Two bowlers flirt with perfection at USBC Open Championships
April 08, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Perfect games have been hard to come by at the 2010 USBC Open Championships and two bowlers each came within one shot of adding their names to the list at the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday.
Michael Lichstein of Broad Brook, Conn., struck first, tossing 11 consecutive strikes in his second game of doubles before leaving a 3 pin on his final offering. Brandon Starr of Oklahoma City flirted with perfection during the afternoon team event, but a ringing 10 pin denied him the seventh perfect game of this year's event.
Lichstein opened his doubles set with a 190 game and closed with 195 for a 684 series. The final shot in his bid for 300 sailed wide, and left him with the second 299 game of his 18-year Open Championships career. The 41-year-old left-hander teamed up with his father, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Larry Lichstein, for a 1,287 doubles total.
"Anytime I have the front nine, whether it's in league or a tournament, even at age 41, I still get butterflies," said Lichstein, who rolled a 299 game during doubles at the 2002 Open Championships in Billings, Mont. "When I let it go, I knew it wasn't going to make it because it didn't come off good. I was a little lucky to get nine because it could have easily been a 296. To have a chance at 300 again was a thrill for me, and it was very special."
The Lichstein legacy on the lanes dates back to the 1960s when Larry earned his way to PBA Rookie of the Year honors. He later spent a portion of his professional career as the PBA Tour's Player Services Director, a role that required him to drill up to 300 bowling balls each week for the game's top players.
Over the years, Michael has learned a lot from his father, a two-time winner at the Open Championships (Classic All-Events in 1969 and Classic Team in 1970), and his equipment selection this week was a blast from the past.
Instead of using a reactive resin bowling ball with a modern-day core and coverstock, the southpaw chose to use a smoother and more predictable urethane ball that his father found for him just a couple of weeks ago. The decision paid dividends as he added 667 in singles and 660 in team for a 2,011 all-events total, the fourth highest of his tournament career and highest at the National Bowling Stadium.
"I get a lot more control on the left side," said Lichstein, who took home $200,000 for winning the High Roller in Las Vegas as a 19-year-old in 1988. "I was in my 20s when I was throwing urethane, and I always seemed to throw those balls better. I was able to throw it all nine games, and because of the way I throw the ball, I can make some balls work."
The Open Championships continues to be a special destination for the Lichstein family, and Michael is excited about the chance to bowl with his father as well as two-time titlist John Janawicz, USBC Hall of Famer and two-time USBC Senior Masters champion Pete Couture and six-time PBA national champion Ricky Ward.
"I love the history of the tournament," said Lichstein, who owns Litchco's Precision Pro Shop. "Every time I see my dad's name on the board, it sends a chill up my spine. The old footage, the old pictures and the fact that the history is not forgotten is incredible. My goal is to win an eagle and be able to place my name alongside the great bowlers of this tournament. It is just an honor to be here."
Starr, who made his third Open Championships appearance, opened his team event with games of 196 and 181 before making the right adjustments and rolling the tournament's fourth 299 game for a 676 series.
"This is priceless," said Starr, who bowls regularly at Heritage Lanes. "I have had 11 in a row many times, but I will never have another 11 in a row like that. Being here at the National Bowling Stadium, in this type of environment, and being able to bowl with my brother, Blake, was awesome."
The 26-year-old right-hander came into the event feeling more confident than his previous two appearances because he knew he was bowling with great teammates and a game plan. However, as an individual, his improvement on the lanes can be attributed to his PBA Experience league.
"My PBA Experience league has helped me tremendously," Starr said. "My first year at the Open Championships was my first time bowling on a Sport shot, and I was blindsided. The PBA Experience league helped me improve my shotmaking and spare shooting, and it forces you to learn about the technical side of the game."
Starr and his Living Water Pools 2 teammates combined to shoot 3,176, which is good for seventh place in Regular Team. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.
Blake Starr led the way for Living Water Pools 2 with a 737 series and was followed by Brandon Starr, Jerry Meeley (606), Brett Erickson (591) and Randy Brammer (566).
