Texas bowler has career day, takes lead in Classified Singles at 2019 USBC Open Championships
April 26, 2019
By Matt Cannizzaro and Makinzey Marracco
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Charles Vo of Sugar Land, Texas, hit the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza for his 10th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and he left with the lead in Classified Singles.
The 35-year-old right-hander took the lead Friday morning with a 644 series, the best set of his USBC Open Championships career. The performance included games of 236, 178 and 230. Bill Vianco of Delphi, Indiana, previously held the lead with a 638.
"This is great, and I didn't see it coming," Vo said. "I came all the way out here with friends and family from Texas and Virginia. It feels amazing."
Coming off a slow start can be discouraging, but being able to adjust to the changing lanes made all the difference for Vo.
In his team event Thursday, Vo rolled a 453 series. Despite a new day and a new oil pattern for doubles and singles, the results only were slightly better in doubles, where he finished with 479. Things then fell into place, and he beat his average in all three games in singles to secure the top spot in the standings.
"As it transitioned, I moved to the left, and then the ball just kept reacting how I wanted it to," said Vo, whose tournament debut came at the 2010 event in Reno, Nevada. "Once I slowed my ball speed down, I was able to keep hitting my mark."
Vo's previous high series at the Open Championships was a 584 shot during singles at the 2015 tournament in El Paso, Texas. This year, in beating that effort by 60 pins, he earned his first appearance on the event's leaderboard.
Now, he will return home to the AMF Stafford Lanes in Stafford, Texas, in preparation for next year's trip to Reno, where he's hoping to be the defending champion in Classified Singles.
Vo finished his milestone Open Championships campaign with a 1,576 all-events total. Larry Meyers of Renwick, Iowa, leads Classified All-Events this year in Las Vegas with a 1,707 total.
The Classified Division hasn't seen many recent lead changes, but immediately following Vo's success, another bowler made her run toward the top.
Patricia Franklin of Elizabethtown, Indiana, slid into a tie for sixth place in Classified Singles. She rolled games of 177, 223 and 209 for a 609 series.
Classified Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Charles Vo of Sugar Land, Texas, hit the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza for his 10th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and he left with the lead in Classified Singles.
The 35-year-old right-hander took the lead Friday morning with a 644 series, the best set of his USBC Open Championships career. The performance included games of 236, 178 and 230. Bill Vianco of Delphi, Indiana, previously held the lead with a 638.
"This is great, and I didn't see it coming," Vo said. "I came all the way out here with friends and family from Texas and Virginia. It feels amazing."
Coming off a slow start can be discouraging, but being able to adjust to the changing lanes made all the difference for Vo.
In his team event Thursday, Vo rolled a 453 series. Despite a new day and a new oil pattern for doubles and singles, the results only were slightly better in doubles, where he finished with 479. Things then fell into place, and he beat his average in all three games in singles to secure the top spot in the standings.
"As it transitioned, I moved to the left, and then the ball just kept reacting how I wanted it to," said Vo, whose tournament debut came at the 2010 event in Reno, Nevada. "Once I slowed my ball speed down, I was able to keep hitting my mark."
Vo's previous high series at the Open Championships was a 584 shot during singles at the 2015 tournament in El Paso, Texas. This year, in beating that effort by 60 pins, he earned his first appearance on the event's leaderboard.
Now, he will return home to the AMF Stafford Lanes in Stafford, Texas, in preparation for next year's trip to Reno, where he's hoping to be the defending champion in Classified Singles.
Vo finished his milestone Open Championships campaign with a 1,576 all-events total. Larry Meyers of Renwick, Iowa, leads Classified All-Events this year in Las Vegas with a 1,707 total.
The Classified Division hasn't seen many recent lead changes, but immediately following Vo's success, another bowler made her run toward the top.
Patricia Franklin of Elizabethtown, Indiana, slid into a tie for sixth place in Classified Singles. She rolled games of 177, 223 and 209 for a 609 series.
Classified Singles includes bowlers with entering averages of 155 and below.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.