LaCaze enjoys successful finale at USBC Open
April 05, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Three months ago, Anthony LaCaze of Melrose Park, Ill., won the Earl Anthony Memorial Classic in Dublin, Calif., and earned an exemption for the 2010-11 Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour season.
While his exemption will allow him to chase his dream of being a successful professional bowler, it also will make him ineligible for the USBC Open Championships.
This week, the 27-year-old right-hander was in Reno trying to take advantage of one last opportunity on the championship lanes.
"Since this is my last year for a while, I wanted to put on a good show," said LaCaze, who made his ninth Open Championships appearance. "I do feel a little bit of pressure because when you're well-known or recognizable, there are a lot of eyes on you, and you want to do well."
Despite a 148 start at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday, LaCaze bounced back with games of 200 and 246 for a 594 series in team. He added 684 in doubles and 626 in singles for a 1,904 all-events total. His best Open Championships performance came at the 2009 event in Las Vegas, where he posted a 2,110 all-events total.
LaCaze owes his start in bowling to his parents, who introduced him to the game when he was 5 years old. His career at the Open Championships began alongside his father, Martin LaCaze, who has participated in 29 tournaments. Eventually, though, LaCaze set his eyes on an eagle, the symbol of a win on the tournament lanes, and decided to join his current team.
"I really enjoyed bowling with my father and his friends, but I got to a level where I was ready to make a run at winning an eagle," LaCaze said. "When I got a call from these guys, I was excited about the chance to bowl with such a talented and experienced group, and we have been in contention every year. I am a little disappointed that I won't be able to bowl with them or try for an eagle for a while, but they understand and are really supportive."
This year, LaCaze helped Junior Team USA Support of Orlando, Fla., to a 3,088 team total. He was joined by Erik Vermilyea (694), Jeffrey Mersch (645), Matthew Tuckfield (621) and Steve Novak (534).
The group also moved into second place in Team All-Events with 9,893. Mersch led the way with a 2,112 all-events total and was followed by Vermilyea (2,104), Novak (1,923), LaCaze and Tuckfield (1,850). Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wis., leads with 10,131.
Prior to taking the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium, LaCaze left his mark on the nearby Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC.
This year's Bowlers Journal is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, and LaCaze blistered the lanes, tossing the first perfect game of the year.
Since he bowled well in his first four attempts, LaCaze decided to enter doubles one final time. He teamed up with Vermilyea, a former Junior Team USA and Team USA member, and the two moved into the top spot in Open Doubles with a 1,972 total, the highest set since the tournament went to a four-game format in 2006. Travis Hersrud of Glyndon, Minn., and Randy Peterson of Carrington, N.D., previously held the lead with 1,814.
LaCaze's efforts this week also helped him into fifth place in Classic Singles with 941 (223, 300, 209 and 209) and fourth place on the Dual Entry standings.
"I've always bowled well at the Bowlers Journal, and I like hitting the side events," LaCaze said. "If you come to bowl the main tournament, it's good to support the events that travel along with it. Plus, it's another chance to win some money, and it gives me another chance to have fun bowling with my friends."
From here, LaCaze will take some time away from the lanes, but remain focused on his exercise and weight training as well as his mental game. He'll get back into the swing of things in time to get some coaching and bowl in a few PBA regional events before next season starts.
After winning his title in January, he spent the remainder of the 2009-10 season learning as much as he could about life on the lanes. He paid extra attention to his equipment and learned about different layouts and surfaces.
"I wanted to put myself in the best physical shape I could to be out there, but I also wanted to get stronger mentally because it's not easy out on tour," said LaCaze, whose first television appearance came last season as an amateur. "After I won this year, I could've easily stopped bowling and gone home to work full-time while I wait for my exemption to start next year. Instead, I chose to challenge myself and stay out there to get the experience."
LaCaze, who averaged 211.9 on the Tour this year, got some guidance from his roommate and former Saginaw Valley State University teammate Bill O'Neill, who earned PBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and his first two PBA titles this season, including one major, the Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.
"Bill has helped me out tremendously, and with me being a rookie, it was nice to have him there teaching me and showing me the ropes," LaCaze said. "He's also seen some things in my game that we're going to work on. I trust him 100 percent, and it was really nice to have him behind me when I made TV this year."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. 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.
