Simard makes return to USBC Open Championships after singles win in 2023
July 11, 2024
LAS VEGAS – David Simard of Granby, Quebec, Canada, recently returned to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as the defending champion in Regular Singles after an impressive run last year in Reno, Nevada.
On his way to victory at the National Bowling Stadium, Simard throttled his way to the lead by rolling games of 290, 257 and 266 for an 813 series.
An 800 series on the tournament lanes always in an incredible feat, but Simard’s performance also stands out since he was the only competitor at the 2023 event – out of more than 47,000 bowlers – to roll 800 on the doubles and singles oil pattern.
Prior to starting his run in singles, Simard concluded his doubles set with 299 for a 723 series, and he added 680 in team to also finish as the runner-up in Regular All-Events with a 2,216 total.
With his return to the tournament this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza, the right-hander was awarded with his championship watch and an honorary march to the lanes before his team competition got underway to celebrate his achievement.
Simard tends to shy away from the spotlight, but he had all eyes on him as he received his award in front of fellow competitors and spectators at South Point.
“I was very nervous about the whole march out today,” Simard said. “I am not one who usually enjoys having the attention on me, but I thought it was a really cool experience and even better to do it surrounded by my teammates from Canada.”
He reflected on his journey, taking in what it meant to return to the event as a champion for the first time.
“Overall, this whole experience of winning the tournament has just been amazing,” Simard said. “We had a game plan last year as a team, and it worked well for all of us. It just happened to work extremely well for me, and I was able to put together some great sets and get the victory. Becoming a champion here is truly special, and I don’t think it is something you can truly appreciate until it happens to you.”
Simard is a pro shop owner and operator back in Granby, and that is where is prestigious Eagle trophy calls home for all to see.
“I keep my Eagle trophy in my display case at the pro shop, so I can reflect on the accomplishment this was for me in my bowling career,” Simard said. “The Eagle sits next to a sculpture I had carved of me bowling a few years ago, and they are both great conversation pieces for the shop.”
Simard, a past member of the Canadian national team and bronze medalist in team competition at the 2018 International Bowling Federation World Championships in Hong Kong, is well known around his part of the country for his bowling abilities, but his win at the USBC Open Championships opened some eyes for those new to the tournament.
“My teammate Mark Buffa has been traveling to speak at some seminars around the country, teaching people about what the USBC Open Championships is and why it is such a big deal,” Simard said. “I’ve joined him in some discussions with the bowlers and have enjoyed getting to talk about my experience.”
Although he was unable to return to the top of the standings during his 2024 appearance, Simard walked away from his time at the South Point Bowling Plaza with a new respect for the tournament and is very humbled by the experiences he's had over the past year.
He finished his eighth tournament appearance with games of 176, 234 and 222 in singles for a 632 series and added 691 in doubles and 621 in team for an all-events score of 1,944.
“I may never be able to win this tournament again, so last year’s win will remain special to me,” Simard said. “I know that I can remain good enough to compete at this event for the foreseeable future, and I hope I can return to the winner’s circle again one day.”
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.
On his way to victory at the National Bowling Stadium, Simard throttled his way to the lead by rolling games of 290, 257 and 266 for an 813 series.
An 800 series on the tournament lanes always in an incredible feat, but Simard’s performance also stands out since he was the only competitor at the 2023 event – out of more than 47,000 bowlers – to roll 800 on the doubles and singles oil pattern.
Prior to starting his run in singles, Simard concluded his doubles set with 299 for a 723 series, and he added 680 in team to also finish as the runner-up in Regular All-Events with a 2,216 total.
With his return to the tournament this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza, the right-hander was awarded with his championship watch and an honorary march to the lanes before his team competition got underway to celebrate his achievement.
Simard tends to shy away from the spotlight, but he had all eyes on him as he received his award in front of fellow competitors and spectators at South Point.
“I was very nervous about the whole march out today,” Simard said. “I am not one who usually enjoys having the attention on me, but I thought it was a really cool experience and even better to do it surrounded by my teammates from Canada.”
He reflected on his journey, taking in what it meant to return to the event as a champion for the first time.
“Overall, this whole experience of winning the tournament has just been amazing,” Simard said. “We had a game plan last year as a team, and it worked well for all of us. It just happened to work extremely well for me, and I was able to put together some great sets and get the victory. Becoming a champion here is truly special, and I don’t think it is something you can truly appreciate until it happens to you.”
Simard is a pro shop owner and operator back in Granby, and that is where is prestigious Eagle trophy calls home for all to see.“I keep my Eagle trophy in my display case at the pro shop, so I can reflect on the accomplishment this was for me in my bowling career,” Simard said. “The Eagle sits next to a sculpture I had carved of me bowling a few years ago, and they are both great conversation pieces for the shop.”
Simard, a past member of the Canadian national team and bronze medalist in team competition at the 2018 International Bowling Federation World Championships in Hong Kong, is well known around his part of the country for his bowling abilities, but his win at the USBC Open Championships opened some eyes for those new to the tournament.
“My teammate Mark Buffa has been traveling to speak at some seminars around the country, teaching people about what the USBC Open Championships is and why it is such a big deal,” Simard said. “I’ve joined him in some discussions with the bowlers and have enjoyed getting to talk about my experience.”
Although he was unable to return to the top of the standings during his 2024 appearance, Simard walked away from his time at the South Point Bowling Plaza with a new respect for the tournament and is very humbled by the experiences he's had over the past year.
He finished his eighth tournament appearance with games of 176, 234 and 222 in singles for a 632 series and added 691 in doubles and 621 in team for an all-events score of 1,944.
“I may never be able to win this tournament again, so last year’s win will remain special to me,” Simard said. “I know that I can remain good enough to compete at this event for the foreseeable future, and I hope I can return to the winner’s circle again one day.”
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.