Cincinnati team adds Team All-Events to big week at 2023 Open Championships
June 02, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Ron Pollard Jr., Jeff Fehr, Kenny Abner, Charles Easton and Bill O'Neill
RENO, Nev. – After taking over the top spot in Regular Team on Wednesday at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the members of Riding Kenny’s Coattails of Cincinnati were primed to make a run at Team All-Events in their return to the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday.
The team members – featuring Ron Pollard Jr., Jeff Fehr, Kenny Abner, Charles Easton and Bill O’Neill – quickly regained their momentum to start doubles, averaging more than 222 as a group in their first two games to set the pace for the day.
When the final ball was rolled for the 45-game marathon, the team finished with a 10,018 total to capture its second lead of the week at the 2023 event.
Riding Kenny’s Coattails rolled the second highest team series in USBC Open Championships history on the way to the lead Wednesday with a 3,578 total, and they coasted to the lead in Team All-Events on Thursday by 134 pins.
Las Vegas’ Chili Garlic Edamame had been leading both events with 3,422 and 9,884 since March 18-19.
Easton, who fired a 300 game to start the excitement Wednesday in team competition, led the group with a 2,099 all-events total, which also moved him into fifth place in Regular All-Events.
Fehr was next with 2,064, O’Neill had 2,041, Abner added 1,946 and Pollard finished with 1,868.
Although the strikes were a little tougher to come by Thursday on the doubles and singles oil pattern, the team found ways to manage any hiccups as they navigated the six-game block.
Constant communication and the team’s trust in one another was a major component of their success this week in Reno.
“They’re the best for a reason,” Pollard said. “You’re never out of it with these guys, and no matter what you bowl, you still have to find a way to keep it going.”
Abner was able to keep it going despite an ongoing injury to his back that has limited his competition schedule over the last year.
“When you’re bowling with these guys, it makes it easier to get up for the moment and do things you wouldn’t typically do,” said Abner, a 2006 Regular Team and 2007 Team All-Events champion. “I have not been bowling a lot for probably a year now. It picked up a little the last few weeks, and my timing was good enough to where I could provide and bowl well enough for the team.”
O’Neill joined up with Abner and Fehr during his return to the Open Championships in 2018, and the current version of the lineup has been in place since the 2021 tournament.
The 2010 U.S. Open champion quickly found the chemistry that he shared with Abner and Fehr from past team competitions, and the addition of Easton and Pollard to the mix helped create a group that’s capable of winning at the Open Championships any year.
“I used to bowl with Jeff and Kenny back in the early 2000s, so we had a long history of bowling together,” O’Neill said. “When I had the chance to bowl this again, Jeff had a spot on their team with Kenny, and I said absolutely. I’d love to bowl with those guys again.
“I know when I bowl with these guys, I don’t have to bowl 800 for us to have a good set. Physically, I was really poor at the beginning of each set here. I was able to figure out the last couple games of each set and bowl some big ones toward the end to help the team out a little bit. Luckily for me, they bowled so well at the beginning of every set that it made it a little easier for me to grind it out for a couple games until I got it. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to bowl with.”
The team now begins its wait to see if one or both scores will hold up for the duration of the 2023 Open Championships.
For Fehr and Pollard, they’ll look to add to their family’s legacy at the tournament by adding another win to the mantle.
Fehr’s father, Steve, is a USBC Hall of Famer, five-time Eagle winner at the Open Championships and the 1994 USBC Masters champion. His mother, Nancy, also is part of the USBC Hall of Fame and has claimed three wins at the USBC Women’s Championships.
Pollard is looking to become the fifth member of his family to win a title at the Open Championships, and sixth to collect a victory at a national USBC championships event. His father, Ron, and uncle, Rick, are both USBC Hall of Famers and claimed their victories as part of the 1996 Team All-Events champion. His aunt, Vicky, and wife, Jamie, worked together to win Classified Doubles in 2015. At the Women's Championships, his aunt, Regina Pollard-Strawser, is a three-time titlist.
“My first call yesterday was to my wife, and it was pretty emotional,” Pollard said. “She’s my biggest supporter. The phone call to my dad and brother was pretty emotional as well. The first thing I told my brother was that I hope he gets the feeling I just had. It’s magical and awesome. Nothing else is better, except the birth of my child and my wedding.”
Easton has the opportunity to build his growing resume at the national level, which already includes back-to-back years as the USBC National High Average Award winner (2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons).
For Abner, he now has the chance to jump to four Eagles at the Open Championships and reach a goal he had set that’s dedicated to his father, Ernie.
O’Neill has found success at every level, from his time as a collegiate standout at Saginaw Valley State University to his decorated run as a member of Team USA. His career on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour speaks for itself.
He’d enjoy the chance to also add his name to the storied list of winners at the Open Championships alongside his teammates.
