Texas bowler rolls first-career 300 at USBC Open Championships
April 04, 2011
RENO, Nev. - Gerald Cutshall Jr. of Houston has been a competitive bowler since he was 11 years old, but it took him more than 50 years to record the first perfect game of his bowling career.
The 61-year-old right-hander couldn't have picked a better time to achieve the milestone, which he did in his first game of singles at the USBC Open Championships on Monday.
"I got a little nervous around the seventh or eighth frame, but at that point, I just told myself to concentrate on stroking the ball and hitting what I was looking at," said Cutshall, who added games of 235 and 211 for a 746 singles series, which is just outside of the top 10 in Regular Singles. "I also tried to not worry about what frame I was in. In fact, I didn't even know I was in the 10th frame until after I threw the first shot."
Cutshall knew he tugged his 11th shot and turned around in disappointment when he saw the 4 pin still standing. The reaction of the crowd seconds later made him turn back around only to see the 4 pin on its side and his chance at the eighth perfect game of this year's tournament still in tact.
"I had already turned around and was upset with myself for choking away such a great opportunity," said Cutshall, who bowls regularly at Copperfield Bowling Center and previously has rolled games of 297, 298 and 299 in league. "When I got up for the last shot, I told myself to have confidence and throw a good shot, and let whatever happens, happens. I took a deep breath and let the ball go."
After struggling in his first six games at the National Bowling Stadium this year, shooting 526 in team and 497 in doubles, Cutshall turned to his five decades of bowling experience and was able to manipulate his approach and delivery in order to slow the ball down and get the reaction he wanted.
Cutshall's only regret once his accomplishment started to set in was that his wife, Dee, was not present to see it.
She hadn't been feeling well and actually went to the hospital over the weekend. Although she was feeling better Monday morning, they decided it would be best for her to remain at the hotel to get some additional rest.
"I don't know how to describe the way I feel right now," said Cutshall, an engineer at Dow Chemical, who made his 13th Open Championships appearance and finished with a career-best 1,769 all-events total. "I don't bowl as much as I used to, but I still average around 200 in league. This is probably the best I've thrown the ball for a string of strikes, and I'll never forget it. My only disappointment is that my wife wasn't able to be here to see it."
The 61-year-old right-hander couldn't have picked a better time to achieve the milestone, which he did in his first game of singles at the USBC Open Championships on Monday.
"I got a little nervous around the seventh or eighth frame, but at that point, I just told myself to concentrate on stroking the ball and hitting what I was looking at," said Cutshall, who added games of 235 and 211 for a 746 singles series, which is just outside of the top 10 in Regular Singles. "I also tried to not worry about what frame I was in. In fact, I didn't even know I was in the 10th frame until after I threw the first shot."
Cutshall knew he tugged his 11th shot and turned around in disappointment when he saw the 4 pin still standing. The reaction of the crowd seconds later made him turn back around only to see the 4 pin on its side and his chance at the eighth perfect game of this year's tournament still in tact.
"I had already turned around and was upset with myself for choking away such a great opportunity," said Cutshall, who bowls regularly at Copperfield Bowling Center and previously has rolled games of 297, 298 and 299 in league. "When I got up for the last shot, I told myself to have confidence and throw a good shot, and let whatever happens, happens. I took a deep breath and let the ball go."
After struggling in his first six games at the National Bowling Stadium this year, shooting 526 in team and 497 in doubles, Cutshall turned to his five decades of bowling experience and was able to manipulate his approach and delivery in order to slow the ball down and get the reaction he wanted.
Cutshall's only regret once his accomplishment started to set in was that his wife, Dee, was not present to see it.
She hadn't been feeling well and actually went to the hospital over the weekend. Although she was feeling better Monday morning, they decided it would be best for her to remain at the hotel to get some additional rest.
"I don't know how to describe the way I feel right now," said Cutshall, an engineer at Dow Chemical, who made his 13th Open Championships appearance and finished with a career-best 1,769 all-events total. "I don't bowl as much as I used to, but I still average around 200 in league. This is probably the best I've thrown the ball for a string of strikes, and I'll never forget it. My only disappointment is that my wife wasn't able to be here to see it."