North Dakota bowler leads three events at 2015 USBC Open
March 25, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - Matt Smallin of Glenburn, North Dakota, capped off a week to remember at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as he left the El Paso Convention Center on top of the standings in three events.
After helping ND Storm of Mandan, North Dakota, take the lead in Regular Team on Tuesday, the 27-year-old right-hander carried that momentum into doubles and singles, moving into the lead in Regular All-Events with a 2,062 total Wednesday. The effort also helped ND Storm to the Team All-Events lead with 9,393.
Chris Pounders of Madison, Wisconsin, previously held the top spot in Regular All-Events with 2,008, which helped Team Dirty of Evansville, Wisconsin, to a Team All-Events tally of 9,055.
Joining Smallin on ND Storm was Travis Hersrud (1,924), Randy Peterson (1,874), Robert Vander Vorst (1,821) and Dave Schick (1,712).
Smallin ended his team competition with a 299 game for a 714 series, and he started Wednesday with a 621 set in doubles. The strikes once again added up in singles as he started the event with seven consecutive strikes on his way to a 727 finish, placing him fourth overall. Chad Oachs of Mankato, Minnesota, leads Regular Singles with 772.
"The goal today was to avoid opens early and open the lanes up, so we could mash them later," said Smallin, who posted the highest all-events total in his six-year USBC Open Championships career. "Once you do find it, you really need to take advantage when you match up."
The members of ND Storm matched up in singles to average more than 225 as a team and coasted into the Team All-Events lead by nearly 350 pins. Smallin credits the group's uniqueness and experience in being able to put it all together this week on bowling's biggest stage.
"We have a variety of styles in our group," Smallin said. "The great thing about that is when one guy is struggling, there's usually another who's striking. When we open them up, we always have a chance at a big game."
With the scores in the books, Smallin and his teammates now have to wait and see how their scores hold up against the nearly 40,000 bowlers heading to The Sun City to compete in the 2015 Open Championships.
"I don't think we've ever left leading team or Team All-Events," Smallin said. "We've never had this much going on. There's a couple of us who have been with the team for a long time and are really committed to the success of this team. Winning an eagle is like the Holy Grail, so to speak. I never thought I'd have one, and if I did, it would be later in my life. It would mean the world to me and my teammates."
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After helping ND Storm of Mandan, North Dakota, take the lead in Regular Team on Tuesday, the 27-year-old right-hander carried that momentum into doubles and singles, moving into the lead in Regular All-Events with a 2,062 total Wednesday. The effort also helped ND Storm to the Team All-Events lead with 9,393.
Chris Pounders of Madison, Wisconsin, previously held the top spot in Regular All-Events with 2,008, which helped Team Dirty of Evansville, Wisconsin, to a Team All-Events tally of 9,055.
Joining Smallin on ND Storm was Travis Hersrud (1,924), Randy Peterson (1,874), Robert Vander Vorst (1,821) and Dave Schick (1,712).Smallin ended his team competition with a 299 game for a 714 series, and he started Wednesday with a 621 set in doubles. The strikes once again added up in singles as he started the event with seven consecutive strikes on his way to a 727 finish, placing him fourth overall. Chad Oachs of Mankato, Minnesota, leads Regular Singles with 772.
"The goal today was to avoid opens early and open the lanes up, so we could mash them later," said Smallin, who posted the highest all-events total in his six-year USBC Open Championships career. "Once you do find it, you really need to take advantage when you match up."
The members of ND Storm matched up in singles to average more than 225 as a team and coasted into the Team All-Events lead by nearly 350 pins. Smallin credits the group's uniqueness and experience in being able to put it all together this week on bowling's biggest stage.
"We have a variety of styles in our group," Smallin said. "The great thing about that is when one guy is struggling, there's usually another who's striking. When we open them up, we always have a chance at a big game."
With the scores in the books, Smallin and his teammates now have to wait and see how their scores hold up against the nearly 40,000 bowlers heading to The Sun City to compete in the 2015 Open Championships.
"I don't think we've ever left leading team or Team All-Events," Smallin said. "We've never had this much going on. There's a couple of us who have been with the team for a long time and are really committed to the success of this team. Winning an eagle is like the Holy Grail, so to speak. I never thought I'd have one, and if I did, it would be later in my life. It would mean the world to me and my teammates."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.