Defending singles champion competes at 2015 OC
April 21, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - Defending champion Louis Jenkins Jr. of Yukon, Oklahoma, may not have been able to make his own run at the Regular Singles crown at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but he did get a chance to offer his support to a teammate who got on a roll Tuesday at the El Paso Convention Center.
Jenkins simply was returning the favor, as it was his teammates who helped him stay focused on his way to the top spot in the singles standings in 2014.
The 47-year-old right-hander took home the 2014 Regular Singles title with games of 257, 300 and 269 for an 826 series at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
Even though Jenkins struggled in his title defense, rolling games of 172, 236 and 155 for a 563 series, it was fun for him to be on the supportive side of things as Shannon Carson of Edmond, Oklahoma, opened his singles set with 277 and 249 and had the lead in sight heading into the finale.
If he couldn't retain the title, keeping it on the team would be the next best thing.
"I told all of those guys that I wouldn't be here without all of them," Jenkins said. "The last game, I knew I could probably move in and get lined up, but Shannon had a chance to win. So I stayed out of his way. I just told him to finish, and he said he'd see if he could. I've learned so much from him over the years, and I was happy to sacrifice for a chance for him to win."
Unfortunately, Carson was unable to strike early in the final game and never recovered, finishing with 180 for a 706 series. Scott Endersbe of Waite Park, Minnesota, leads Regular Singles this year with 785.
Already one of 35 bowlers in 112 years of USBC Open Championships competition with a 300 game and 800 series on the tournament lanes, Jenkins made another run at the record books Tuesday when he started his second game of doubles with 10 consecutive strikes. His 11th offering crossed over, and a 5 pin denied him the chance to become the 29th competitor with multiple 300 games at the Open Championships.
"I think that was just the adrenaline from everything else," said Jenkins, who shot 527 in doubles before his breakout performance in 2014. "That, and not letting my doubles partner down again this year. I wasn't going to do that again."
This year, Jenkins finished doubles with a 720 series and added 552 in team to end his eighth tournament campaign with a 1,835 all-events total. Carson had 596 in doubles and 591 in team for 1,893.
Overall, Jenkins enjoyed his first experience as an Open Championships titlist, and while he's not one to seek out the spotlight, he'd love to have the chance again someday.
"I'm not the type of person who likes to have all eyes on them, so it was a different feeling, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat," Jenkins said. "I've probably been nervous about it since last month, but I loved every minute of it."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Jenkins simply was returning the favor, as it was his teammates who helped him stay focused on his way to the top spot in the singles standings in 2014.
The 47-year-old right-hander took home the 2014 Regular Singles title with games of 257, 300 and 269 for an 826 series at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
Even though Jenkins struggled in his title defense, rolling games of 172, 236 and 155 for a 563 series, it was fun for him to be on the supportive side of things as Shannon Carson of Edmond, Oklahoma, opened his singles set with 277 and 249 and had the lead in sight heading into the finale.
If he couldn't retain the title, keeping it on the team would be the next best thing.
"I told all of those guys that I wouldn't be here without all of them," Jenkins said. "The last game, I knew I could probably move in and get lined up, but Shannon had a chance to win. So I stayed out of his way. I just told him to finish, and he said he'd see if he could. I've learned so much from him over the years, and I was happy to sacrifice for a chance for him to win."
Unfortunately, Carson was unable to strike early in the final game and never recovered, finishing with 180 for a 706 series. Scott Endersbe of Waite Park, Minnesota, leads Regular Singles this year with 785.
Already one of 35 bowlers in 112 years of USBC Open Championships competition with a 300 game and 800 series on the tournament lanes, Jenkins made another run at the record books Tuesday when he started his second game of doubles with 10 consecutive strikes. His 11th offering crossed over, and a 5 pin denied him the chance to become the 29th competitor with multiple 300 games at the Open Championships.
"I think that was just the adrenaline from everything else," said Jenkins, who shot 527 in doubles before his breakout performance in 2014. "That, and not letting my doubles partner down again this year. I wasn't going to do that again."
This year, Jenkins finished doubles with a 720 series and added 552 in team to end his eighth tournament campaign with a 1,835 all-events total. Carson had 596 in doubles and 591 in team for 1,893.
Overall, Jenkins enjoyed his first experience as an Open Championships titlist, and while he's not one to seek out the spotlight, he'd love to have the chance again someday.
"I'm not the type of person who likes to have all eyes on them, so it was a different feeling, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat," Jenkins said. "I've probably been nervous about it since last month, but I loved every minute of it."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.