Florida bowler reaches perfection at 2018 USBC Open Championships
May 26, 2018
By Christine Nichols and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - During his short career at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Josh Johnson of Callahan, Florida, has been part of a different group in each appearance, but the 26-year-old right-hander's performance Friday at the 2018 event certainly will make him a valuable teammate moving ahead.
Despite not having the highest expectations coming into the Oncenter Convention Center this week, Johnson connected for the seventh perfect game of the 2018 event during his final game of singles, which catapulted him into second place in Regular All-Events with a 2,181 total. Kurt Pilon of Warren, Michigan, leads with 2,186.
Johnson's 300, the third in singles competition this year, came after games of 250 and 216 for a 766 series, which places him in ninth in Regular Singles. Cotie Holbek of Burlington, Wisconsin, leads with 802.
Johnson's performance during his doubles set the stage for his strong finish. On his way to a 745 doubles series, he started both the first and second games with seven consecutive strikes, before nine-counts ended his run in the eighth frame.
As he edged closer to 300 and a spot in the top five of Regular All-Events, Johnson enjoyed the support provided by his high profile teammates, which included USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Oxford, Florida, and 1992 Regular Singles champion Bob Youker from nearby Minoa, New York.
Their two-team group also included Ron Dixon of Lake Worth, Florida, who rolled a 299 game en route to an 815 series at the 2011 USBC Open Championships.
"I had the front seven twice in doubles, and I turned to my teammates and told them if I had one more shot at the front seven, I will get a 300," said Johnson, who had 670 in team Thursday. "I really wasn't all that nervous going into the last frame. I had a great bunch of guys who were rooting for me the entire time. I was just living in the moment, and I was throwing the ball quite well."
Johnson also credits his success to his sessions at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC earlier in the day Friday. Although his sets weren't necessarily noteworthy, it gave him an opportunity to get loose.
The 2018 Bowlers Journal Championships is being held at the nearby AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes and features the same lane condition being used for doubles and singles at 2018 Open Championships.
"I did not bowl very well at the Bowlers Journal," said Johnson, who made his fifth Open Championships appearance. "So, it was about getting in that tournament mindset. The shot played completely different for me there compared to here, so it was important for me to get in the right mindset."
Johnson will have the opportunity to be announced as a tournament celebrity for his perfect performance starting at next year's event in Las Vegas. The next accomplishment he would like to add to the list is being announced as a tournament champion.
"I didn't have any particular goal in mind coming in this year, I just wanted to shoot 1,800," said Johnson, whose previous high all-events total at the Open Championships was 1,877, rolled last year in Las Vegas. "It truly is great to bowl with such a great group of guys who are fun to be around. To be considered a celebrity and to be announced is unbelievable, and I'm speechless. Everyone's goal at the Open Championships is to win an Eagle, and, unfortunately, I was five pins short of the lead. But, I'm still very happy to be in second place."
Several hours after Johnson's performance Friday evening, Rick Justice of Lawton, Oklahoma, tried to follow suit by starting a pair of games in his singles set Saturday morning with at least 10 consecutive strikes on the way into fourth in Regular Singles with 786.
Justice began the memorable series at the Oncenter Convention Center with a 299 effort after a 10 pin stood on his final delivery. He slowed down during his second game, finishing with 198, before getting lined up again. His final game started with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving a 9 pin, closing with 289.
Regular Singles and Regular All-Events include bowlers with entering averages of 210 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - During his short career at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Josh Johnson of Callahan, Florida, has been part of a different group in each appearance, but the 26-year-old right-hander's performance Friday at the 2018 event certainly will make him a valuable teammate moving ahead.
Despite not having the highest expectations coming into the Oncenter Convention Center this week, Johnson connected for the seventh perfect game of the 2018 event during his final game of singles, which catapulted him into second place in Regular All-Events with a 2,181 total. Kurt Pilon of Warren, Michigan, leads with 2,186.
Johnson's 300, the third in singles competition this year, came after games of 250 and 216 for a 766 series, which places him in ninth in Regular Singles. Cotie Holbek of Burlington, Wisconsin, leads with 802.
Johnson's performance during his doubles set the stage for his strong finish. On his way to a 745 doubles series, he started both the first and second games with seven consecutive strikes, before nine-counts ended his run in the eighth frame.
As he edged closer to 300 and a spot in the top five of Regular All-Events, Johnson enjoyed the support provided by his high profile teammates, which included USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Oxford, Florida, and 1992 Regular Singles champion Bob Youker from nearby Minoa, New York.
Their two-team group also included Ron Dixon of Lake Worth, Florida, who rolled a 299 game en route to an 815 series at the 2011 USBC Open Championships.
"I had the front seven twice in doubles, and I turned to my teammates and told them if I had one more shot at the front seven, I will get a 300," said Johnson, who had 670 in team Thursday. "I really wasn't all that nervous going into the last frame. I had a great bunch of guys who were rooting for me the entire time. I was just living in the moment, and I was throwing the ball quite well."
Johnson also credits his success to his sessions at the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC earlier in the day Friday. Although his sets weren't necessarily noteworthy, it gave him an opportunity to get loose.
The 2018 Bowlers Journal Championships is being held at the nearby AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes and features the same lane condition being used for doubles and singles at 2018 Open Championships.
"I did not bowl very well at the Bowlers Journal," said Johnson, who made his fifth Open Championships appearance. "So, it was about getting in that tournament mindset. The shot played completely different for me there compared to here, so it was important for me to get in the right mindset."
Johnson will have the opportunity to be announced as a tournament celebrity for his perfect performance starting at next year's event in Las Vegas. The next accomplishment he would like to add to the list is being announced as a tournament champion.
"I didn't have any particular goal in mind coming in this year, I just wanted to shoot 1,800," said Johnson, whose previous high all-events total at the Open Championships was 1,877, rolled last year in Las Vegas. "It truly is great to bowl with such a great group of guys who are fun to be around. To be considered a celebrity and to be announced is unbelievable, and I'm speechless. Everyone's goal at the Open Championships is to win an Eagle, and, unfortunately, I was five pins short of the lead. But, I'm still very happy to be in second place."
Several hours after Johnson's performance Friday evening, Rick Justice of Lawton, Oklahoma, tried to follow suit by starting a pair of games in his singles set Saturday morning with at least 10 consecutive strikes on the way into fourth in Regular Singles with 786.
Justice began the memorable series at the Oncenter Convention Center with a 299 effort after a 10 pin stood on his final delivery. He slowed down during his second game, finishing with 198, before getting lined up again. His final game started with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving a 9 pin, closing with 289.
Regular Singles and Regular All-Events include bowlers with entering averages of 210 and above.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.