Wisconsin team rolls into Team All-Events lead at 2018 USBC Open Championships

By Fran Piraino and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications

SYRACUSE, N.Y.
- The members of Wisconsin's Red Carpet Lanes have found continued success at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but they have yet to claim a victory on the championship lanes.

That all may change after their performance Saturday at the Oncenter Convention Center, where they averaged more than 232 as a team during doubles and singles to soar into the Team All-Events lead with a 10,252 total.

The team's latest addition, David Labinski, led Red Carpet Lanes in the Salt City with a 2,129 all-events total, which places him fifth in Regular All-Events. Ken Duffield, who is one of 35 players in tournament history with a 300 game and 800 series at the event, moved into sixth place with 2,111.

Dave Beres (2,065), former Junior Team USA member Chris Pierson (1,991) and Chad Maas (1,956) helped complete the team's run to the top of the standings, surpassing previous leader, S & B Pro Shop 1 of Warren, Michigan, by more than 500 pins. S & B Pro Shop 1 previously held the lead in Team All-Events with 9,708, and leads Regular Team with 3,322.

After moving into third place in Regular Team on Friday with a 3,277 total, Red Carpet Lanes quickly put itself in position to challenge for the lead in Team All-Events with a strong start in doubles, averaging more than 227 as a unit.

The team got stronger in singles, averaging better than 237, and the effort was highlighted by a 298 game from Beres, who led the charge with a 739 series.

Labinski joined Red Carpet Lanes at the USBC Open Championships for the first time this week in Syracuse, but he's very familiar with the group from various state and local competitions in Wisconsin.

He was able to play to his strengths throughout his time at the Oncenter Convention Center by taking advantage of his ball speed and being able to stay firm, all while the group's chemistry grew stronger.

"I was very happy to join this team," said Labinski, who had a 299 game and 787 series in team at the 2013 Open Championships. "We've bowled together in Wisconsin for a while, and it just worked out that we were able to join forces. I was trying to follow their lead, since they've been so close in the past. In Wisconsin, we pride ourselves on coming to this tournament and finding success, so it would mean the world if we could hold on to win."

Beres, Pierson and Maas were part of the Motion Plus Lanes contingent that posted a then-record 3,561 team total at the 2014 event in Reno, Nevada. The group, which also included two-time Open Championships titlist Jeff Nimke and former Professional Bowlers Association Tour player Chad Kloss, held onto the lead for more than two months, until being pushed into second place by Artistic Expressions 1 of Oklahoma City with a 3,720 total.

Other top-five finishes in recent years for the Red Carpet Lanes teammates includes third-place finishes for Maas (2015 Regular All-Events), Beres (2007 Regular All-Events) and Duffield (2007 Regular Doubles), as well as a fifth-place showing in Regular Team for Beres, Pierson and Maas in 2013.

"We set a record and finished second by 160 pins," said Beres, who made his 19th tournament appearance and raised his lifetime average to 218.4. "We got a ton of pins today and yesterday, but you never know in this tournament. Hopefully, it's enough, and if it is, it would mean everything. We've been so close so many times. I've done a lot in this sport, and these guys have, too. To get the Eagle would be icing on the cake."

Red Carpet Lanes' companion team, Brian Brazeau Pro Shop of Ocala, Florida, also made its move toward the top of the Team All-Events standings, settling into second place with 9,959.

Rich Abboud led the way with a 2,094 all-events tally and was joined by Brian Brazeau (2,022), Nimke (2,003), 2008 Regular Doubles champion Dennis Rakauskas (1,952) and Jace Peterson (1,888).

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