While his exemption will allow him to chase his dream of being a successful professional bowler, it also will make him ineligible for the USBC Open Championships.
This week, the 27-year-old right-hander was in Reno trying to take advantage of one last opportunity on the championship lanes.
"Since this is my last year for a while, I wanted to put on a good show," said LaCaze, who made his ninth Open Championships appearance. "I do feel a little bit of pressure because when you're well-known or recognizable, there are a lot of eyes on you, and you want to do well."
Despite a 148 start at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday, LaCaze bounced back with games of 200 and 246 for a 594 series in team. He added 684 in doubles and 626 in singles for a 1,904 all-events total. His best Open Championships performance came at the 2009 event in Las Vegas, where he posted a 2,110 all-events total.
LaCaze owes his start in bowling to his parents, who introduced him to the game when he was 5 years old. His career at the Open Championships began alongside his father, Martin LaCaze, who has participated in 29 tournaments. Eventually, though, LaCaze set his eyes on an eagle, the symbol of a win on the tournament lanes, and decided to join his current team.
"I really enjoyed bowling with my father and his friends, but I got to a level where I was ready to make a run at winning an eagle," LaCaze said. "When I got a call from these guys, I was excited about the chance to bowl with such a talented and experienced group, and we have been in contention every year. I am a little disappointed that I won't be able to bowl with them or try for an eagle for a while, but they understand and are really supportive."
This year, LaCaze helped Junior Team USA Support of Orlando, Fla., to a 3,088 team total. He was joined by Erik Vermilyea (694), Jeffrey Mersch (645), Matthew Tuckfield (621) and Steve Novak (534).
The group also moved into second place in Team All-Events with 9,893. Mersch led the way with a 2,112 all-events total and was followed by Vermilyea (2,104), Novak (1,923), LaCaze and Tuckfield (1,850). Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wis., leads with 10,131.
Prior to taking the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium, LaCaze left his mark on the nearby Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC.
This year's Bowlers Journal is being held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, and LaCaze blistered the lanes, tossing the first perfect game of the year.
Since he bowled well in his first four attempts, LaCaze decided to enter doubles one final time. He teamed up with Vermilyea, a former Junior Team USA and Team USA member, and the two moved into the top spot in Open Doubles with a 1,972 total, the highest set since the tournament went to a four-game format in 2006. Travis Hersrud of Glyndon, Minn., and Randy Peterson of Carrington, N.D., previously held the lead with 1,814.
LaCaze's efforts this week also helped him into fifth place in Classic Singles with 941 (223, 300, 209 and 209) and fourth place on the Dual Entry standings.
"I've always bowled well at the Bowlers Journal, and I like hitting the side events," LaCaze said. "If you come to bowl the main tournament, it's good to support the events that travel along with it. Plus, it's another chance to win some money, and it gives me another chance to have fun bowling with my friends."
From here, LaCaze will take some time away from the lanes, but remain focused on his exercise and weight training as well as his mental game. He'll get back into the swing of things in time to get some coaching and bowl in a few PBA regional events before next season starts.
After winning his title in January, he spent the remainder of the 2009-10 season learning as much as he could about life on the lanes. He paid extra attention to his equipment and learned about different layouts and surfaces.
"I wanted to put myself in the best physical shape I could to be out there, but I also wanted to get stronger mentally because it's not easy out on tour," said LaCaze, whose first television appearance came last season as an amateur. "After I won this year, I could've easily stopped bowling and gone home to work full-time while I wait for my exemption to start next year. Instead, I chose to challenge myself and stay out there to get the experience."
LaCaze, who averaged 211.9 on the Tour this year, got some guidance from his roommate and former Saginaw Valley State University teammate Bill O'Neill, who earned PBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and his first two PBA titles this season, including one major, the Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open.
"Bill has helped me out tremendously, and with me being a rookie, it was nice to have him there teaching me and showing me the ropes," LaCaze said. "He's also seen some things in my game that we're going to work on. I trust him 100 percent, and it was really nice to have him behind me when I made TV this year."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado and Silver Legacy Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. 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.