Defending champions put title on line at USBC Open Championships
June 27, 2010
RENO, Nev. - A year ago, Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, teamed up for the highest doubles total in USBC Open Championships history, and although they won't repeat as Regular Doubles champions, they always will share a spot in the record books.
The two were at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend to put their title on the line and a disappointing performance in team Saturday only motivated them more heading into doubles and singles Sunday.
When the lights came on for doubles, they showed they were ready to make a good showing. Edwards, a 35-year-old right-hander, led the way with games of 209, 234 and 277 for a 720 series, while Padilla, a 33-year-old right-hander, contributed 233, 245 and 179 for 657 and a 1,377 total. Steve Bohn of Norwood, Minn., and John Kreyer Jr. of Fridley, Minn., lead Regular Doubles this year with 1,514.
"Obviously, doubles definitely had some extra significance this year," said Padilla, who works for USBC as a coaching specialist and is an assistant coach for Team USA. "We both came into this year's tournament excited about getting a chance to revisit a venue we both enjoy and also about getting to bowl and have a good time with our friends. We didn't start well in team and have to figure out how to get off to a better start in the team event down the road. It was nice to bowl well again in doubles, though."
Last year in Las Vegas, Edwards and Padilla took home the doubles title with a record score of 1,566, and since they recently bought a new house and will be getting married on New Year's Eve, their eagle trophies forever will be perched together on their mantle.
"This last year has been such a roller coaster ride," said Edwards, who won the 2010 USBC Team USA Trials and made her seventh Open Championships appearance this weekend. "My success on the lanes last year, coupled with Stephen asking me to marry him, winning the Team USA Trials and USBC going through some changes, made for a crazy year. I have had to endure some stress trying to find a teaching position as well, but you really learn to appreciate the different things in life."
Edwards went on to finish the 2009 event in record fashion with a 300 game in singles on the way to a 2,132 all-events total, the highest by a woman in tournament history. Her perfect game was just the sixth by a woman on the championship lanes. Women first were allowed to compete in 1994.
This year's finish wasn't quite as strong after she tweaked her knee during singles. She finished with a 574 series to go along with 462 in team for a 1,756 all-events effort. Padilla had 573 in singles and 558 in team for 1,788.
"We didn't want to put a lot of pressure on ourselves coming into this year," said Padilla, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "We came in wanting to enjoy what was going on, but keep a level head, make good shots and have fun. We didn't bowl as well as we wanted, but we got to celebrate the fact that we were successful last year. We are really excited for the chance to come back to the venue year after year and see how long our record holds up."
The 2010 Open Championships started on Feb. 20 and will conclude its 136-day run on July 5. By the tournament's end, 14,189 five-player teams will have made their way to Reno.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
The two were at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend to put their title on the line and a disappointing performance in team Saturday only motivated them more heading into doubles and singles Sunday.
When the lights came on for doubles, they showed they were ready to make a good showing. Edwards, a 35-year-old right-hander, led the way with games of 209, 234 and 277 for a 720 series, while Padilla, a 33-year-old right-hander, contributed 233, 245 and 179 for 657 and a 1,377 total. Steve Bohn of Norwood, Minn., and John Kreyer Jr. of Fridley, Minn., lead Regular Doubles this year with 1,514.
"Obviously, doubles definitely had some extra significance this year," said Padilla, who works for USBC as a coaching specialist and is an assistant coach for Team USA. "We both came into this year's tournament excited about getting a chance to revisit a venue we both enjoy and also about getting to bowl and have a good time with our friends. We didn't start well in team and have to figure out how to get off to a better start in the team event down the road. It was nice to bowl well again in doubles, though."
Last year in Las Vegas, Edwards and Padilla took home the doubles title with a record score of 1,566, and since they recently bought a new house and will be getting married on New Year's Eve, their eagle trophies forever will be perched together on their mantle.
"This last year has been such a roller coaster ride," said Edwards, who won the 2010 USBC Team USA Trials and made her seventh Open Championships appearance this weekend. "My success on the lanes last year, coupled with Stephen asking me to marry him, winning the Team USA Trials and USBC going through some changes, made for a crazy year. I have had to endure some stress trying to find a teaching position as well, but you really learn to appreciate the different things in life."
Edwards went on to finish the 2009 event in record fashion with a 300 game in singles on the way to a 2,132 all-events total, the highest by a woman in tournament history. Her perfect game was just the sixth by a woman on the championship lanes. Women first were allowed to compete in 1994.
This year's finish wasn't quite as strong after she tweaked her knee during singles. She finished with a 574 series to go along with 462 in team for a 1,756 all-events effort. Padilla had 573 in singles and 558 in team for 1,788.
"We didn't want to put a lot of pressure on ourselves coming into this year," said Padilla, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "We came in wanting to enjoy what was going on, but keep a level head, make good shots and have fun. We didn't bowl as well as we wanted, but we got to celebrate the fact that we were successful last year. We are really excited for the chance to come back to the venue year after year and see how long our record holds up."
The 2010 Open Championships started on Feb. 20 and will conclude its 136-day run on July 5. By the tournament's end, 14,189 five-player teams will have made their way to Reno.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.