“To have a chance to come away with a couple (wins) for these guys would be really big,” O’Neill said. “I’m really happy for them and that I got to be a part of it.”
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. – After taking over the top spot in Regular Team on Wednesday at the 2023 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the members of Riding Kenny’s Coattails of Cincinnati were primed to make a run at Team All-Events in their return to the National Bowling Stadium on Thursday.
The team members – featuring Ron Pollard Jr., Jeff Fehr, Kenny Abner, Charles Easton and Bill O’Neill – quickly regained their momentum to start doubles, averaging more than 222 as a group in their first two games to set the pace for the day.
When the final ball was rolled for the 45-game marathon, the team finished with a 10,018 total to capture its second lead of the week at the 2023 event.
Riding Kenny’s Coattails rolled the second highest team series in USBC Open Championships history on the way to the lead Wednesday with a 3,578 total, and they coasted to the lead in Team All-Events on Thursday by 134 pins.
Las Vegas’ Chili Garlic Edamame had been leading both events with 3,422 and 9,884 since March 18-19.
Easton, who fired a 300 game to start the excitement Wednesday in team competition, led the group with a 2,099 all-events total, which also moved him into fifth place in Regular All-Events.
Fehr was next with 2,064, O’Neill had 2,041, Abner added 1,946 and Pollard finished with 1,868.
Although the strikes were a little tougher to come by Thursday on the doubles and singles oil pattern, the team found ways to manage any hiccups as they navigated the six-game block.
Constant communication and the team’s trust in one another was a major component of their success this week in Reno.
“They’re the best for a reason,” Pollard said. “You’re never out of it with these guys, and no matter what you bowl, you still have to find a way to keep it going.”
Abner was able to keep it going despite an ongoing injury to his back that has limited his competition schedule over the last year.
“When you’re bowling with these guys, it makes it easier to get up for the moment and do things you wouldn’t typically do,” said Abner, a 2006 Regular Team and 2007 Team All-Events champion. “I have not been bowling a lot for probably a year now. It picked up a little the last few weeks, and my timing was good enough to where I could provide and bowl well enough for the team.”
O’Neill joined up with Abner and Fehr during his return to the Open Championships in 2018, and the current version of the lineup has been in place since the 2021 tournament.
The 2010 U.S. Open champion quickly found the chemistry that he shared with Abner and Fehr from past team competitions, and the addition of Easton and Pollard to the mix helped create a group that’s capable of winning at the Open Championships any year.
“I used to bowl with Jeff and Kenny back in the early 2000s, so we had a long history of bowling together,” O’Neill said. “When I had the chance to bowl this again, Jeff had a spot on their team with Kenny, and I said absolutely. I’d love to bowl with those guys again.
“I know when I bowl with these guys, I don’t have to bowl 800 for us to have a good set. Physically, I was really poor at the beginning of each set here. I was able to figure out the last couple games of each set and bowl some big ones toward the end to help the team out a little bit. Luckily for me, they bowled so well at the beginning of every set that it made it a little easier for me to grind it out for a couple games until I got it. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to bowl with.”
The team now begins its wait to see if one or both scores will hold up for the duration of the 2023 Open Championships.
For Fehr and Pollard, they’ll look to add to their family’s legacy at the tournament by adding another win to the mantle.
Fehr’s father, Steve, is a USBC Hall of Famer, five-time Eagle winner at the Open Championships and the 1994 USBC Masters champion. His mother, Nancy, also is part of the USBC Hall of Fame and has claimed three wins at the USBC Women’s Championships.
Pollard is looking to become the fifth member of his family to win a title at the Open Championships, and sixth to collect a victory at a national USBC championships event. His father, Ron, and uncle, Rick, are both USBC Hall of Famers and claimed their victories as part of the 1996 Team All-Events champion. His aunt, Vicky, and wife, Jamie, worked together to win Classified Doubles in 2015. At the Women's Championships, his aunt, Regina Pollard-Strawser, is a three-time titlist.
“My first call yesterday was to my wife, and it was pretty emotional,” Pollard said. “She’s my biggest supporter. The phone call to my dad and brother was pretty emotional as well. The first thing I told my brother was that I hope he gets the feeling I just had. It’s magical and awesome. Nothing else is better, except the birth of my child and my wedding.”
Easton has the opportunity to build his growing resume at the national level, which already includes back-to-back years as the USBC National High Average Award winner (2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons).
For Abner, he now has the chance to jump to four Eagles at the Open Championships and reach a goal he had set that’s dedicated to his father, Ernie.
O’Neill has found success at every level, from his time as a collegiate standout at Saginaw Valley State University to his decorated run as a member of Team USA. His career on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour speaks for itself.
He’d enjoy the chance to also add his name to the storied list of winners at the Open Championships alongside his teammates.
“To have a chance to come away with a couple (wins) for these guys would be really big,” O’Neill said. “I’m really happy for them and that I got to be a part of it.”
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.