Buss leads Open Singles, Dual Entry at 2023 Bowlers Journal Championships
May 09, 2023
RENO, Nev. – Persistence was key for Jesse Buss of Belvidere, Illinois, to take over the top spots in Open Singles and Dual Entry at the 2023 Bowlers Journal Championships presented by the United States Bowling Congress.
Buss, a 38-year-old right-hander, had several close calls prior to breaking through at the National Bowling Stadium to take the lead Sunday with a 752 series. Perry Crowell IV of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, previously led Open Singles and Dual Entry with 741.
He rolled games of 218, 287 and 247 on the low end of the fourth floor at the NBS, which is hosting the longstanding side tournament of the USBC Open Championships.
Buss’ 752 effort came in his fourth attempt at the Bowlers Journal Championships, which allows up to eight entries per eligible division. He had a chance at the lead heading into his final frames in two of his first three sessions, finishing with 720 and 727.
Those close calls may have crept into his thoughts as he made his way down the stretch in Game 3 on Sunday, but a strike on his first delivery in the 10th frame locked up the top spot.
“I had a really good shot at the other ones,” said Buss, who made his 16th appearance at the Open Championships over the weekend. “I missed a single pin in one of the sets and split late in the other one, so I was thinking about it the whole time. I just wanted to put a few shots together and hope they carried.”
Like many heading to the Open Championships, Buss typically has visited the Bowlers Journal to get a first-hand look at the doubles and singles pattern used in the main event and take the opportunity to get a couple games under his belt upon arriving in the host city.
When he saw his look during his first session, he knew he’d have a chance to make a run at the top spot if the pins cooperated.
“I think in the last few years, I’ve probably only bowled once a year,” said Buss, who rolled a 300 game in singles competition at the 2016 Open Championships in Reno. “I got close in my first set and saw that I had a really good look, it was just going to depend on if I got the carry or not. Urethane was by far my best look. My low set was the one I didn’t use urethane. I tried a few different shots here or there with other stuff, but the look wasn’t as good for me as with urethane.”
At the Open Championships this year, Buss rolled sets of 661 in singles and 595 in doubles to go along with 649 in team for a 1,905 all-events total.
Although Buss is unsure whether his score will hold its spot for the remainder of the tournament, he’s excited to be competing a little more as he looks to add another big win to his collection.
“I don’t think it will hold up, but if it does, it would be pretty cool,” said Buss, a 2008 Intercollegiate Team Championships winner with Wichita State. “Over the last few years, I haven’t really bowled many tournaments. I kind of go back and forth with getting the itch to bowl more, so it would be pretty awesome to add a win here to the resume.”
The Bowlers Journal Championships features divisions for Open Singles, Senior Singles, Super Senior Singles and Handicap Singles. There also are options for Open Doubles, Senior Doubles and Handicap Doubles.
A bowler who enters singles and doubles during the same session also is entered into the Dual Entry prize fund for the tournament.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Buss, a 38-year-old right-hander, had several close calls prior to breaking through at the National Bowling Stadium to take the lead Sunday with a 752 series. Perry Crowell IV of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, previously led Open Singles and Dual Entry with 741.
He rolled games of 218, 287 and 247 on the low end of the fourth floor at the NBS, which is hosting the longstanding side tournament of the USBC Open Championships.
Buss’ 752 effort came in his fourth attempt at the Bowlers Journal Championships, which allows up to eight entries per eligible division. He had a chance at the lead heading into his final frames in two of his first three sessions, finishing with 720 and 727.
Those close calls may have crept into his thoughts as he made his way down the stretch in Game 3 on Sunday, but a strike on his first delivery in the 10th frame locked up the top spot.
“I had a really good shot at the other ones,” said Buss, who made his 16th appearance at the Open Championships over the weekend. “I missed a single pin in one of the sets and split late in the other one, so I was thinking about it the whole time. I just wanted to put a few shots together and hope they carried.”
Like many heading to the Open Championships, Buss typically has visited the Bowlers Journal to get a first-hand look at the doubles and singles pattern used in the main event and take the opportunity to get a couple games under his belt upon arriving in the host city.
When he saw his look during his first session, he knew he’d have a chance to make a run at the top spot if the pins cooperated.
“I think in the last few years, I’ve probably only bowled once a year,” said Buss, who rolled a 300 game in singles competition at the 2016 Open Championships in Reno. “I got close in my first set and saw that I had a really good look, it was just going to depend on if I got the carry or not. Urethane was by far my best look. My low set was the one I didn’t use urethane. I tried a few different shots here or there with other stuff, but the look wasn’t as good for me as with urethane.”
At the Open Championships this year, Buss rolled sets of 661 in singles and 595 in doubles to go along with 649 in team for a 1,905 all-events total.
Although Buss is unsure whether his score will hold its spot for the remainder of the tournament, he’s excited to be competing a little more as he looks to add another big win to his collection.
“I don’t think it will hold up, but if it does, it would be pretty cool,” said Buss, a 2008 Intercollegiate Team Championships winner with Wichita State. “Over the last few years, I haven’t really bowled many tournaments. I kind of go back and forth with getting the itch to bowl more, so it would be pretty awesome to add a win here to the resume.”
The Bowlers Journal Championships features divisions for Open Singles, Senior Singles, Super Senior Singles and Handicap Singles. There also are options for Open Doubles, Senior Doubles and Handicap Doubles.
A bowler who enters singles and doubles during the same session also is entered into the Dual Entry prize fund for the tournament.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.