Gotchall leads all-events at 2015 Open Championships
April 21, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - Rob Gotchall of Clarksville, Tennessee, has won many tournaments and a lot of prize money in his career, but his resume still is without a coveted eagle trophy from the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
He is one of 28 bowlers with more than one perfect game on the championship lanes, he has appeared on most of the tournament's annual average lists at some point and he was recognized for 20 years of USBC Open Championships participation this week, but the biggest celebration of his career could be on the horizon.
The 37-year-old right-hander averaged more than 242 over his nine games at the El Paso Convention Center and cruised into the top spot in Regular All-Events with a 2,181 total Tuesday. He posted sets of 783 in team, 719 in singles and 679 in doubles to pass Chad Maas of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who previously held the lead with 2,152.
"I knew what I needed the last game," Gotchall said. "I actually asked after I finished the second game of singles exactly what I needed. I knew it was somewhere around the 230 range. He gave me the number, and I said 'all right, 10 good shots and I can get there.'"
Gotchall, a former Team USA member, carried the momentum of a stellar team performance into doubles and singles and helped Team NABR of West Henrietta, New York, into second place in Team All-Events with a 9,886 total. Junior Team USA Support 1 of Las Vegas leads with 10,064.
Brian Waliczek added a 2,019 all-events effort for Team NABR and was followed by 2007 Regular All-Events winner Mike Rose Jr. (1,978), Guinness world record holder Adam Barta (1,866) and former Team USA member Scott Pohl (1,842).
On Monday night, Gotchall delivered two 10th frame strikes to catapult the group into the lead in Regular Team with a 3,368 total. Now, he's on the verge of making his Open Championships dreams come true - twice - though nothing would mean more than winning as a team.
"It's just a dream come true, no matter the end result," Gotchall said. "I got to share it with some of my best friends that I've met through the great game of bowling. If I'm fortunate enough to take home an eagle when the tournament is all said and done, it's not just for me. It's for the guys as well."
Waliczek also cracked the top 10 in Regular All-Events, landing in seventh place.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
He is one of 28 bowlers with more than one perfect game on the championship lanes, he has appeared on most of the tournament's annual average lists at some point and he was recognized for 20 years of USBC Open Championships participation this week, but the biggest celebration of his career could be on the horizon.
The 37-year-old right-hander averaged more than 242 over his nine games at the El Paso Convention Center and cruised into the top spot in Regular All-Events with a 2,181 total Tuesday. He posted sets of 783 in team, 719 in singles and 679 in doubles to pass Chad Maas of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who previously held the lead with 2,152.
"I knew what I needed the last game," Gotchall said. "I actually asked after I finished the second game of singles exactly what I needed. I knew it was somewhere around the 230 range. He gave me the number, and I said 'all right, 10 good shots and I can get there.'"
Gotchall, a former Team USA member, carried the momentum of a stellar team performance into doubles and singles and helped Team NABR of West Henrietta, New York, into second place in Team All-Events with a 9,886 total. Junior Team USA Support 1 of Las Vegas leads with 10,064.
Brian Waliczek added a 2,019 all-events effort for Team NABR and was followed by 2007 Regular All-Events winner Mike Rose Jr. (1,978), Guinness world record holder Adam Barta (1,866) and former Team USA member Scott Pohl (1,842).On Monday night, Gotchall delivered two 10th frame strikes to catapult the group into the lead in Regular Team with a 3,368 total. Now, he's on the verge of making his Open Championships dreams come true - twice - though nothing would mean more than winning as a team.
"It's just a dream come true, no matter the end result," Gotchall said. "I got to share it with some of my best friends that I've met through the great game of bowling. If I'm fortunate enough to take home an eagle when the tournament is all said and done, it's not just for me. It's for the guys as well."
Waliczek also cracked the top 10 in Regular All-Events, landing in seventh place.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.