Mississippi bowler reaches personal milestone at USBC Open Championships
June 15, 2010
RENO, Nev. - When Joseph Jellots of Starkville, Miss., arrived at the 2010 USBC Open Championships, he was focused on one simple goal, which was to beat his all-events total from last year.
In his final game at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday, Jellots realized he was bowling well enough to reach his target score, but he had no idea he also was making a run at the Classified All-Events lead.
After the final pin tally, the 65-year-old right-hander settled into second place with a 1,798 all-events total, 77 pins better than his performance in 2009, but just shy of the United Kingdom's Ken Iredale, who leads Classified All-Events with 1,810.
"My whole goal coming here was to beat my score from last year because that was the best I've ever done," said Jellots, who shot 1,721 last year in Las Vegas. "I knew I was close, so I just wanted to cover my spares and stay clean. I knew the all-events lead was over 1,800, but I really had no idea if I was close to that."
Jellots opened his 2010 tournament campaign with a 236 game and knew he was lined up. He started with 16 consecutive clean frames but suddenly lost focus and opened in six of the next eight on the way to games of 174 and 151 for a 561 series.
"I felt great, I had my line and everything was working for me, but halfway through the second game, something happened," said Jellots, who bowls regularly at Columbus Lanes in Columbus, Miss., and made his eighth Open Championships appearance. "I was out of energy, and I think that's what caused me to lose my concentration. I didn't have anything left in the tank to draw on."
Jellots made sure to get enough rest and have a quality meal before returning to the Stadium for doubles and singles Monday. When he made his way to the squad room to prepare for competition, he noticed some nicks and residue on his ball and immediately took it to one of the on-site pro shops to have it cleaned up.
"I only brought two balls with me, a strike ball and a spare ball, so I was upset because I didn't have another ball to throw," Jellots said. "I asked them if they could clean it up or resurface it for me, and they told me to leave it and come back in an hour. They returned it to the original box finish, and when I got it back, I just felt like I was going to do something good with it. I had the physical part worked out, I was ready mentally and I had the equipment. I knew I could beat last year."
Jellots posted 28 clean frames in doubles on the way to a 626 series and nearly matched that feat in singles with another 28 clean frames for 611. Both were career-best efforts. David Garcez of Merced, Calif., and Don Clayborn of Kansas City, Kan., share the lead in Classified Singles with 669.
"My hands are still shaking," Jellots said. "I was breathing kind of hard on the lanes, and my doubles partner asked if I was OK. I just needed to calm down. I did have someone standing right beside me when I found how I did because I was sure I was going to fall over. I'm on cloud nine right now, and this is more than I ever expected. Honestly, I don't care if it's second place or 10th or whatever. All that matters is that I beat my goal."
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.
In his final game at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday, Jellots realized he was bowling well enough to reach his target score, but he had no idea he also was making a run at the Classified All-Events lead.
After the final pin tally, the 65-year-old right-hander settled into second place with a 1,798 all-events total, 77 pins better than his performance in 2009, but just shy of the United Kingdom's Ken Iredale, who leads Classified All-Events with 1,810.
"My whole goal coming here was to beat my score from last year because that was the best I've ever done," said Jellots, who shot 1,721 last year in Las Vegas. "I knew I was close, so I just wanted to cover my spares and stay clean. I knew the all-events lead was over 1,800, but I really had no idea if I was close to that."
Jellots opened his 2010 tournament campaign with a 236 game and knew he was lined up. He started with 16 consecutive clean frames but suddenly lost focus and opened in six of the next eight on the way to games of 174 and 151 for a 561 series.
"I felt great, I had my line and everything was working for me, but halfway through the second game, something happened," said Jellots, who bowls regularly at Columbus Lanes in Columbus, Miss., and made his eighth Open Championships appearance. "I was out of energy, and I think that's what caused me to lose my concentration. I didn't have anything left in the tank to draw on."
Jellots made sure to get enough rest and have a quality meal before returning to the Stadium for doubles and singles Monday. When he made his way to the squad room to prepare for competition, he noticed some nicks and residue on his ball and immediately took it to one of the on-site pro shops to have it cleaned up.
"I only brought two balls with me, a strike ball and a spare ball, so I was upset because I didn't have another ball to throw," Jellots said. "I asked them if they could clean it up or resurface it for me, and they told me to leave it and come back in an hour. They returned it to the original box finish, and when I got it back, I just felt like I was going to do something good with it. I had the physical part worked out, I was ready mentally and I had the equipment. I knew I could beat last year."
Jellots posted 28 clean frames in doubles on the way to a 626 series and nearly matched that feat in singles with another 28 clean frames for 611. Both were career-best efforts. David Garcez of Merced, Calif., and Don Clayborn of Kansas City, Kan., share the lead in Classified Singles with 669.
"My hands are still shaking," Jellots said. "I was breathing kind of hard on the lanes, and my doubles partner asked if I was OK. I just needed to calm down. I did have someone standing right beside me when I found how I did because I was sure I was going to fall over. I'm on cloud nine right now, and this is more than I ever expected. Honestly, I don't care if it's second place or 10th or whatever. All that matters is that I beat my goal."
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.