Holliman rolls 300, 800 at the 2023 USBC Open Championships
May 14, 2023
RENO, Nev. – Mykel Holliman of Denham Springs, Louisiana, joined an exclusive list at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Friday after rolling a 300 game on the way to an 813 series during his team competition at the 2023 event.
The 30-year-old left-hander kicked off his ninth tournament appearance with games of 255, 300 and 258 at the National Bowling Stadium to post the highest three-game set at the 2023 tournament through 70 days of competition, and he also became the 42nd bowler in the 119-year history of the USBC Open Championships to record both a 300 game and 800 series at the event.
He connected for the fifth 300 and second 800 of the 2023 event to help Lew Ansara Team 2 of Farmington Hills, Michigan, to a 3,257 total and into the top 25 in Regular Team. Las Vegas’ Chili Garlic Edamame leads with 3,422.
Even though Holliman struck on 29 of his 35 deliveries during the set, the picture wasn’t as clear to start as most would think. A ball change early on helped Holliman find the right look as he and fellow southpaw AJ Rice worked through a couple of different options.
“Our plan was to try to calm it down and burn a little spot,” Holliman said. “When we started in practice, we didn’t like what we saw. Then, we tried to throw urethane, and we didn’t like that either. So, I made a random move in the fourth frame of Game 1 to the Phaze II, and I didn’t really move after that. I threw it a little harder or slower, since we had the left lane hooking a little more than the right lane. After that, I just tried to keep everything in front of me, make some decent shots and stay clean.”
The 2019 Professional Bowlers Association Rookie of the Year and runner-up at the 2019 USBC Masters certainly is no stranger to throwing some big shots, but he admitted to feeling some nerves heading into his final frame of Game 2 with a chance at perfection on the line.
“I was kidding with some of my teammates in the squad room that I’ve never had more than like the front four here,” Holliman said. “Getting up there in the 10th, I tried to stay calm and threw the first one like I wanted. I was worried a little about the second one. I was a little nervous on the last one, but that was probably the best shot out of the 12.”
With the 300 locked up, Holliman reset to look ahead to Game 3 and started with strikes on six of his first seven shots.
A spare in the eighth and strike in the ninth meant he needed the first hit in the 10th for the chance at 800. He rolled three strikes in his final frame and cashed in on a fortunate hit on his second shot, tripping the 3 pin to secure his second honor score of the day.
“The last game, I just tried to regroup,” Holliman said. “I took some deep breaths and tried to get ready for the next game. The shot really didn’t change a whole lot, and I had some breaks on a couple shots I didn’t throw very well. You have to have breaks in bowling to get somewhere, though.
“In the 10th frame, I knew I needed the first one and some count. The first one in the 10th was probably the only good one I threw in the 10th, but they all fell. The fact that I shot 300 and 800 at the USBC (Open Championships) is an incredible feeling.”
Holliman competed at the Masters earlier this year, but he did not bowl on the PBA’s national tour this season. He and his wife, Jess, welcomed their daughter, McKensley, into the world in 2021, and she’ll be turning 2 in July.
He’s enjoyed the opportunity to be with her every day as she’s growing up, while still keeping his game sharp on the local level.
“I took the year off since I have a little girl and I’m a stay-at-home parent,” Holliman said. “I didn’t bowl on tour this year, but I’m still practicing here and there at home and bowling on the weekends.”
Holliman followed up his team set with 615 in singles and 544 in doubles to finish with a 1,972 all-events total. Derek Eoff of DeForest, Wisconsin, leads Regular All-Events at the 2023 event with a 2,165 total.
The Regular Division features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 30-year-old left-hander kicked off his ninth tournament appearance with games of 255, 300 and 258 at the National Bowling Stadium to post the highest three-game set at the 2023 tournament through 70 days of competition, and he also became the 42nd bowler in the 119-year history of the USBC Open Championships to record both a 300 game and 800 series at the event.
He connected for the fifth 300 and second 800 of the 2023 event to help Lew Ansara Team 2 of Farmington Hills, Michigan, to a 3,257 total and into the top 25 in Regular Team. Las Vegas’ Chili Garlic Edamame leads with 3,422.
Even though Holliman struck on 29 of his 35 deliveries during the set, the picture wasn’t as clear to start as most would think. A ball change early on helped Holliman find the right look as he and fellow southpaw AJ Rice worked through a couple of different options.
“Our plan was to try to calm it down and burn a little spot,” Holliman said. “When we started in practice, we didn’t like what we saw. Then, we tried to throw urethane, and we didn’t like that either. So, I made a random move in the fourth frame of Game 1 to the Phaze II, and I didn’t really move after that. I threw it a little harder or slower, since we had the left lane hooking a little more than the right lane. After that, I just tried to keep everything in front of me, make some decent shots and stay clean.”
The 2019 Professional Bowlers Association Rookie of the Year and runner-up at the 2019 USBC Masters certainly is no stranger to throwing some big shots, but he admitted to feeling some nerves heading into his final frame of Game 2 with a chance at perfection on the line.
“I was kidding with some of my teammates in the squad room that I’ve never had more than like the front four here,” Holliman said. “Getting up there in the 10th, I tried to stay calm and threw the first one like I wanted. I was worried a little about the second one. I was a little nervous on the last one, but that was probably the best shot out of the 12.”
With the 300 locked up, Holliman reset to look ahead to Game 3 and started with strikes on six of his first seven shots.
A spare in the eighth and strike in the ninth meant he needed the first hit in the 10th for the chance at 800. He rolled three strikes in his final frame and cashed in on a fortunate hit on his second shot, tripping the 3 pin to secure his second honor score of the day.
“The last game, I just tried to regroup,” Holliman said. “I took some deep breaths and tried to get ready for the next game. The shot really didn’t change a whole lot, and I had some breaks on a couple shots I didn’t throw very well. You have to have breaks in bowling to get somewhere, though.
“In the 10th frame, I knew I needed the first one and some count. The first one in the 10th was probably the only good one I threw in the 10th, but they all fell. The fact that I shot 300 and 800 at the USBC (Open Championships) is an incredible feeling.”
Holliman competed at the Masters earlier this year, but he did not bowl on the PBA’s national tour this season. He and his wife, Jess, welcomed their daughter, McKensley, into the world in 2021, and she’ll be turning 2 in July.
He’s enjoyed the opportunity to be with her every day as she’s growing up, while still keeping his game sharp on the local level.
“I took the year off since I have a little girl and I’m a stay-at-home parent,” Holliman said. “I didn’t bowl on tour this year, but I’m still practicing here and there at home and bowling on the weekends.”
Holliman followed up his team set with 615 in singles and 544 in doubles to finish with a 1,972 all-events total. Derek Eoff of DeForest, Wisconsin, leads Regular All-Events at the 2023 event with a 2,165 total.
The Regular Division features bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.