Doubles champions won't repeat at 2016 USBC Open Championships
May 29, 2016
Click here to watch their title defense on BowlTV.
RENO, Nev. - Although he's just 19 years old, Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, has accomplished more in the past year than some of the best bowlers will in a lifetime.
Win or lose, though, every time he takes the lanes is an opportunity to learn about himself and the game, and regardless of which end of the spectrum it is, he is showing bowling fans a commendable composure and maturity well beyond his years.
This weekend, the young two-hander and his doubles partner, Mark Sleeper Jr. of Kaufman, Texas, got to enjoy a new experience as they were introduced as United States Bowling Congress Open Championships titlists for the first time.
The two marched down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday as the defending Regular Doubles champions and put that title on the line live on BowlTV on Sunday.
Simonsen led the effort this year with a 657 series, while Sleeper added 576, and although they didn't bowl as well as they would've liked, combining for a 1,233 total, they both enjoyed the experience. Greg Thomas of Irmo, South Carolina, and Christopher Hill of Franklin, Wisconsin, lead Regular Doubles with 1,401.
"It was fun, and the whole process has been a great experience," said Sleeper, a 32-year-old right-hander who made his 13th tournament appearance. "It wasn't until we got the eagles at home that it felt like it was real, and the ceremony yesterday was special, too. We didn't bowl as well as we wanted to, but I'm not disappointed about not winning again. We had a lot of fun."
On the way to the win last year at the El Paso Convention Center in El Paso, Texas, Sleeper set the pace with a 744 set, and Simonsen offered a 665 series for a 1,409 total.
That performance last April was a springboard for Simonsen, who went on to finish sixth at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open and sixth at the 2016 USBC Team USA Trials, which earned him a spot on Junior Team USA, and later, Team USA.
The momentum carried him to his first Professional Bowlers Association Tour title, a victory at the 2016 Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship with Connor Pickford, and his first individual win at the 2016 USBC Masters, where he became the youngest bowler in history to win a PBA major at 19 years and 39 days old.
"This has been an unreal year," said Simonsen, who made his fourth USBC Open Championships appearance. "Growing up, I felt like I was pretty good, but I never expected to go out and bowl as well as I have or experience the things I have at such a young age. Sometimes, I don't even feel like it's real, but I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity."
Simonsen turned in another solid performance at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend, adding a 710 series in singles and 669 in team for a 2,036 all-events total. Sleeper, who owns a perfect game on the tournament lanes (2014), had 638 in team and 564 in singles this year for a 1,778 total.
Regardless of how Sunday turned out, Simonsen already is looking forward to the rest of his long career at the Open Championships.
"People always said winning an eagle is an experience you'll never forget, and coming out like we did yesterday and getting to see the word champion on the scoreboard was pretty special," said Simonsen, who leads the PBA Tour in earnings this year. "This tournament is something I'll continue to look forward to every year."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
RENO, Nev. - Although he's just 19 years old, Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, has accomplished more in the past year than some of the best bowlers will in a lifetime.
Win or lose, though, every time he takes the lanes is an opportunity to learn about himself and the game, and regardless of which end of the spectrum it is, he is showing bowling fans a commendable composure and maturity well beyond his years.
This weekend, the young two-hander and his doubles partner, Mark Sleeper Jr. of Kaufman, Texas, got to enjoy a new experience as they were introduced as United States Bowling Congress Open Championships titlists for the first time.
The two marched down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday as the defending Regular Doubles champions and put that title on the line live on BowlTV on Sunday.
Simonsen led the effort this year with a 657 series, while Sleeper added 576, and although they didn't bowl as well as they would've liked, combining for a 1,233 total, they both enjoyed the experience. Greg Thomas of Irmo, South Carolina, and Christopher Hill of Franklin, Wisconsin, lead Regular Doubles with 1,401.
"It was fun, and the whole process has been a great experience," said Sleeper, a 32-year-old right-hander who made his 13th tournament appearance. "It wasn't until we got the eagles at home that it felt like it was real, and the ceremony yesterday was special, too. We didn't bowl as well as we wanted to, but I'm not disappointed about not winning again. We had a lot of fun."
On the way to the win last year at the El Paso Convention Center in El Paso, Texas, Sleeper set the pace with a 744 set, and Simonsen offered a 665 series for a 1,409 total.
That performance last April was a springboard for Simonsen, who went on to finish sixth at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Open and sixth at the 2016 USBC Team USA Trials, which earned him a spot on Junior Team USA, and later, Team USA.
The momentum carried him to his first Professional Bowlers Association Tour title, a victory at the 2016 Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship with Connor Pickford, and his first individual win at the 2016 USBC Masters, where he became the youngest bowler in history to win a PBA major at 19 years and 39 days old.
"This has been an unreal year," said Simonsen, who made his fourth USBC Open Championships appearance. "Growing up, I felt like I was pretty good, but I never expected to go out and bowl as well as I have or experience the things I have at such a young age. Sometimes, I don't even feel like it's real, but I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity."
Simonsen turned in another solid performance at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend, adding a 710 series in singles and 669 in team for a 2,036 all-events total. Sleeper, who owns a perfect game on the tournament lanes (2014), had 638 in team and 564 in singles this year for a 1,778 total.
Regardless of how Sunday turned out, Simonsen already is looking forward to the rest of his long career at the Open Championships.
"People always said winning an eagle is an experience you'll never forget, and coming out like we did yesterday and getting to see the word champion on the scoreboard was pretty special," said Simonsen, who leads the PBA Tour in earnings this year. "This tournament is something I'll continue to look forward to every year."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.