International players roll to doubles lead at 2018 USBC Open Championships
April 06, 2018
By Christine Nichols and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - South Africa's Francois Louw and Hong Kong's Michael Mak both have lengthy international bowling resumes, so it was no surprise to see them have success Thursday on the biggest stage in bowling.
The two traveled nearly 16,000 combined miles to make their debuts at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and they showcased their ability to work together as they turned in a balanced effort on the way to the top of the Regular Doubles standings with a 1,437 total.
Louw led the effort at the Oncenter Convention Center with games of 257, 254 and 224 for a 735 series, while Mak added games of 257, 227 and 218 for a 702 total. Bill Webb of Guilford, Connecticut, and Ron Nelson Jr. of Bridgeview, Illinois, previously held the lead with 1,376.
While competing in a recent event in Qatar, the Hong Kong contingent in Syracuse this week - Mak, Tak Hin Tseng, Kwun Ho Lau and Acting Head Coach Nick Bohanan - approached Louw about the possibility of forming a team for the USBC Open Championships.
Louw already was planning on bowling the USBC Masters, which will be held at the Oncenter Convention Center from April 9-15, so the opportunity to compete at the 48-lane facility with a group of talented players was an easy decision.
"I've always wanted to bowl in the Open Championships," said Louw, a 31-year-old right-hander who finished second at the 2015 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. "But, the timing had never seemed to work out."
The group took advantage of their time in Syracuse by visiting the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC, which is being held at the nearby Strike 'N Spare Lanes and features the same lane condition being used for doubles and singles at the Open Championships.
While their game plan resulted with a pair of 257 games to start their doubles event Thursday night, both players knew they would have to manage their moves and rely on each other if they wanted to continue towards the top of the leaderboard.
"We're a team out there, and I wanted Francois' opinion on the next move I should make," said Mak, a 23-year-old right-hander who helped Hong Kong win a gold medal in trios at the 2017 World Bowling Championships. "Whether it was a ball change, or a move with my feet, we worked together very well."
Louw also moved into second place in Regular All-Events, adding sets of 713 in singles and 683 in team for a 2,131 total. Kurt Pilon of Warren, Michigan, leads with 2,186.
Mak's debut included a pair of 631 efforts in team and singles for a 1,964 all-events tally.
Louw and Mak's doubles total was challenged Friday morning as three additional duos moved into the top 10.
David O'Sullivan of Maitland, Florida, and Sean Riccardi of St. Petersburg, Florida, moved into second place with a 1,402 total. O'Sullivan rolled a 718 series, and Riccardi added 684.
Team USA's Marshall Kent (649) of Yakima, Washington, and 2017 Regular Singles runner-up Matt Gasn (695) of Clarksville, Tennessee, took over fifth place with 1,344, and PJ Haggerty (667) of Roseville California, and Shawn Naumann (670) of Orlando, Florida, moved into seventh place with 1,337.
Five of these players also made a run at the top spot in Team All-Events on Friday.
Tetris With Hands of Clarksville averaged more than 220 in doubles and singles and moved into second place in Team All-Events with a 9,679 total. The group had 3,068 in team Thursday, which is fifth in Regular Team. S & B Pro Shop 1 of Warren, Michigan, leads Regular Team with 3,322 and Team All-Events with 9,708.
Haggerty led the all-events effort for Tetris With Hands with 1,984 and was followed by Naumann (1,959), Riccardi (1,917), Gasn (1,916) and O'Sullivan (1,903).
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - South Africa's Francois Louw and Hong Kong's Michael Mak both have lengthy international bowling resumes, so it was no surprise to see them have success Thursday on the biggest stage in bowling.
The two traveled nearly 16,000 combined miles to make their debuts at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and they showcased their ability to work together as they turned in a balanced effort on the way to the top of the Regular Doubles standings with a 1,437 total.
Louw led the effort at the Oncenter Convention Center with games of 257, 254 and 224 for a 735 series, while Mak added games of 257, 227 and 218 for a 702 total. Bill Webb of Guilford, Connecticut, and Ron Nelson Jr. of Bridgeview, Illinois, previously held the lead with 1,376.
While competing in a recent event in Qatar, the Hong Kong contingent in Syracuse this week - Mak, Tak Hin Tseng, Kwun Ho Lau and Acting Head Coach Nick Bohanan - approached Louw about the possibility of forming a team for the USBC Open Championships.
Louw already was planning on bowling the USBC Masters, which will be held at the Oncenter Convention Center from April 9-15, so the opportunity to compete at the 48-lane facility with a group of talented players was an easy decision.
"I've always wanted to bowl in the Open Championships," said Louw, a 31-year-old right-hander who finished second at the 2015 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup. "But, the timing had never seemed to work out."
The group took advantage of their time in Syracuse by visiting the Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC, which is being held at the nearby Strike 'N Spare Lanes and features the same lane condition being used for doubles and singles at the Open Championships.
While their game plan resulted with a pair of 257 games to start their doubles event Thursday night, both players knew they would have to manage their moves and rely on each other if they wanted to continue towards the top of the leaderboard.
"We're a team out there, and I wanted Francois' opinion on the next move I should make," said Mak, a 23-year-old right-hander who helped Hong Kong win a gold medal in trios at the 2017 World Bowling Championships. "Whether it was a ball change, or a move with my feet, we worked together very well."
Louw also moved into second place in Regular All-Events, adding sets of 713 in singles and 683 in team for a 2,131 total. Kurt Pilon of Warren, Michigan, leads with 2,186.
Mak's debut included a pair of 631 efforts in team and singles for a 1,964 all-events tally.
Louw and Mak's doubles total was challenged Friday morning as three additional duos moved into the top 10.
David O'Sullivan of Maitland, Florida, and Sean Riccardi of St. Petersburg, Florida, moved into second place with a 1,402 total. O'Sullivan rolled a 718 series, and Riccardi added 684.
Team USA's Marshall Kent (649) of Yakima, Washington, and 2017 Regular Singles runner-up Matt Gasn (695) of Clarksville, Tennessee, took over fifth place with 1,344, and PJ Haggerty (667) of Roseville California, and Shawn Naumann (670) of Orlando, Florida, moved into seventh place with 1,337.
Five of these players also made a run at the top spot in Team All-Events on Friday.
Tetris With Hands of Clarksville averaged more than 220 in doubles and singles and moved into second place in Team All-Events with a 9,679 total. The group had 3,068 in team Thursday, which is fifth in Regular Team. S & B Pro Shop 1 of Warren, Michigan, leads Regular Team with 3,322 and Team All-Events with 9,708.
Haggerty led the all-events effort for Tetris With Hands with 1,984 and was followed by Naumann (1,959), Riccardi (1,917), Gasn (1,916) and O'Sullivan (1,903).