Oregon bowler edges into singles lead at 2017 Open Championships
March 28, 2017
LAS VEGAS - John Dowell of Portland, Oregon, may have been disappointed after finishing his singles set Monday with back-to-back opens, but he quickly was surprised with good news as he found out his effort was enough to take the lead in Standard Singles at the 2017 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The 38-year-old right-hander used games of 220, 255 and 176 at the South Point Bowling Plaza to finish with a 651 series. Larry Riggs of Sidney, Montana, had held the lead since the tournament's opening weekend, posting a 648 total Feb. 19.
Monday's doubles set started slow for Dowell, but he was able to get more comfortable as the oil pattern began to break down. After games of 146 and 160, he finished doubles with 203 for a 509 series and found some momentum heading into singles.
"It was a pretty shaky start because it was tough to find a line," said Dowell, who made his seventh USBC Open Championships appearance. "Toward the third game of doubles, I could finally open the lanes up a bit, and I'm more comfortable when I'm able to play deep. The shot is definitely tough, but it eventually broke down in my favor."
With 475 after two games, Dowell was hoping to record his first 700 series on the championship lanes. He had recorded his highest singles set at last year's event in Reno, Nevada, with 679.
"I just ran out of gas at the end," said Dowell, an account coordinator at Comcast. "I didn't execute a few shots, and my ball speed definitely was declining."
Dowell needed seven pins in his final frame to take sole possession of the lead, and even though he was unable to convert the 4-10 split he left in the 10th frame, the count was enough to make him the man to beat.
"I was pretty surprised to find out that was enough for the lead," Dowell said. "I saw a lot of good bowlers out here this week, and someone will probably pass it by, but it's neat to say that they have to beat me first."
Dowell added 550 in team event for a 1,710 all-events total, which puts him in the top 25 so far in 2017. Mike Thielen of Eagle Grove, Iowa, leads Standard All-Events with 1,801.
Standard Singles and Standard All-Events include bowlers with entering averages between 181-209.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
The 38-year-old right-hander used games of 220, 255 and 176 at the South Point Bowling Plaza to finish with a 651 series. Larry Riggs of Sidney, Montana, had held the lead since the tournament's opening weekend, posting a 648 total Feb. 19.
Monday's doubles set started slow for Dowell, but he was able to get more comfortable as the oil pattern began to break down. After games of 146 and 160, he finished doubles with 203 for a 509 series and found some momentum heading into singles.
"It was a pretty shaky start because it was tough to find a line," said Dowell, who made his seventh USBC Open Championships appearance. "Toward the third game of doubles, I could finally open the lanes up a bit, and I'm more comfortable when I'm able to play deep. The shot is definitely tough, but it eventually broke down in my favor."
With 475 after two games, Dowell was hoping to record his first 700 series on the championship lanes. He had recorded his highest singles set at last year's event in Reno, Nevada, with 679.
"I just ran out of gas at the end," said Dowell, an account coordinator at Comcast. "I didn't execute a few shots, and my ball speed definitely was declining."
Dowell needed seven pins in his final frame to take sole possession of the lead, and even though he was unable to convert the 4-10 split he left in the 10th frame, the count was enough to make him the man to beat.
"I was pretty surprised to find out that was enough for the lead," Dowell said. "I saw a lot of good bowlers out here this week, and someone will probably pass it by, but it's neat to say that they have to beat me first."
Dowell added 550 in team event for a 1,710 all-events total, which puts him in the top 25 so far in 2017. Mike Thielen of Eagle Grove, Iowa, leads Standard All-Events with 1,801.
Standard Singles and Standard All-Events include bowlers with entering averages between 181-209.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.