Croucher leads opening day at 2019 Super Senior Classic
May 30, 2019
.png)
STANDINGS
By Daniel Farish
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Kevin Croucher of Grants Pass, Oregon, averaged more than 243 to lead a record field after the opening round of qualifying Thursday at the 2019 Super Senior Classic.
Croucher, a 63-year-old right-hander, rolled games of 229, 257, 259, 257, 235 and 222 for a six-game total of 1,459 at Sam's Town Bowling Center to outdistance 2017 champion Ron Mohr of Las Vegas, who finished in second on the day with 1,434.
Honolulu's Gary Morgan finished his day with games of 268 and 260 to move into third place with 1,421, while Christopher Keane of Cape Coral, Florida, and Pete McCordic of Katy, Texas, rounded out the top five Thursday with 1,406 and 1,374, respectively.
Each round of the 2019 Super Senior Classic, which is open to United States Bowling Congress members age 60 and older, is being livestreamed at BowlTV.com.
Bowling on B Squad on Thursday, Croucher credited the competitors on A Squad for helping make this week's 40-foot lane condition quite playable for his block, which also featured some great carry and ball motion from his equipment.
A Squad bowled on the fresh variation of the oil pattern Thursday, while B Squad was able to compete on the burn.
"Those guys broke the lanes down, and we could throw it out a bit," Croucher said. "We had to be careful with the amount of oil in the middle of the lane, but I had the right ball and carry that the rest of the field didn't have. That last game, I really had to push hard to get the carry, because I had lost it after the fourth game. I caught some breaks Game 5, but I really pushed Game 6."
Croucher's hoping to maintain his scoring pace when he returns to Sam's Town on Friday but admits he expects a tougher challenge on the fresh.
"I know that it'll be tougher in the morning, because you have to play farther right and manage the hang spot outside of first arrow," said Croucher, who finished in fourth place at the 2017 Super Senior Classic, also held at Sam's Town. "I'll really have to pay attention and focus on keeping it around the pocket as much as possible."
Mohr, a 63-year-old right-hander, bowled on the fresh Thursday and posted games of 277, 244, 226, 204, 247 and 236.
The Super Senior Classic has become a favorite for Mohr since the event moved into his area in 2016. He finished as the runner-up in his debut in 2016 to Japan's Junichi Yajima, then defeated Yajima to win the title in 2017.
Last year, Mohr advanced to the event's group stepladder finals but was unable to make a run to defend his title, falling to Warren Nelson of Hemet, California, to finish in fifth place.
"I matched up really well today," Mohr said. "I was able to open up the lane and had some miss room both ways. Obviously, you need that to nearly average 240. It also helps that I get to sleep in my own bed and my routine doesn't change."
Competition at the 2019 event continues Friday at noon Eastern, as the Croucher and the rest of B Squad will get their first opportunity on the fresh. A Squad will bowl its second round of qualifying on the burn at 5 p.m. Eastern.
After Friday's second round, 12-game pinfall totals will determine the top 50 competitors advancing from the 198-player field to Saturday's Cashers' Round. Steve Kiss of Clackamas, Oregon, is in 50th place after the first round with a 1,257 total, a 209.5 average.
Defending champion Mike Dias of Lafayette, Colorado, finds himself outside of the cut after Thursday's opening round and sits in 82nd place with a 1,215 total.
Cashers' Round competition will begin Saturday at noon Eastern. All cashers will bowl six additional games, and the top 12 will advance to round-robin match play based on their 18-game pinfall totals.
Advancers will be split into two groups for match play - odd qualifiers in one group and evens in the other - and match play will consist of six games, including a position round.
At the end of match play, the top qualifier in each group will earn an automatic spot into Sunday's stepladder finals, with seeding (No. 1 and No. 2) being determined by total pins.
The second, third and fourth qualifiers in each group will advance to a pair of group stepladders, scheduled for Sunday at noon Eastern. The winner of each group stepladder also will advance to the championship round and meet in the opening match. The stepladder finals of the Super Senior Classic will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern.
