Brown and Carter take doubles lead at 2023 Open Championships
May 07, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Julian Brown and Zack Carter
RENO, Nev. – Powered by the highest individual set in doubles competition at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the pair of Zack Carter of Des Plaines, Illinois, and Julian Brown of Jonesboro, Georgia, have taken over the lead in Regular Doubles with a 1,401 total.
Carter delivered 28 strikes on the way to games of 278, 254 and 255 for a 787 series. After starting with 203 and 184, Brown settled in down the stretch at the National Bowling Stadium to roll 227 in Game 3 for a 614 series.
Cassandra Leuthold of Lincoln, Nebraska, and 1995 Regular Doubles champion Scott Kruppenbacher of Rochester, New York, had led since April 19 with 1,388.
Through the first 64 days of competition at the 2023 event, the highest individual score in doubles had been 731 by Trent Haughn of Toledo, Ohio.
Stepping into their final frame Saturday, Carter was working on seven consecutive strikes. Brown had a spare in his ninth frame, and although there were multiple scenarios that could get them to the top spot, at least one double was needed from the duo for the opportunity.
Brown rolled three strikes in the 10th, and Carter tossed two strikes, with eight on his fill, to get the job done.
Although Brown and Carter have known each other for some time, the 2023 USBC Open Championships marked their first time bowling doubles together on this stage. The familiarity in each other’s game helped them throughout the block, even though Carter is right-handed and Brown is left-handed.
For Carter, 28, a trip to the Bowlers Journal Championships on Saturday morning before his block helped finalize his game plan for the main event.
“Earlier today, we bowled the Bowlers Journal and I tried to throw urethane going right,” said Carter, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. “It did not look good. I moved into the track and banked it a little, and it looked pretty good. I threw a DV8 Trouble Maker and was able to keep gradually moving left. We broke them down right and I made a lot of good shots, but that first shot of the 10th frame in the third game – I was very nervous. I have never been in a position like this, so for myself, I didn’t want to let him down. If we had a chance, I needed to get it done, and I happened to make two really good shots.”
Brown, 37, found himself in a tough spot around the halfway point of Game 2 on Saturday, but he kept pushing through to find something as his partner kept striking.
He didn’t have a strike in the first seven frames but didn’t let that slow down the communication with his teammates. He followed with four late strikes to finish Game 2 and started to build some momentum toward his strong effort in Game 3.
“I didn’t bowl particularly well in Game 1 or 2, and I missed a couple makeable spares in Game 2,” said Brown, making his 13th tournament appearance. “I remained positive, though. We kept communicating the entire game and talked through some different bowling balls. In Game 3, I switched to a Gamebreaker 4 Hybrid, and it allowed me to see the shape I was looking for. Then, it was a matter of making shots.
“Coming down the stretch, I knew we had a chance. It was time for me to show up and give him a little bit of help. Our communication was solid all the way through, and he bowled absolutely phenomenal.”
Both players knew what they were looking to achieve in the final game, and to experience that moment together is something they won’t take for granted.
Now, the waiting game begins for Brown and Carter.
“It’s an overwhelming experience,” said Brown, who added 593 in singles and 588 in team for a 1,795 all-events total. “I was just trying to breathe and execute and get through the moment. I know I let out a little emotion toward the end, and it was really because I felt like I gave him a chance. It’s a good feeling knowing you’re going home in the lead.
“We did the best we could, and even if we don’t hold on to win, I’m proud of where we are. It’s a heck of an accomplishment to come out here on the biggest stage and even have a chance. Hopefully, it holds up, but if it doesn’t, it’s OK. But, as a competitor, you want to come home with the championship and have the Eagle next to your name.”
Carter moved just outside of the top 10 in Regular All-Events with his overall effort this year at the NBS, adding sets of 637 in team and 626 in singles for a 2,050 total.
“Coming into today, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Carter said. “As soon as we got into Game 3, we knew we had to buckle down because we had a chance. It’s an amazing feeling. I have never been in a position like this at a national tournament. This is definitely the biggest stage I’ve been on top of so far. We do hope that it holds up, but there are a lot of great players to come. You never know what can happen, but I'm very honored and happy to be here.”
