Oregon bowler takes lead in Standard Singles at 2024 Open Championships
May 29, 2024
LAS VEGAS – Michael Humphrys of Milwaukie, Oregon, kept fighting to find the right look during his doubles and singles set Tuesday at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and he unlocked the right combination to take over the lead in Standard Singles with a series total of 745.
The 50-year-old right-hander rolled eight consecutive strikes to finish Game 1 of singles with 244 at the South Point Bowling Plaza, and he added another string of eight strikes in Game 2 to shoot 255. He showed no signs of stopping in Game 3, posting a total of 10 strikes to get to 246.
He finished Game 3 with the final four strikes to make his way past Adriana Sheck of Frederick, Maryland. She had held the lead in Standard Singles since March 8 with 733.
“After the doubles set I had, I was just trying to relax and find something out on the lanes that would work for me,” said Humphrys, who improved by 363 pins from doubles after finishing with 382. “I had spoken with some friends on where they thought I should be playing the lanes, and it just wasn’t working for me in doubles. I finally moved a little bit right, and it seems like the lanes just finally came to me as I was able to take advantage and strike a little bit.”
Humphrys is usually all about having fun while getting the opportunity to bowl with his group of friends from Oregon when making his annual trip to the USBC Open Championships, so his performance Tuesday came as a bit of a surprise when the final shot was thrown.
“I didn’t have the slightest clue I was anywhere near the lead for an event, nor have I ever bowled this well in the 20 years I have been bowling the tournament,” said Humphrys, who made his tournament debut at the 1995 event. “It is still a surreal feeling for sure, and I haven’t even come to grips that this actually happened.”
With just two months remaining at the 2024 Open Championships, Humphrys is hoping he gets a phone call at the end of the event to let him know that he officially won an Eagle.
In the meantime, he was able to let a few important people close to him know about his success on the lanes.
“I don’t know what I would even say if I got that call at the end of July, since that just seems like something I could only dream of,” Humphrys said. “I had to call my girlfriend, Sam, to tell her the news, since she went to the pool here to relax. I get to call my father on his birthday of all days to let him know the good news right now, so I know he will be excited since he was unable to come this year.”
Humphrys had started his 2024 appearance with 456 in team for an all-events total of 1,583.
The Standard Division features bowlers with entering averages of 156-175.
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 50-year-old right-hander rolled eight consecutive strikes to finish Game 1 of singles with 244 at the South Point Bowling Plaza, and he added another string of eight strikes in Game 2 to shoot 255. He showed no signs of stopping in Game 3, posting a total of 10 strikes to get to 246.
He finished Game 3 with the final four strikes to make his way past Adriana Sheck of Frederick, Maryland. She had held the lead in Standard Singles since March 8 with 733.
“After the doubles set I had, I was just trying to relax and find something out on the lanes that would work for me,” said Humphrys, who improved by 363 pins from doubles after finishing with 382. “I had spoken with some friends on where they thought I should be playing the lanes, and it just wasn’t working for me in doubles. I finally moved a little bit right, and it seems like the lanes just finally came to me as I was able to take advantage and strike a little bit.”
Humphrys is usually all about having fun while getting the opportunity to bowl with his group of friends from Oregon when making his annual trip to the USBC Open Championships, so his performance Tuesday came as a bit of a surprise when the final shot was thrown.
“I didn’t have the slightest clue I was anywhere near the lead for an event, nor have I ever bowled this well in the 20 years I have been bowling the tournament,” said Humphrys, who made his tournament debut at the 1995 event. “It is still a surreal feeling for sure, and I haven’t even come to grips that this actually happened.”
With just two months remaining at the 2024 Open Championships, Humphrys is hoping he gets a phone call at the end of the event to let him know that he officially won an Eagle.
In the meantime, he was able to let a few important people close to him know about his success on the lanes.
“I don’t know what I would even say if I got that call at the end of July, since that just seems like something I could only dream of,” Humphrys said. “I had to call my girlfriend, Sam, to tell her the news, since she went to the pool here to relax. I get to call my father on his birthday of all days to let him know the good news right now, so I know he will be excited since he was unable to come this year.”
Humphrys had started his 2024 appearance with 456 in team for an all-events total of 1,583.
The Standard Division features bowlers with entering averages of 156-175.
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.