First-timer finds success in four events at 2017 USBC Open Championships
April 15, 2017
By Matt Cannizzaro and Brian Hirsch
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Bowling in the 2017 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships at the South Point Bowling Plaza will leave lasting memories for first-time participant Nick Stenberg of Big Timber, Montana.
The 24-year-old right-hander had a basic game plan for his tournament debut, and that included a simple two-ball arsenal and keeping his sights set on one clean frame at a time.
He also indirectly looked to his teammates for guidance. When he realized what he was doing wasn't working, but they were successfully hitting the pocket, he adapted.
The result was a surge to the top of the leaderboard in Classified Singles and Classified All-Events and top-five performances in Classified Team and Classified Doubles. Two eight-strike games Friday at the Bowling Plaza, one in doubles and one in singles, propelled him up the standings.
Stenberg rolled sets of 621 in singles, 559 in doubles and 553 in team to pass previous Classified Singles leader Michael Tengan of Hilo, Hawaii (607), and Classified All-Events leader Cody Maier of Spring Creek, Nevada (1,686).
"I was never looking at the scoreboard, and I was there to throw one ball at a time," Stenberg said. "The only real game plan was to keep all the games clean."
Stenberg started his 2017 USBC Open Championships campaign by helping Wag N Whiskers of Livingston, Montana, into fifth place in Classified Team with a 2,436 total, but his personal performance was a roller coaster with games of 187, 202 and 164.
When he started doubles Friday with a 136 effort, he knew it was time for a new approach.
"There is no secret out here," said Stenberg, who regularly bowls at Treasure Lanes in Livingston. "I watched what the other people were doing. When what they were doing was working, and what I was doing was not, I just tried to imitate them. I did only bring two bowling balls with me, so there was no magic ball that helped me. If one didn't work, there was only one other option. When that second option doesn't work I just close my eyes and pray."
Stenberg found his stride in his final game of doubles, opening with eight strikes on the way to a 254 game. The big finish moved him and Sheldon Smith of Timber, Montana (499), into a tie for fourth place in Classified Doubles with a 1,058 total, while also giving Stenberg some momentum heading into his final three games.
"The group I was bowling with was awesome to watch," Stenberg said. "They were hitting the pocket when I was not, so I moved to where they were playing and things just fell into place from there."
Singles started slowly, but three consecutive strikes in the middle of the game got Stenberg back on track. He finished the opening game with 185 and then piled on the strikes over the next two games to add 198 and 238.
He struck in eight of the first nine frames in the finale, easily locking up the lead in singles and all-events, before leaving, and missing, the 3-6-10 in the 10th frame.
Individuals in the Classified Division have entering averages of 180 and below. Bowlers in Classified Doubles have combined entering averages of 360 and below, and Classified Team have combined entering averages of 900 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Bowling in the 2017 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships at the South Point Bowling Plaza will leave lasting memories for first-time participant Nick Stenberg of Big Timber, Montana.
The 24-year-old right-hander had a basic game plan for his tournament debut, and that included a simple two-ball arsenal and keeping his sights set on one clean frame at a time.
He also indirectly looked to his teammates for guidance. When he realized what he was doing wasn't working, but they were successfully hitting the pocket, he adapted.
The result was a surge to the top of the leaderboard in Classified Singles and Classified All-Events and top-five performances in Classified Team and Classified Doubles. Two eight-strike games Friday at the Bowling Plaza, one in doubles and one in singles, propelled him up the standings.
Stenberg rolled sets of 621 in singles, 559 in doubles and 553 in team to pass previous Classified Singles leader Michael Tengan of Hilo, Hawaii (607), and Classified All-Events leader Cody Maier of Spring Creek, Nevada (1,686).
"I was never looking at the scoreboard, and I was there to throw one ball at a time," Stenberg said. "The only real game plan was to keep all the games clean."
Stenberg started his 2017 USBC Open Championships campaign by helping Wag N Whiskers of Livingston, Montana, into fifth place in Classified Team with a 2,436 total, but his personal performance was a roller coaster with games of 187, 202 and 164.
When he started doubles Friday with a 136 effort, he knew it was time for a new approach.
"There is no secret out here," said Stenberg, who regularly bowls at Treasure Lanes in Livingston. "I watched what the other people were doing. When what they were doing was working, and what I was doing was not, I just tried to imitate them. I did only bring two bowling balls with me, so there was no magic ball that helped me. If one didn't work, there was only one other option. When that second option doesn't work I just close my eyes and pray."
Stenberg found his stride in his final game of doubles, opening with eight strikes on the way to a 254 game. The big finish moved him and Sheldon Smith of Timber, Montana (499), into a tie for fourth place in Classified Doubles with a 1,058 total, while also giving Stenberg some momentum heading into his final three games.
"The group I was bowling with was awesome to watch," Stenberg said. "They were hitting the pocket when I was not, so I moved to where they were playing and things just fell into place from there."
Singles started slowly, but three consecutive strikes in the middle of the game got Stenberg back on track. He finished the opening game with 185 and then piled on the strikes over the next two games to add 198 and 238.
He struck in eight of the first nine frames in the finale, easily locking up the lead in singles and all-events, before leaving, and missing, the 3-6-10 in the 10th frame.
Individuals in the Classified Division have entering averages of 180 and below. Bowlers in Classified Doubles have combined entering averages of 360 and below, and Classified Team have combined entering averages of 900 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.