arrive a few days early to scout out other teams to see what they're doing."
This year, London got to watch KR Strikeforce of Decatur, Ill., the 2005 Regular Team champion, make a run at the top spot before settling into third place with a 3,386 total Wednesday night.
London was joined on the lanes Friday by John Lee (719), Richard Rucker (689), Jim Rood (681) and first-time participant Rob Cabello (545). Bowlers Universe 1 also bowled well, finishing with 3,138.
"Our two teams work together really well, and usually, whoever carries better, scores better," London said. "A lot of the time, they are the ones making a run at the top 10, and it was fun to watch them finish second in 2006. Last time we were in Reno, we both bowled well, and this time, we made our first trip into this territory. You sometimes want to pick out a ball or two that would've been the difference, but you really can't do that. There's no disappointment. I think we all did a great job, and I'm proud of all of our guys."
Two other companion teams also bowled well Friday as Team Ebonite/Hammer of Waukesha, Wis., shot 3,237 (20th overall), and Bluemound Bowl of Milwaukee also shot 3,206 on the same pair of lanes. Bill Monce, the anchor bowler for Team Ebonite/Hammer, was high in the group with a 783 series.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, 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.