Iowa group dominates leaderboard at 2021 USBC Open Championships
By Matt Cannizzaro and Marissa Woolard
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Tuesday night was one to remember for three Iowa teams from the same large group, as they raced each other up the leaderboard at the 2021 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Just a few lanes apart at the South Point Bowling Plaza, all three teams blew past the previous leader, and the three-game event ended with a final-frame showdown for the top spot.
The first of the three to finish - Fran's Pro Shop/Ten Pin Solutions of Waterloo, Iowa - settled into the lead with a 3,268 total and then waited to see if the effort was enough.
The group had games of 1,070, 1,057 and 1,141 and was led by Amber Simpson (676), who was followed by Stephen Schneiders (666), Gabe Bartlett (653), Doug Zilmer (653) and Joshua Peverill (620).
"This is our second time bowling together as a team, and we work so well together," Bartlett said. 
Fran's Pro Shop 3 fell just short in its effort to steal the spotlight, finishing with 3,258, and USA Mortgage - The Steen Team moved into third place with 3,250.
In the final frame, reigning Professional Bowlers Association Southwest Region Player of the Year AJ Chapman had a chance to double to help his team past the clubhouse leader. He struck on his first shot, but a 7 pin on his second offering ended the run.
The 2018 Regular Doubles champion and former Team USA member also flirted with 300 and 800 in the effort, before finishing with a 768 series, the highest individual set posted through four days of team competition at the Bowling Plaza.
Chapman helped Fran's Pro Shop 3 to games of 1,018, 1,144 and 1,096 and was joined on the lanes by Jacob Bedard (693), Alex Brice (633), Ben Trueg (600) and Troy Fuller (564).
USA Mortgage - The Steen Team got out to the strongest start, opening with a 1,123 game, and added 1,065 and 1,062 for a 3,250 total.
Sly Mongoose of Mazeppa, Minnesota, previously held the lead in Regular Team with 3,102.
While taking the top three spots was exciting for the group representing Waterloo and Fran's Pro Shop, the most important member of the contingent was on all their minds.
"We were really disappointed we weren't able to come last year," Bartlett said. "We wanted Fran (Eighme) to be just one step closer to the 100,000-Pin Club. That was something we cared about more than anything in the world."
Heading into the 2020 USBC Open Championships, which ultimately was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Eighme was 41st on the tournament's career pinfall list with 93,248 and 6,752 pins from another of the event's coveted milestones.
The 76-year-old has maintained an average of 191 through 54 appearances on the championship lanes.
Prior to the team event getting underway Tuesday night, Eighme was recognized for becoming the newest member of the 55-Year Club. He was the 83rd in history, and first of four bowlers slated to reach the milestone this year in Las Vegas, and his appearance came on the fourth day of the 79-day 2021 event.
Eighme received a plaque, chevron and engraved watch to commemorate the occasion.
The whole group will be back on the lanes Wednesday for doubles and singles, but the action will shift to the nearby South Point Bowling Center, the home for all doubles and singles competition during the pandemic-shortened 2021 Open Championships.
The majority of the group's top performers will hit the lanes at 8 p.m. Eastern, one of five daily doubles and singles times.
"It feels amazing, and this is an amazing accomplishment," Bartlett said. "We never thought we would be leading the competition. We have a lot of good bowlers on this squad and a lot of good teams. We would have never dreamt that we would be leading the squad."
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