Ohio bowlers take Regular Doubles lead
March 01, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Mark Wolford of West Liberty, Ohio, and Mitch Bakies of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, have been friends for as long as they can remember and used that familiarity to roll into the Regular Doubles lead at the USBC Open Championships on Sunday.
The 27-year-old right-handers have developed a knack for reading each other's emotions on the lanes, and that chemistry showed as they teamed up to shoot 1,323 at the National Bowling Stadium. Jim Larsen of Racine, Wis., and Butch Luther of Franksville, Wis., previously held the lead with 1,294.
Wolford led the pair with games of 223, 246 and 212 for a 681 series, while Bakies added 199, 230 and 213 for a 642 set.
"I knew the score we had to reach, but I don't think he did," said Bakies, who competed in his third Open Championships. "We just kept cheering each other on. We fed off each other's energy."
Though the duo clicked in doubles, they admittedly got there in different ways. Bakies found a good look during his team event and had to make minimal adjustments going into doubles. Wolford, however, struggled during team and had to try something drastically different.
"I struggled out of the gates during team," said Wolford, who competed in his fourth Open Championships. "I made a move to a part of the lane I really don't like to play, and it worked. The ball was coming off pretty clean, and I just tried to let the ball do the work."
Wolford, who bowls league at Southwest Bowl in Urbana, Ohio, hoped to post big scores in 2010, but also wanted to relive a memory from the 2009 Open Championships in Las Vegas. During his team event at Cashman Center last year, Wolford rolled his first 300 game on the tournament lanes. He was one of 34 bowlers to reach perfection during the 2009 event.
"I was very excited to see what they were going to do," Wolford said. "I was really pumped to come back to the tournament, and it's great to have one big thing happen after the other."
Wolford and Bakies both appreciate the rich tradition of the tournament and the great bowlers who have graced the championship lanes. Although they feel their doubles score will be beat, they are taking every opportunity to enjoy the moment.
"I'm not sure if our score will hold up, but this is awesome no matter what," said Bakies, who bowls at Al-Mar Lanes in Bowling Green, Ohio. "Mark and I are childhood friends, so to share this together is priceless. It's such a large event on bowling's biggest stage, so having the chance to lead, even if it's just for a day, is a very humbling experience for both of us."
Bakies added 608 in team and 573 in singles for a 1,823 all-events total. Wolford finished with 557 in team and 551 in singles for 1,789.
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.
The 27-year-old right-handers have developed a knack for reading each other's emotions on the lanes, and that chemistry showed as they teamed up to shoot 1,323 at the National Bowling Stadium. Jim Larsen of Racine, Wis., and Butch Luther of Franksville, Wis., previously held the lead with 1,294.
Wolford led the pair with games of 223, 246 and 212 for a 681 series, while Bakies added 199, 230 and 213 for a 642 set.
"I knew the score we had to reach, but I don't think he did," said Bakies, who competed in his third Open Championships. "We just kept cheering each other on. We fed off each other's energy."
Though the duo clicked in doubles, they admittedly got there in different ways. Bakies found a good look during his team event and had to make minimal adjustments going into doubles. Wolford, however, struggled during team and had to try something drastically different.
"I struggled out of the gates during team," said Wolford, who competed in his fourth Open Championships. "I made a move to a part of the lane I really don't like to play, and it worked. The ball was coming off pretty clean, and I just tried to let the ball do the work."
Wolford, who bowls league at Southwest Bowl in Urbana, Ohio, hoped to post big scores in 2010, but also wanted to relive a memory from the 2009 Open Championships in Las Vegas. During his team event at Cashman Center last year, Wolford rolled his first 300 game on the tournament lanes. He was one of 34 bowlers to reach perfection during the 2009 event.
"I was very excited to see what they were going to do," Wolford said. "I was really pumped to come back to the tournament, and it's great to have one big thing happen after the other."
Wolford and Bakies both appreciate the rich tradition of the tournament and the great bowlers who have graced the championship lanes. Although they feel their doubles score will be beat, they are taking every opportunity to enjoy the moment.
"I'm not sure if our score will hold up, but this is awesome no matter what," said Bakies, who bowls at Al-Mar Lanes in Bowling Green, Ohio. "Mark and I are childhood friends, so to share this together is priceless. It's such a large event on bowling's biggest stage, so having the chance to lead, even if it's just for a day, is a very humbling experience for both of us."
Bakies added 608 in team and 573 in singles for a 1,823 all-events total. Wolford finished with 557 in team and 551 in singles for 1,789.
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.