Texas bowlers crack top 10 in two events at USBC Open Championships
June 09, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Stacey Smith and Stephen Kubis of Houston made the most of their trip to the 2010 USBC Open Championships by cracking the top 10 in two events at the National Bowling Stadium this week.
The pair helped Stars and Strikes 12 of Conifer, Colo., into eighth place in Classified Team with a 2,685 total Monday and challenged the lead in Classified Doubles before settling into third place Tuesday night.
Smith and Kubis had the top spot in Classified Doubles in their sights with one frame to go, but a couple of miscues left them just short with a 1,186 total. After Kubis left the 4-6-7-10 split in his final frame, Smith had a chance to throw a double in the 10th frame for the lead, but he left a 7 pin on his first shot. Robert Blum of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Frank DeFrancesco of Poway, Calif., lead with 1,200.
Smith, a 40-year-old right-hander, paced the pair with games of 204, 232 and 183 for a 619 series, while Kubis contributed 217, 174 and 176 for 567.
"It's hard to think that if both of us mark in the 10th, we're there, but I left a big split," said Kubis, a 50-year-old right-hander who made his 13th Open Championships appearance. "It's nice to know we were close, but it's a horrible feeling to know we let it get away."
On Monday, Stars and Strikes 12 made a run at the team lead by starting with games of 932 and 907, but an 846 finale left them short of Southeast Paint of Price, Utah, which leads with 2,808.
"We felt bad about team last night because we both shot 150s in the second game, so we wanted to come out and do better today," said Smith, who also competed for the 13th time. "When I shot 230 in the second game of doubles, I really thought we were going to do it. You can't ask for more than to get up there in the 10th frame with a chance to take the lead. Even if our score didn't win, it would've been a big accomplishment to get there."
Smith and Kubis were in familiar territory Tuesday. Four years ago, at the 2006 Open Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, they finished tied for fifth place in Classified Doubles with a 1,212 total, 36 pins off pace.
Although they are disappointed with this year's outcome right now, the teammates know their overall performance was respectable, especially since Smith is nursing a bad back that has kept him from practicing lately, and Kubis is contemplating shoulder surgery.
"Later, when people ask us how we did, we'll be happy to say we left in third place, but right now, it feels like my heart is being ripped apart," said Kubis, who bowls with Smith at Houston's AMF Willow Bowl. "For now, we're both going to take the summer off, and we'll start thinking about next year's tournament in April or May when we make our travel and hotel reservations."
Smith rounded things out with a 584 series in singles and 534 in team for a career-best 1,737 all-events effort. His previous high was 1,711 at the 2004 event, also at the Stadium. Kubis finished with 566 in singles and 564 in team for 1,697. The United Kingdom's Ken Iredale leads Classified All-Events with 1,810.
To be eligible for the Classified Division, bowlers must have an average of 180 or less for singles and all-events, 360 or less for doubles and 900 or less for team.
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 pair helped Stars and Strikes 12 of Conifer, Colo., into eighth place in Classified Team with a 2,685 total Monday and challenged the lead in Classified Doubles before settling into third place Tuesday night.
Smith and Kubis had the top spot in Classified Doubles in their sights with one frame to go, but a couple of miscues left them just short with a 1,186 total. After Kubis left the 4-6-7-10 split in his final frame, Smith had a chance to throw a double in the 10th frame for the lead, but he left a 7 pin on his first shot. Robert Blum of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Frank DeFrancesco of Poway, Calif., lead with 1,200.
Smith, a 40-year-old right-hander, paced the pair with games of 204, 232 and 183 for a 619 series, while Kubis contributed 217, 174 and 176 for 567.
"It's hard to think that if both of us mark in the 10th, we're there, but I left a big split," said Kubis, a 50-year-old right-hander who made his 13th Open Championships appearance. "It's nice to know we were close, but it's a horrible feeling to know we let it get away."
On Monday, Stars and Strikes 12 made a run at the team lead by starting with games of 932 and 907, but an 846 finale left them short of Southeast Paint of Price, Utah, which leads with 2,808.
"We felt bad about team last night because we both shot 150s in the second game, so we wanted to come out and do better today," said Smith, who also competed for the 13th time. "When I shot 230 in the second game of doubles, I really thought we were going to do it. You can't ask for more than to get up there in the 10th frame with a chance to take the lead. Even if our score didn't win, it would've been a big accomplishment to get there."
Smith and Kubis were in familiar territory Tuesday. Four years ago, at the 2006 Open Championships in Corpus Christi, Texas, they finished tied for fifth place in Classified Doubles with a 1,212 total, 36 pins off pace.
Although they are disappointed with this year's outcome right now, the teammates know their overall performance was respectable, especially since Smith is nursing a bad back that has kept him from practicing lately, and Kubis is contemplating shoulder surgery.
"Later, when people ask us how we did, we'll be happy to say we left in third place, but right now, it feels like my heart is being ripped apart," said Kubis, who bowls with Smith at Houston's AMF Willow Bowl. "For now, we're both going to take the summer off, and we'll start thinking about next year's tournament in April or May when we make our travel and hotel reservations."
Smith rounded things out with a 584 series in singles and 534 in team for a career-best 1,737 all-events effort. His previous high was 1,711 at the 2004 event, also at the Stadium. Kubis finished with 566 in singles and 564 in team for 1,697. The United Kingdom's Ken Iredale leads Classified All-Events with 1,810.
To be eligible for the Classified Division, bowlers must have an average of 180 or less for singles and all-events, 360 or less for doubles and 900 or less for team.
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.