USBC Storm Mixed Team Challenge rolls through Birmingham, Atlanta
December 04, 2009
The bowlers of Calhoun of Calhoun, Ga., combined high scores with the assistance of a lucky souvenir to take home the title at the USBC Storm Mixed Team Challenge at Brunswick Zone in Norcross, Ga., on Nov. 22.
Calhoun, which was made up of Justin Hackney, Chris Holman, Lee McGhee and Karlene Welty, combined for a team series of 2,928 and Baker set of 2,360 to finish with a combined score of 5,288. ABA of Westminster, S.C., finished second with 5,225. Calhoun received $1,200 for first place, while ABA took home $1,000. The field consisted of 38 teams.
Finding themselves on top of the leaderboard after the three traditional games, Calhoun was confident it could ride the momentum into the Baker portion of the event. All teams bowl three traditional games and 10 Baker games. A Baker game has the team members alternate frames until a complete game is bowled.
“We established a pretty good score in the first three games, so we felt we had a good chance,” said McGhee, who was captain of the group. “Going into the Baker games, we made sure to have our strongest bowlers finish the game.”
Calhoun’s confidence also was heightened with a little bit of luck and superstition. A lucky rabbit’s foot, which was brought by Holman, seemed to inspire the team and provide good scores just when they needed them.
“Chris had a rabbit’s foot,” McGhee said. “We kept rubbing the foot, and every time we did, we had a big game.”
After securing the victory, McGhee reflected on what made the event a unique opportunity for all bowlers.
“I think the thing that makes the Team Challenge exciting is that it’s truly a team-oriented thing,” he said. “You have to depend on your teammates, but also be supportive of them if they have an open or bad break.”
Although ABA just missed taking home the title at the Norcross event, they had better luck a day earlier in Birmingham, Ala., where they grabbed the top spot at the Storm Mixed Team Challenge held at Lightning Strikes, which welcomed 24 teams for competition.
ABA, which included Bill and Gary English, Kasey Maddox and Chris Martin, finished the three traditional games with a 2,800 total, which put them third heading into the Baker portion of the event.
The team made its move with a 10-game Baker total of 2,372 and finished with 5,172 overall, 41 pins ahead of Snafubar of Huntsville, Ala., which finished with 5,131. ABA collected $1,000 for the win, while Snafubar earned $800 for second.
The Storm Mixed Team Challenge will now take a breather until 2010. The next event will be Saturday, March 6 at Hollywood Bowl in Portland, Ore., and Sunday, March 7 at Pacific Lanes in Tacoma, Wash.
Calhoun, which was made up of Justin Hackney, Chris Holman, Lee McGhee and Karlene Welty, combined for a team series of 2,928 and Baker set of 2,360 to finish with a combined score of 5,288. ABA of Westminster, S.C., finished second with 5,225. Calhoun received $1,200 for first place, while ABA took home $1,000. The field consisted of 38 teams.
Finding themselves on top of the leaderboard after the three traditional games, Calhoun was confident it could ride the momentum into the Baker portion of the event. All teams bowl three traditional games and 10 Baker games. A Baker game has the team members alternate frames until a complete game is bowled.
“We established a pretty good score in the first three games, so we felt we had a good chance,” said McGhee, who was captain of the group. “Going into the Baker games, we made sure to have our strongest bowlers finish the game.”
Calhoun’s confidence also was heightened with a little bit of luck and superstition. A lucky rabbit’s foot, which was brought by Holman, seemed to inspire the team and provide good scores just when they needed them.
“Chris had a rabbit’s foot,” McGhee said. “We kept rubbing the foot, and every time we did, we had a big game.”
After securing the victory, McGhee reflected on what made the event a unique opportunity for all bowlers.
“I think the thing that makes the Team Challenge exciting is that it’s truly a team-oriented thing,” he said. “You have to depend on your teammates, but also be supportive of them if they have an open or bad break.”
Although ABA just missed taking home the title at the Norcross event, they had better luck a day earlier in Birmingham, Ala., where they grabbed the top spot at the Storm Mixed Team Challenge held at Lightning Strikes, which welcomed 24 teams for competition.
ABA, which included Bill and Gary English, Kasey Maddox and Chris Martin, finished the three traditional games with a 2,800 total, which put them third heading into the Baker portion of the event.
The team made its move with a 10-game Baker total of 2,372 and finished with 5,172 overall, 41 pins ahead of Snafubar of Huntsville, Ala., which finished with 5,131. ABA collected $1,000 for the win, while Snafubar earned $800 for second.
The Storm Mixed Team Challenge will now take a breather until 2010. The next event will be Saturday, March 6 at Hollywood Bowl in Portland, Ore., and Sunday, March 7 at Pacific Lanes in Tacoma, Wash.