First-timer leads Classified All-Events at 2017 USBC Open Championships
July 09, 2017
LAS VEGAS - There was a moment Sunday when Lawrence Brossett of Natchitoches, Louisiana, looked into the rafters at the South Point Bowling Plaza, and his eyes filled with tears.
It came a few minutes into a discussion about his run to the top of the standings in Classified All-Events. It was the moment the 61-year-old United States Bowling Congress Open Championships first-timer realized the magnitude of what he'd just accomplished on the tournament lanes.
He knew he'd bowled well and was excited to be in the lead, but it took a few minutes to put it all into perspective. Seeing last year's winning score hanging high above the lanes at the Bowling Plaza, just nine pins higher than his own score Sunday, made everything click.
Brossett's 1,745 all-events total topped this year's previous leader, Nick Stenberg of Big Timber, Montana, who held the top spot for nearly three months with 1,733.
Brossett now is the man to beat as the 2017 USBC Open Championships enters the final week of its 149-day run in Las Vegas, and his name could be among those hanging over the lanes at the 2018 event in Syracuse, New York.
"I think there's a plan for all of us, and it is incredibly special to be in this position right now," Brossett said. "I go into every competition, no matter what it is, hoping to keep pace with the people I'm going up against. I felt like I could do well, and I had some good rolls and good breaks along the way. If it's meant to be for me to win, I'll be incredibly happy."
The right-hander's performance included sets of 630 in singles, 577 in team and 538 in doubles. His final surge also landed him in fourth place in Classified Singles. Wiley Collins of Winter Springs, Florida, leads with 652.
Brossett attributes some of his success to advice he received while visiting the on-site vendor booths, but it ultimately was his ability and stay focused and trust his instincts throughout the nine games of competition.
"The whole time, I was trying to focus on hitting my mark and remember some advice I got about where to stand and where I might find some friction," said Brossett, who regularly bowls at Natchitoches' Country Lanes Bowling Center, a 26-lane facility featuring wood lanes. "About halfway through doubles, I decided to move left, and that's when I started getting strikes. Later, something just told me to go back to my original spot, and everything worked out. I almost can't even find the words right now."
Brossett's debut at the Open Championships came at the invitation of friends, and it didn't take long for him to feel and understand the essence of the world's largest participatory sporting event, which included the special camaraderie and support, not only from his own teammates, but from the teams nearby.
Knowing the venue and overall experience could be a little overwhelming, Brossett made a visit to the Bowling Plaza on Thursday to take a look around and get a feel for what was happening on the lanes. He also immediately sent a photo to his daughters, so they could look around as well.
"It's the first time I've gotten to experience bowling in a venue like this, and even after watching for a little while, I was still in awe of the whole thing," Brossett said. "When it was time to start (Saturday), it felt like the ultimate competition. I felt incredibly proud to be out there, especially when they played The Star-Spangled Banner. My legs were a little shaky when bowling started, and I just tried to throw the ball down the middle. I didn't want my first shot to be in the gutter."
Brossett now will have to wait until July 16 to see if his score is enough to win.
Classified Singles and All-Events include bowlers with entering averages of 180 and below.
The 2017 Open Championships kicked off Feb. 18 and will feature more than 10,000 five-player teams.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
It came a few minutes into a discussion about his run to the top of the standings in Classified All-Events. It was the moment the 61-year-old United States Bowling Congress Open Championships first-timer realized the magnitude of what he'd just accomplished on the tournament lanes.
He knew he'd bowled well and was excited to be in the lead, but it took a few minutes to put it all into perspective. Seeing last year's winning score hanging high above the lanes at the Bowling Plaza, just nine pins higher than his own score Sunday, made everything click.
Brossett's 1,745 all-events total topped this year's previous leader, Nick Stenberg of Big Timber, Montana, who held the top spot for nearly three months with 1,733.
Brossett now is the man to beat as the 2017 USBC Open Championships enters the final week of its 149-day run in Las Vegas, and his name could be among those hanging over the lanes at the 2018 event in Syracuse, New York.
"I think there's a plan for all of us, and it is incredibly special to be in this position right now," Brossett said. "I go into every competition, no matter what it is, hoping to keep pace with the people I'm going up against. I felt like I could do well, and I had some good rolls and good breaks along the way. If it's meant to be for me to win, I'll be incredibly happy."
The right-hander's performance included sets of 630 in singles, 577 in team and 538 in doubles. His final surge also landed him in fourth place in Classified Singles. Wiley Collins of Winter Springs, Florida, leads with 652.
Brossett attributes some of his success to advice he received while visiting the on-site vendor booths, but it ultimately was his ability and stay focused and trust his instincts throughout the nine games of competition.
"The whole time, I was trying to focus on hitting my mark and remember some advice I got about where to stand and where I might find some friction," said Brossett, who regularly bowls at Natchitoches' Country Lanes Bowling Center, a 26-lane facility featuring wood lanes. "About halfway through doubles, I decided to move left, and that's when I started getting strikes. Later, something just told me to go back to my original spot, and everything worked out. I almost can't even find the words right now."
Brossett's debut at the Open Championships came at the invitation of friends, and it didn't take long for him to feel and understand the essence of the world's largest participatory sporting event, which included the special camaraderie and support, not only from his own teammates, but from the teams nearby.
Knowing the venue and overall experience could be a little overwhelming, Brossett made a visit to the Bowling Plaza on Thursday to take a look around and get a feel for what was happening on the lanes. He also immediately sent a photo to his daughters, so they could look around as well.
"It's the first time I've gotten to experience bowling in a venue like this, and even after watching for a little while, I was still in awe of the whole thing," Brossett said. "When it was time to start (Saturday), it felt like the ultimate competition. I felt incredibly proud to be out there, especially when they played The Star-Spangled Banner. My legs were a little shaky when bowling started, and I just tried to throw the ball down the middle. I didn't want my first shot to be in the gutter."
Brossett now will have to wait until July 16 to see if his score is enough to win.
Classified Singles and All-Events include bowlers with entering averages of 180 and below.
The 2017 Open Championships kicked off Feb. 18 and will feature more than 10,000 five-player teams.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.