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.
Michael Lichstein of Broad Brook, Conn., struck first, tossing 11 consecutive strikes in his second game of doubles before leaving a 3 pin on his final offering. Brandon Starr of Oklahoma City flirted with perfection during the afternoon team event, but a ringing 10 pin denied him the seventh perfect game of this year's event.
Lichstein opened his doubles set with a 190 game and closed with 195 for a 684 series. The final shot in his bid for 300 sailed wide, and left him with the second 299 game of his 18-year Open Championships career. The 41-year-old left-hander teamed up with his father, Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Larry Lichstein, for a 1,287 doubles total.
"Anytime I have the front nine, whether it's in league or a tournament, even at age 41, I still get butterflies," said Lichstein, who rolled a 299 game during doubles at the 2002 Open Championships in Billings, Mont. "When I let it go, I knew it wasn't going to make it because it didn't come off good. I was a little lucky to get nine because it could have easily been a 296. To have a chance at 300 again was a thrill for me, and it was very special."
The Lichstein legacy on the lanes dates back to the 1960s when Larry earned his way to PBA Rookie of the Year honors. He later spent a portion of his professional career as the PBA Tour's Player Services Director, a role that required him to drill up to 300 bowling balls each week for the game's top players.
Over the years, Michael has learned a lot from his father, a two-time winner at the Open Championships (Classic All-Events in 1969 and Classic Team in 1970), and his equipment selection this week was a blast from the past.
Instead of using a reactive resin bowling ball with a modern-day core and coverstock, the southpaw chose to use a smoother and more predictable urethane ball that his father found for him just a couple of weeks ago. The decision paid dividends as he added 667 in singles and 660 in team for a 2,011 all-events total, the fourth highest of his tournament career and highest at the National Bowling Stadium.
"I get a lot more control on the left side," said Lichstein, who took home $200,000 for winning the High Roller in Las Vegas as a 19-year-old in 1988. "I was in my 20s when I was throwing urethane, and I always seemed to throw those balls better. I was able to throw it all nine games, and because of the way I throw the ball, I can make some balls work."
The Open Championships continues to be a special destination for the Lichstein family, and Michael is excited about the chance to bowl with his father as well as two-time titlist John Janawicz, USBC Hall of Famer and two-time USBC Senior Masters champion Pete Couture and six-time PBA national champion Ricky Ward.
"I love the history of the tournament," said Lichstein, who owns Litchco's Precision Pro Shop. "Every time I see my dad's name on the board, it sends a chill up my spine. The old footage, the old pictures and the fact that the history is not forgotten is incredible. My goal is to win an eagle and be able to place my name alongside the great bowlers of this tournament. It is just an honor to be here."
Starr, who made his third Open Championships appearance, opened his team event with games of 196 and 181 before making the right adjustments and rolling the tournament's fourth 299 game for a 676 series.
"This is priceless," said Starr, who bowls regularly at Heritage Lanes. "I have had 11 in a row many times, but I will never have another 11 in a row like that. Being here at the National Bowling Stadium, in this type of environment, and being able to bowl with my brother, Blake, was awesome."
The 26-year-old right-hander came into the event feeling more confident than his previous two appearances because he knew he was bowling with great teammates and a game plan. However, as an individual, his improvement on the lanes can be attributed to his PBA Experience league.
"My PBA Experience league has helped me tremendously," Starr said. "My first year at the Open Championships was my first time bowling on a Sport shot, and I was blindsided. The PBA Experience league helped me improve my shotmaking and spare shooting, and it forces you to learn about the technical side of the game."
Starr and his Living Water Pools 2 teammates combined to shoot 3,176, which is good for seventh place in Regular Team. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., leads with 3,408.
Blake Starr led the way for Living Water Pools 2 with a 737 series and was followed by Brandon Starr, Jerry Meeley (606), Brett Erickson (591) and Randy Brammer (566).
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.