Tennessee bowler leads Regular Singles at 2019 USBC Open Championships
May 05, 2019
By Matt Cannizzaro and David McCord
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - It's safe to say the Mitch Beasley of Clarksville, Tennessee, might be a fan of the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships making regular trips to the South Point Bowling Plaza.
With games of 246, 297 and 269 late Saturday night, Beasley became this year's Regular Singles leader with an 812 total.
The feat also made him the 36th bowler in tournament history with an 800 series and 300 game on the championship lanes. He is the owner of one of the 10 perfect games rolled at the South Point Bowling Plaza during the tournament's 2017 debut at the new facility.
In his bid to become the 33rd bowler in 116 years of USBC Open Championships history, and second this week, with multiple 300s on the event, Beasley left the 3-6-9 combination on his final offering for 297. There have been six perfect games this year at the Bowling Plaza.
The 50-year-old right-hander didn't know what the leading score was this year, but he knew he had a chance to do something special. And, adding a Open Championships Eagle to a resume that includes a Professional Bowlers Association national title and 20 regionals titles, would mean a lot.
"I really just focused on my key things and making good shots down the stretch," said Beasley, who made his 12th tournament appearance. "I've had a great career. I've won regional titles, and a national title, but winning an Eagle would be the icing on the cake."
Ron Case of Oakley, California, previously held the lead in Regular Singles this year with 803. Beasley's 800 was the fourth of the 2019 tournament, and all four have come in singles.
Beasley's night did not start off great, though. He opened three times in his first six frames of doubles on the way to a 168 start. He bounced back with games of 231 and 201 for a 600 series.
"After Game 1, I started to get a feel for how the lanes were transitioning, and I was able to finish doubles well," said Beasley, who opened his 2019 Open Championships campaign with a 612 series in team and finished with a career-best 2,024 all-events total. "At the start of singles, I decided to make a big move and a hand adjustment, and, all of a sudden, I had a great look."
Beasley took full advantage and turned in a 28-strike performance in singles.
His individual performance also helped Bowling Headquarters/EFX of Muskego, Wisconsin, into third place in Team All-Events with a 9,717 total.
Team All-Events includes the combined all-events totals of all five team members. Mento Produce of Syracuse, New York, leads this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza with 9,983.
Beasley (2,024) was joined in the effort by William Welch (2,041), Matthew Duty (1,909), Chad Kloss (1,899) and James Tucker III (1,844).
Nearby on Saturday night, Bowlers Sport Shop of Indianapolis carried its momentum from a successful team event into doubles and singles and came away with another top-five performance.
The group moved into third place in Regular Team with a 3,249 total Friday night and finished the weekend fifth in Team All-Events with 9,577.
John Bauerle led the way for Bowlers Sport Shop in 2019 with a 2,000 all-events total and was followed by Eddie Frederick (1,941), Steve Lang (1,898), Danny Clark (1,884) and Mark Sullivan (1,854).
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - It's safe to say the Mitch Beasley of Clarksville, Tennessee, might be a fan of the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships making regular trips to the South Point Bowling Plaza.
With games of 246, 297 and 269 late Saturday night, Beasley became this year's Regular Singles leader with an 812 total.
The feat also made him the 36th bowler in tournament history with an 800 series and 300 game on the championship lanes. He is the owner of one of the 10 perfect games rolled at the South Point Bowling Plaza during the tournament's 2017 debut at the new facility.
In his bid to become the 33rd bowler in 116 years of USBC Open Championships history, and second this week, with multiple 300s on the event, Beasley left the 3-6-9 combination on his final offering for 297. There have been six perfect games this year at the Bowling Plaza.
The 50-year-old right-hander didn't know what the leading score was this year, but he knew he had a chance to do something special. And, adding a Open Championships Eagle to a resume that includes a Professional Bowlers Association national title and 20 regionals titles, would mean a lot.
"I really just focused on my key things and making good shots down the stretch," said Beasley, who made his 12th tournament appearance. "I've had a great career. I've won regional titles, and a national title, but winning an Eagle would be the icing on the cake."
Ron Case of Oakley, California, previously held the lead in Regular Singles this year with 803. Beasley's 800 was the fourth of the 2019 tournament, and all four have come in singles.
Beasley's night did not start off great, though. He opened three times in his first six frames of doubles on the way to a 168 start. He bounced back with games of 231 and 201 for a 600 series.
"After Game 1, I started to get a feel for how the lanes were transitioning, and I was able to finish doubles well," said Beasley, who opened his 2019 Open Championships campaign with a 612 series in team and finished with a career-best 2,024 all-events total. "At the start of singles, I decided to make a big move and a hand adjustment, and, all of a sudden, I had a great look."
Beasley took full advantage and turned in a 28-strike performance in singles.
His individual performance also helped Bowling Headquarters/EFX of Muskego, Wisconsin, into third place in Team All-Events with a 9,717 total.
Team All-Events includes the combined all-events totals of all five team members. Mento Produce of Syracuse, New York, leads this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza with 9,983.
Beasley (2,024) was joined in the effort by William Welch (2,041), Matthew Duty (1,909), Chad Kloss (1,899) and James Tucker III (1,844).
Nearby on Saturday night, Bowlers Sport Shop of Indianapolis carried its momentum from a successful team event into doubles and singles and came away with another top-five performance.The group moved into third place in Regular Team with a 3,249 total Friday night and finished the weekend fifth in Team All-Events with 9,577.
John Bauerle led the way for Bowlers Sport Shop in 2019 with a 2,000 all-events total and was followed by Eddie Frederick (1,941), Steve Lang (1,898), Danny Clark (1,884) and Mark Sullivan (1,854).
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.