By Daniel Farish
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Kevin Croucher of Grants Pass, Oregon, averaged more than 243 to lead a record field after the opening round of qualifying Thursday at the 2019 Super Senior Classic.
Croucher, a 63-year-old right-hander, rolled games of 229, 257, 259, 257, 235 and 222 for a six-game total of 1,459 at Sam's Town Bowling Center to outdistance 2017 champion Ron Mohr of Las Vegas, who finished in second on the day with 1,434.
Honolulu's Gary Morgan finished his day with games of 268 and 260 to move into third place with 1,421, while Christopher Keane of Cape Coral, Florida, and Pete McCordic of Katy, Texas, rounded out the top five Thursday with 1,406 and 1,374, respectively.
Each round of the 2019 Super Senior Classic, which is open to United States Bowling Congress members age 60 and older, is being livestreamed at BowlTV.com.
Bowling on B Squad on Thursday, Croucher credited the competitors on A Squad for helping make this week's 40-foot lane condition quite playable for his block, which also featured some great carry and ball motion from his equipment.
A Squad bowled on the fresh variation of the oil pattern Thursday, while B Squad was able to compete on the burn.
"Those guys broke the lanes down, and we could throw it out a bit," Croucher said. "We had to be careful with the amount of oil in the middle of the lane, but I had the right ball and carry that the rest of the field didn't have. That last game, I really had to push hard to get the carry, because I had lost it after the fourth game. I caught some breaks Game 5, but I really pushed Game 6."
Croucher's hoping to maintain his scoring pace when he returns to Sam's Town on Friday but admits he expects a tougher challenge on the fresh.
"I know that it'll be tougher in the morning, because you have to play farther right and manage the hang spot outside of first arrow," said Croucher, who finished in fourth place at the 2017 Super Senior Classic, also held at Sam's Town. "I'll really have to pay attention and focus on keeping it around the pocket as much as possible."
Mohr, a 63-year-old right-hander, bowled on the fresh Thursday and posted games of 277, 244, 226, 204, 247 and 236.The Super Senior Classic has become a favorite for Mohr since the event moved into his area in 2016. He finished as the runner-up in his debut in 2016 to Japan's Junichi Yajima, then defeated Yajima to win the title in 2017.
Last year, Mohr advanced to the event's group stepladder finals but was unable to make a run to defend his title, falling to Warren Nelson of Hemet, California, to finish in fifth place.
"I matched up really well today," Mohr said. "I was able to open up the lane and had some miss room both ways. Obviously, you need that to nearly average 240. It also helps that I get to sleep in my own bed and my routine doesn't change."
Competition at the 2019 event continues Friday at noon Eastern, as the Croucher and the rest of B Squad will get their first opportunity on the fresh. A Squad will bowl its second round of qualifying on the burn at 5 p.m. Eastern.
After Friday's second round, 12-game pinfall totals will determine the top 50 competitors advancing from the 198-player field to Saturday's Cashers' Round. Steve Kiss of Clackamas, Oregon, is in 50th place after the first round with a 1,257 total, a 209.5 average.
Defending champion Mike Dias of Lafayette, Colorado, finds himself outside of the cut after Thursday's opening round and sits in 82nd place with a 1,215 total.
Cashers' Round competition will begin Saturday at noon Eastern. All cashers will bowl six additional games, and the top 12 will advance to round-robin match play based on their 18-game pinfall totals.
Advancers will be split into two groups for match play - odd qualifiers in one group and evens in the other - and match play will consist of six games, including a position round.
At the end of match play, the top qualifier in each group will earn an automatic spot into Sunday's stepladder finals, with seeding (No. 1 and No. 2) being determined by total pins.
The second, third and fourth qualifiers in each group will advance to a pair of group stepladders, scheduled for Sunday at noon Eastern. The winner of each group stepladder also will advance to the championship round and meet in the opening match. The stepladder finals of the Super Senior Classic will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern.