South Carolina bowler achieves goal at USBC Open Championships
June 01, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Cedric Whitner of Abbeville, S.C., was determined to roll a 300 game before his 30th birthday, and it turned out to be even more memorable than he could've imagined as he did it at the 2010 USBC Open Championships with less than eight months to spare.
The 29-year-old right-hander, who made his tournament debut at last year's event in Las Vegas, closed out his sophomore campaign in style with 12 consecutive strikes for the 24th perfect game of the 2010 tournament Tuesday. He opened singles with games of 189 and 190 and finished with a 679 series.
"The 10th one was Brooklyn because my feet got too fast and I tugged it, but it held just enough to get the 10 pin out," said Whitner, who bowls league at Expo 300 in Greenwood, S.C. "After the 10th strike, a calm came over me. I wasn't shaking, and I wasn't nervous. I knew what I had to do, and I did it. After I struck, I had mixed emotions. I wanted to cry, but I didn't. It was like winning the lottery. It was such a great feeling."
Whitner has been bowling for 22 years, but he really didn't start taking the sport seriously until about eight years ago. He practices, gets coaching tips and competes as often as possible. He also sets goals for himself, and seeing them through means a lot.
"I never thought this would happen here," Whitner said. "Now that I know you also get your name called out every year, it makes it even more special. I'll never forget this day.
In his tournament debut a year ago, Whitner got off to a slow start but pulled things together in singles (662) and finished with a 1,611 all-events total. His main goal this year simply was to improve on that performance, which came with a heavy heart as he mourned the death of his aunt two months earlier.
"When I bowled last year, there was something in my ear telling me to concentrate on bowling, and a peace came over me," Whitner said. "I believe that was my aunt watching me, and the same thing happened this year. We were very close, and she was almost like a mother to me. She understood my passion for bowling, and when I'm up there about to throw the ball, I think about her."
Whitner achieved his goal and improved in all three events, but it again took some time to get going. He started with 556 in team and 546 in doubles before his 679 singles effort helped him to a 1,781 all-events total.
"Everyone picked on me about my singles performance last year and said it was first-time luck, so I really wanted to beat that and my other sets this year," Whitner said. "I didn't get off to the best start again, but then I remembered something I heard Wes Malott say on TV. He said to never give up, and that's great advice because you never know what could happen. I've had a lot of mentoring this year, and my game has gotten better. I'm still a little surprised, but I'm relieved. And I'm very proud."
Whitner's effort at the National Bowling Stadium on Tuesday ended a seven-day 300 drought that came after seven perfect games in a five-day stretch.
Also on Tuesday morning, seven-time Professional Bowlers Association national champion Mark Williams of Beaumont, Texas, and his partner Anthony Szeluga of Clarksville, Tenn., each started their second game of doubles with eight consecutive strikes before finishing with a pair of 278s and a 556 total. The highest doubles game in tournament history is 580, rolled by USBC Hall of Famers Rick (290) and Ron Pollard (290) at the 1996 event in Salt Lake City. Two other doubles pairs have shot 578.
Williams and Szeluga went on to finish with a 1,269 doubles total. Steve Bohn of Norwood, Minn., and John Kreyer Jr. of Fridley, Minn., lead Regular Doubles this year with 1,514.
On the other side of the Stadium, William Anderson of Fort Worth, Texas, also made a run at perfection but fell short with 297. He added 203 and 178 for a 678 doubles series to go along with 555 in team and 499 in singles for 1,732.
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.
The 29-year-old right-hander, who made his tournament debut at last year's event in Las Vegas, closed out his sophomore campaign in style with 12 consecutive strikes for the 24th perfect game of the 2010 tournament Tuesday. He opened singles with games of 189 and 190 and finished with a 679 series.
"The 10th one was Brooklyn because my feet got too fast and I tugged it, but it held just enough to get the 10 pin out," said Whitner, who bowls league at Expo 300 in Greenwood, S.C. "After the 10th strike, a calm came over me. I wasn't shaking, and I wasn't nervous. I knew what I had to do, and I did it. After I struck, I had mixed emotions. I wanted to cry, but I didn't. It was like winning the lottery. It was such a great feeling."
Whitner has been bowling for 22 years, but he really didn't start taking the sport seriously until about eight years ago. He practices, gets coaching tips and competes as often as possible. He also sets goals for himself, and seeing them through means a lot.
"I never thought this would happen here," Whitner said. "Now that I know you also get your name called out every year, it makes it even more special. I'll never forget this day.
In his tournament debut a year ago, Whitner got off to a slow start but pulled things together in singles (662) and finished with a 1,611 all-events total. His main goal this year simply was to improve on that performance, which came with a heavy heart as he mourned the death of his aunt two months earlier.
"When I bowled last year, there was something in my ear telling me to concentrate on bowling, and a peace came over me," Whitner said. "I believe that was my aunt watching me, and the same thing happened this year. We were very close, and she was almost like a mother to me. She understood my passion for bowling, and when I'm up there about to throw the ball, I think about her."
Whitner achieved his goal and improved in all three events, but it again took some time to get going. He started with 556 in team and 546 in doubles before his 679 singles effort helped him to a 1,781 all-events total.
"Everyone picked on me about my singles performance last year and said it was first-time luck, so I really wanted to beat that and my other sets this year," Whitner said. "I didn't get off to the best start again, but then I remembered something I heard Wes Malott say on TV. He said to never give up, and that's great advice because you never know what could happen. I've had a lot of mentoring this year, and my game has gotten better. I'm still a little surprised, but I'm relieved. And I'm very proud."
Whitner's effort at the National Bowling Stadium on Tuesday ended a seven-day 300 drought that came after seven perfect games in a five-day stretch.
Also on Tuesday morning, seven-time Professional Bowlers Association national champion Mark Williams of Beaumont, Texas, and his partner Anthony Szeluga of Clarksville, Tenn., each started their second game of doubles with eight consecutive strikes before finishing with a pair of 278s and a 556 total. The highest doubles game in tournament history is 580, rolled by USBC Hall of Famers Rick (290) and Ron Pollard (290) at the 1996 event in Salt Lake City. Two other doubles pairs have shot 578.
Williams and Szeluga went on to finish with a 1,269 doubles total. Steve Bohn of Norwood, Minn., and John Kreyer Jr. of Fridley, Minn., lead Regular Doubles this year with 1,514.
On the other side of the Stadium, William Anderson of Fort Worth, Texas, also made a run at perfection but fell short with 297. He added 203 and 178 for a 678 doubles series to go along with 555 in team and 499 in singles for 1,732.
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.