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
RENO, Nev. – Powered by the highest individual set in doubles competition at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the pair of Zack Carter of Des Plaines, Illinois, and Julian Brown of Jonesboro, Georgia, have taken over the lead in Regular Doubles with a 1,401 total.
Carter delivered 28 strikes on the way to games of 278, 254 and 255 for a 787 series. After starting with 203 and 184, Brown settled in down the stretch at the National Bowling Stadium to roll 227 in Game 3 for a 614 series.
Cassandra Leuthold of Lincoln, Nebraska, and 1995 Regular Doubles champion Scott Kruppenbacher of Rochester, New York, had led since April 19 with 1,388.
Through the first 64 days of competition at the 2023 event, the highest individual score in doubles had been 731 by Trent Haughn of Toledo, Ohio.
Stepping into their final frame Saturday, Carter was working on seven consecutive strikes. Brown had a spare in his ninth frame, and although there were multiple scenarios that could get them to the top spot, at least one double was needed from the duo for the opportunity.
Brown rolled three strikes in the 10th, and Carter tossed two strikes, with eight on his fill, to get the job done.
Although Brown and Carter have known each other for some time, the 2023 USBC Open Championships marked their first time bowling doubles together on this stage. The familiarity in each other’s game helped them throughout the block, even though Carter is right-handed and Brown is left-handed.
For Carter, 28, a trip to the Bowlers Journal Championships on Saturday morning before his block helped finalize his game plan for the main event.
“Earlier today, we bowled the Bowlers Journal and I tried to throw urethane going right,” said Carter, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. “It did not look good. I moved into the track and banked it a little, and it looked pretty good. I threw a DV8 Trouble Maker and was able to keep gradually moving left. We broke them down right and I made a lot of good shots, but that first shot of the 10th frame in the third game – I was very nervous. I have never been in a position like this, so for myself, I didn’t want to let him down. If we had a chance, I needed to get it done, and I happened to make two really good shots.”
Brown, 37, found himself in a tough spot around the halfway point of Game 2 on Saturday, but he kept pushing through to find something as his partner kept striking.
He didn’t have a strike in the first seven frames but didn’t let that slow down the communication with his teammates. He followed with four late strikes to finish Game 2 and started to build some momentum toward his strong effort in Game 3.
“I didn’t bowl particularly well in Game 1 or 2, and I missed a couple makeable spares in Game 2,” said Brown, making his 13th tournament appearance. “I remained positive, though. We kept communicating the entire game and talked through some different bowling balls. In Game 3, I switched to a Gamebreaker 4 Hybrid, and it allowed me to see the shape I was looking for. Then, it was a matter of making shots.
“Coming down the stretch, I knew we had a chance. It was time for me to show up and give him a little bit of help. Our communication was solid all the way through, and he bowled absolutely phenomenal.”
Both players knew what they were looking to achieve in the final game, and to experience that moment together is something they won’t take for granted.
Now, the waiting game begins for Brown and Carter.
“It’s an overwhelming experience,” said Brown, who added 593 in singles and 588 in team for a 1,795 all-events total. “I was just trying to breathe and execute and get through the moment. I know I let out a little emotion toward the end, and it was really because I felt like I gave him a chance. It’s a good feeling knowing you’re going home in the lead.
“We did the best we could, and even if we don’t hold on to win, I’m proud of where we are. It’s a heck of an accomplishment to come out here on the biggest stage and even have a chance. Hopefully, it holds up, but if it doesn’t, it’s OK. But, as a competitor, you want to come home with the championship and have the Eagle next to your name.”
Carter moved just outside of the top 10 in Regular All-Events with his overall effort this year at the NBS, adding sets of 637 in team and 626 in singles for a 2,050 total.
“Coming into today, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Carter said. “As soon as we got into Game 3, we knew we had to buckle down because we had a chance. It’s an amazing feeling. I have never been in a position like this at a national tournament. This is definitely the biggest stage I’ve been on top of so far. We do hope that it holds up, but there are a lot of great players to come. You never know what can happen, but I'm very honored and happy to be here.”
Regular Doubles features bowlers with combined entering averages of 351 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.