Indiana bowler takes all-events lead at USBC Open Championships
April 24, 2010
RENO, Nev. - John Bauerle Jr. of Indianapolis was in such a zone at the 2010 USBC Open Championships that nothing could've stopped him from taking the Regular All-Events lead Saturday afternoon.
The 38-year-old right-hander was confident heading into doubles and singles after shooting 759 in team Friday night, and he added 738 in singles and 728 in doubles for a 2,225 all-events effort, the highest in the tournament's six visits to the National Bowling Stadium. John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., claimed the 2004 Regular All-Events title with a 2,224 total, which included a Regular Singles-winning 858 series.
Bauerle also became the first bowler this year to record three series of 700 or better. Terrence Syring of Bay City, Mich., previously held the Regular All-Events lead with 2,155.
"This is an unbelievable feeling," said Bauerle, who helped Bowlers Sport Shoppe 2 of Indianapolis into fourth place in Regular Team with a 3,304 total Friday. "It's just hard to describe. I feel so excited right now. I've been bowling OK lately, but not carrying very well, and the pins fell for me this week."
Bauerle's day didn't start out the way he hoped, however, as his partner, Chris Adam, didn't arrive on the lanes until the eighth frame of doubles. Adam thought they bowled at 11:30 p.m., not at 11:40 a.m.
"He wasn't here, so that was a little discouraging," said Bauerle, who bowls regularly at Hindel Bowl and made his 17th Open Championships appearance. "I just had to try to stay focused, and I feel like I did that and performed pretty well."
Bauerle has performed well on the championship lanes before. At the 1993 event in Tulsa, Okla., he rolled a then-record 22 consecutive strikes on the way to games of 280 and 300 for a 776 singles series. That effort also produced his previous-high all-events total of 2,156. Last year in Las Vegas, Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., rolled 30 consecutive strikes on the way to the all-events crown with a record total of 2,321.
"My goal is to come out and perform well," said Bauerle, who is one of three bowlers in Professional Bowlers Association history with four perfect games in one tournament. "I want to throw good shots and get the best results I can. Sometimes, the pins add up, and sometimes, they don't. To have them add up this year is a great feeling."
Despite Adam's miscue, Bowlers Sport Shoppe 2 also moved into seventh place in Team All-Events with 9,648. Bauerle was joined by Chris Dunham (2,083), Michael Lisch (1,844), Chris Curry (1,843) and Adam (1,653). Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wis., leads with 10,131.
This was the first year Bauerle bowled with his current team, but the team they crossed with was a group he's bowled with before. Bowling alongside people he's comfortable with and who know his game proved to be a winning combination.
"I didn't really get nervous at all," Bauerle said. "I felt like I was throwing the ball well, and I just kept trying to make good shots. Luckily, the pins fell for me. We've been saying it all week and joking about it, but I really do feel like I'm living the high life. When I bowled with these guys before, we had a top 10 finish in the team event, and one year, I did set the record with 22 strikes in a row, but this tops them all."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
The 38-year-old right-hander was confident heading into doubles and singles after shooting 759 in team Friday night, and he added 738 in singles and 728 in doubles for a 2,225 all-events effort, the highest in the tournament's six visits to the National Bowling Stadium. John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., claimed the 2004 Regular All-Events title with a 2,224 total, which included a Regular Singles-winning 858 series.
Bauerle also became the first bowler this year to record three series of 700 or better. Terrence Syring of Bay City, Mich., previously held the Regular All-Events lead with 2,155.
"This is an unbelievable feeling," said Bauerle, who helped Bowlers Sport Shoppe 2 of Indianapolis into fourth place in Regular Team with a 3,304 total Friday. "It's just hard to describe. I feel so excited right now. I've been bowling OK lately, but not carrying very well, and the pins fell for me this week."
Bauerle's day didn't start out the way he hoped, however, as his partner, Chris Adam, didn't arrive on the lanes until the eighth frame of doubles. Adam thought they bowled at 11:30 p.m., not at 11:40 a.m.
"He wasn't here, so that was a little discouraging," said Bauerle, who bowls regularly at Hindel Bowl and made his 17th Open Championships appearance. "I just had to try to stay focused, and I feel like I did that and performed pretty well."
Bauerle has performed well on the championship lanes before. At the 1993 event in Tulsa, Okla., he rolled a then-record 22 consecutive strikes on the way to games of 280 and 300 for a 776 singles series. That effort also produced his previous-high all-events total of 2,156. Last year in Las Vegas, Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., rolled 30 consecutive strikes on the way to the all-events crown with a record total of 2,321.
"My goal is to come out and perform well," said Bauerle, who is one of three bowlers in Professional Bowlers Association history with four perfect games in one tournament. "I want to throw good shots and get the best results I can. Sometimes, the pins add up, and sometimes, they don't. To have them add up this year is a great feeling."
Despite Adam's miscue, Bowlers Sport Shoppe 2 also moved into seventh place in Team All-Events with 9,648. Bauerle was joined by Chris Dunham (2,083), Michael Lisch (1,844), Chris Curry (1,843) and Adam (1,653). Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wis., leads with 10,131.
This was the first year Bauerle bowled with his current team, but the team they crossed with was a group he's bowled with before. Bowling alongside people he's comfortable with and who know his game proved to be a winning combination.
"I didn't really get nervous at all," Bauerle said. "I felt like I was throwing the ball well, and I just kept trying to make good shots. Luckily, the pins fell for me. We've been saying it all week and joking about it, but I really do feel like I'm living the high life. When I bowled with these guys before, we had a top 10 finish in the team event, and one year, I did set the record with 22 strikes in a row, but this tops them all."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.