Indiana bowlers sneak into lead at 2015 USBC Open Championships
May 22, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famers Rick and Ron Pollard of Versailles, Indiana, left their mark at the USBC Open Championships by helping put together the highest Team All-Events total in tournament history on their way to the title at the 1996 event in Salt Lake City.
Nearly 20 years after that performance, the brothers were able to watch and cheer for Vicky and Jamie Pollard as they edged into the Classified Doubles lead by a single pin Thursday at the El Paso Convention Center.
Vicky, a 54-year-old right-hander, led the effort with games of 165, 243 and 204 for a 612 series, while Jamie, a 26-year-old right-hander, added 137, 201 and 212 for 550, giving the pair a 1,162 total. Mike Heck of Browns Valley, Minnesota, and Darin Ziemer of Fargo, North Dakota, previously held the lead with 1,161.
Vicky and Jamie both needed to mark in the final frame to have a chance at the lead. After they each converted their spare attempts, they needed a combined 18 pins on their fill shots to take the top spot. They both knocked down nine pins.
"I knew we were close," said Vicky, who made her fourth Open Championships appearance. "I didn't know exactly where we were, so Jamie and I tried to get everything we could."
Their family and friends on the lanes and in the stands did know the number and recognized their success with an ovation after the final shot. The group in the stands included Vicky's husband, Rick, and Ron Pollard Jr., Jamie's husband, who is Ron's son.
"It was amazing," said Jamie, who made her second tournament appearance. "It's only my second USBC (tournament), so it's pretty awesome. We have an unbelievable support group."
The two started their 2015 Open Championships campaign by helping Versailles' Hall of Fame Lanes 2 into ninth place in Classified Team with a 2,529 series Wednesday. Scotty's 3 of Alexandria, Minnesota, leads with 2,676.
Vicky's overall performance also helped her into sixth place in Classified All-Events after sets of 551 in singles and 517 in team for a 1,680 tally. Jamie added 435 in singles and 401 in team for a 1,386 total. Marshal Lagred of Starbuck, Minnesota leads Classified All-Events with 1,734.
"This is one of the most exciting things I've ever done in my life," Vicky said. "It's been great. The word I use all the time is magic. When you're around magic and special people, positive things happen."
At the 1996 Open Championships, Rick and Ron helped lead Pollard's Bowl to a 10,425 Team All-Events total, an average of more than 231 over the team's 45 games. Ron led the effort with 2,107, while Rick finished with 2,104. They were joined by fellow Hall of Famers Don Scudder Jr. (2,097) and Bill Spigner (2,068) and Jerry Kessler (2,049).
The Pollards also put together the tournament's highest doubles game during their 1996 performance, as both Ron and Rick fired 290 games for a 580 total. Scudder added the Regular Singles title to the group's showing, firing a perfect game for an 823 winning total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Nearly 20 years after that performance, the brothers were able to watch and cheer for Vicky and Jamie Pollard as they edged into the Classified Doubles lead by a single pin Thursday at the El Paso Convention Center.
Vicky, a 54-year-old right-hander, led the effort with games of 165, 243 and 204 for a 612 series, while Jamie, a 26-year-old right-hander, added 137, 201 and 212 for 550, giving the pair a 1,162 total. Mike Heck of Browns Valley, Minnesota, and Darin Ziemer of Fargo, North Dakota, previously held the lead with 1,161.
Vicky and Jamie both needed to mark in the final frame to have a chance at the lead. After they each converted their spare attempts, they needed a combined 18 pins on their fill shots to take the top spot. They both knocked down nine pins.
"I knew we were close," said Vicky, who made her fourth Open Championships appearance. "I didn't know exactly where we were, so Jamie and I tried to get everything we could."
Their family and friends on the lanes and in the stands did know the number and recognized their success with an ovation after the final shot. The group in the stands included Vicky's husband, Rick, and Ron Pollard Jr., Jamie's husband, who is Ron's son.
"It was amazing," said Jamie, who made her second tournament appearance. "It's only my second USBC (tournament), so it's pretty awesome. We have an unbelievable support group."
The two started their 2015 Open Championships campaign by helping Versailles' Hall of Fame Lanes 2 into ninth place in Classified Team with a 2,529 series Wednesday. Scotty's 3 of Alexandria, Minnesota, leads with 2,676.
Vicky's overall performance also helped her into sixth place in Classified All-Events after sets of 551 in singles and 517 in team for a 1,680 tally. Jamie added 435 in singles and 401 in team for a 1,386 total. Marshal Lagred of Starbuck, Minnesota leads Classified All-Events with 1,734.
"This is one of the most exciting things I've ever done in my life," Vicky said. "It's been great. The word I use all the time is magic. When you're around magic and special people, positive things happen."
At the 1996 Open Championships, Rick and Ron helped lead Pollard's Bowl to a 10,425 Team All-Events total, an average of more than 231 over the team's 45 games. Ron led the effort with 2,107, while Rick finished with 2,104. They were joined by fellow Hall of Famers Don Scudder Jr. (2,097) and Bill Spigner (2,068) and Jerry Kessler (2,049).
The Pollards also put together the tournament's highest doubles game during their 1996 performance, as both Ron and Rick fired 290 games for a 580 total. Scudder added the Regular Singles title to the group's showing, firing a perfect game for an 823 winning total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.