On the Lanes with Fero Williams
April 26, 2010
In the coming months, we'll talk with some of the best-known bowlers at the USBC Open Championships and get their thoughts on their time at the tournament and what it takes to succeed on the championship lanes.
This week, we heard from former Team USA member Fero Williams, who owns USBC records for 300 games and 800 series in a single season (2006-07) with 22 and 27, respectively. His record-setting year included six leagues and five tournaments at seven bowling centers in five states.
The talented right-hander has rolled more than 100 perfect games and nearly as many 800s in his career. He was a member of Team USA in 2006 and 2007 after a runner-up finish at the 2006 USBC Team USA Trials. He claimed six medals at the 2006 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas.
Williams, 29, is coming off of a career-best 1,967 all-events effort at the 2009 Open Championships in Las Vegas, which included a 781 series and ninth place finish in Regular Doubles with Greg Thompson of Cupertino, Calif. (1,443). Williams' career average on the tournament lanes is 209.8 (224.5 in doubles, 206.9 in singles and 197.9 in team). He will hit the tournament lanes in Reno on April 27 and 28.
HOMETOWN: Gardena, Calif.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This will be six.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: 0
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 16
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: Brunswick
ONE all-time favorite host city: Baton Rouge
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. bowled 781 in doubles in Las Vegas; 2. finished in the top 10 at the Bowlers Journal
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. chemistry with your team; 2. accuracy; 3. lots of FUN
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: I don't have one.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Robert Smith, Ken Simard, Richie Allen, George Gohagan and yours truly, Fero Williams
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Evil Siege, C-System 2.5 and 3.5, Slingshot, Diamondback
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Honolulu, New Orleans, Miami, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, La., Puerto Rico, Las Vegas
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Purple Hammer, Gold Rhino Pro, Track Triton Elite, Quantum Helix, Quantum 2.0, Quantum Slate, Brunswick DZ2, Storm BOLT
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Sonny Dew, Larry Stephens, Anthony Lacaze, Brett Wolfe, Omar Arnett, Doane Cole, Art Brown, Dave Ewald and Bill Orlikowski
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: I dont have a favorite bowler because I respect everyone's games.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Throw a good shot because once you release it, there's nothing else you can do.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: I want to be an ambassador in this sport and also be successful with a pro shop and bowling center.
This week, we heard from former Team USA member Fero Williams, who owns USBC records for 300 games and 800 series in a single season (2006-07) with 22 and 27, respectively. His record-setting year included six leagues and five tournaments at seven bowling centers in five states.
The talented right-hander has rolled more than 100 perfect games and nearly as many 800s in his career. He was a member of Team USA in 2006 and 2007 after a runner-up finish at the 2006 USBC Team USA Trials. He claimed six medals at the 2006 Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas.
Williams, 29, is coming off of a career-best 1,967 all-events effort at the 2009 Open Championships in Las Vegas, which included a 781 series and ninth place finish in Regular Doubles with Greg Thompson of Cupertino, Calif. (1,443). Williams' career average on the tournament lanes is 209.8 (224.5 in doubles, 206.9 in singles and 197.9 in team). He will hit the tournament lanes in Reno on April 27 and 28.
HOMETOWN: Gardena, Calif.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS APPEARANCES: This will be six.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS TITLES: 0
BOWLING BALL WEIGHT: 16
FAVORITE BRAND OF BOWLING BALLS: Brunswick
ONE all-time favorite host city: Baton Rouge
TWO best Open Championships memories: 1. bowled 781 in doubles in Las Vegas; 2. finished in the top 10 at the Bowlers Journal
THREE keys to success at the Open Championships: 1. chemistry with your team; 2. accuracy; 3. lots of FUN
FOURgettable Open Championships moment: I don't have one.
FIVE bowlers in history on your Open Championships fantasy all-star team: Robert Smith, Ken Simard, Richie Allen, George Gohagan and yours truly, Fero Williams
SIX bowling balls currently in your Open Championships arsenal: Evil Siege, C-System 2.5 and 3.5, Slingshot, Diamondback
SEVEN cities you'd like to see the Open Championships go to/return to: Honolulu, New Orleans, Miami, Atlanta, Baton Rouge, La., Puerto Rico, Las Vegas
EIGHT favorite bowling balls ever: Purple Hammer, Gold Rhino Pro, Track Triton Elite, Quantum Helix, Quantum 2.0, Quantum Slate, Brunswick DZ2, Storm BOLT
NINE other current/eligible bowlers you would choose to join you on your ideal pair of companion teams at the Open Championships: Sonny Dew, Larry Stephens, Anthony Lacaze, Brett Wolfe, Omar Arnett, Doane Cole, Art Brown, Dave Ewald and Bill Orlikowski
TEN seconds or less, who is your favorite bowler of all-time?: I dont have a favorite bowler because I respect everyone's games.
ELEVEN strikes in a row to start a game at the Open Championships, what's going through your head?: Throw a good shot because once you release it, there's nothing else you can do.
TWELVE years from now, where do you hope to be in your bowling career?: I want to be an ambassador in this sport and also be successful with a pro shop and bowling center.