Texas bowler shoots 800 at 2022 USBC Open Championships
July 08, 2022
LAS VEGAS - Terence McQueen of Fresno, Texas, had good reason to come to the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with high expectations.
Not only is McQueen an accomplished bowler himself, but he also was part of a very strong group that had its sights set on making a run at the top of the leaderboard.
Unfortunately, things didn't get off to the start McQueen wanted, as the 30-year-old right-hander struggled on Day 1 and had to settle for a 559 set during team.
At that point, McQueen had a choice. He could allow the early disappointment to ruin his entire trip, or he could shake it off, regroup and get back to work on Day 2.
It didn't take long to realize that McQueen had chosen the latter as he shot 256, 269 and 279 for an 804 set during doubles at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Friday morning.
McQueen's 800 was the 10th of the 2022 USBC Open Championships.
"This was a wonderful journey, especially after my start yesterday during team event," McQueen said. "We got the lanes broken down and got lined up pretty quick, and I had a good look that I was able to take advantage of. This was a great turn around."
That turn around started quickly as McQueen was locked into the 1-3 pocket from the very beginning of doubles. He struck on eight of his final 10 shots in Game 1 and eight of his first nine in Game 2 to make the turn at 525.
That left 800 on the table, but McQueen knew it was going to take an even bigger third game in order to reach that mark.
"I kind of knew that I still had a chance at 800 going into the last game, but at the same time my teammate was bowling so well that it kind of took some of the pressure off me," McQueen said. "I was just happy for him, so the pressure didn't feel as intense as I thought it would."
The pressure didn't seem to be getting to McQueen at all as he started Game 3 with a six-bagger. However, the string ended thanks to a 7 pin in the seventh frame.
That meant McQueen was out of room; he would have to strike on the next four shots in order to reach 800.
Undaunted, McQueen delivered strikes in the eighth and ninth to keep the 800 alive with just one frame remaining.
"When I stepped up for the 10th frame, all I could think about was trying to get it off my hand well and then hope and pray," McQueen said.
From a spectator's perspective, the hopes and prayers weren't really necessary as McQueen appeared calm and collected as he delivered the two strikes he had to have and added one on the fill ball to finish his set at 804.
"I think that I handled the pressure really well," McQueen said. "I just tried to stay calm and stick to my process, and the process worked great."
McQueen and teammate Zachary Seals of Kingsland, Georgia, finished with 1,361 to move into the top 90 in Regular Doubles.
Regular Doubles is for pairs with combined averages of 351 and above.
McQueen added 698 in singles to finish with 2,061, which puts him inside the top 130 in Regular All-Events.
The Regular Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
But for as outstanding as McQueen's entire Day 2-performance was, it was the 800 that he'll cherish the most when he looks back on the 2022 Open Championships.
"To shoot 800 out here on this stage is something that I've always dreamed of," McQueen said. "This year's Open Championships was a great ride, and I hope to keep doing this every year."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Not only is McQueen an accomplished bowler himself, but he also was part of a very strong group that had its sights set on making a run at the top of the leaderboard.
Unfortunately, things didn't get off to the start McQueen wanted, as the 30-year-old right-hander struggled on Day 1 and had to settle for a 559 set during team.
At that point, McQueen had a choice. He could allow the early disappointment to ruin his entire trip, or he could shake it off, regroup and get back to work on Day 2.
It didn't take long to realize that McQueen had chosen the latter as he shot 256, 269 and 279 for an 804 set during doubles at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Friday morning.
McQueen's 800 was the 10th of the 2022 USBC Open Championships.
"This was a wonderful journey, especially after my start yesterday during team event," McQueen said. "We got the lanes broken down and got lined up pretty quick, and I had a good look that I was able to take advantage of. This was a great turn around."
That turn around started quickly as McQueen was locked into the 1-3 pocket from the very beginning of doubles. He struck on eight of his final 10 shots in Game 1 and eight of his first nine in Game 2 to make the turn at 525.
That left 800 on the table, but McQueen knew it was going to take an even bigger third game in order to reach that mark.
"I kind of knew that I still had a chance at 800 going into the last game, but at the same time my teammate was bowling so well that it kind of took some of the pressure off me," McQueen said. "I was just happy for him, so the pressure didn't feel as intense as I thought it would."
The pressure didn't seem to be getting to McQueen at all as he started Game 3 with a six-bagger. However, the string ended thanks to a 7 pin in the seventh frame.
That meant McQueen was out of room; he would have to strike on the next four shots in order to reach 800.
Undaunted, McQueen delivered strikes in the eighth and ninth to keep the 800 alive with just one frame remaining.
"When I stepped up for the 10th frame, all I could think about was trying to get it off my hand well and then hope and pray," McQueen said.
From a spectator's perspective, the hopes and prayers weren't really necessary as McQueen appeared calm and collected as he delivered the two strikes he had to have and added one on the fill ball to finish his set at 804.
"I think that I handled the pressure really well," McQueen said. "I just tried to stay calm and stick to my process, and the process worked great."
McQueen and teammate Zachary Seals of Kingsland, Georgia, finished with 1,361 to move into the top 90 in Regular Doubles.
Regular Doubles is for pairs with combined averages of 351 and above.
McQueen added 698 in singles to finish with 2,061, which puts him inside the top 130 in Regular All-Events.
The Regular Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 176 and above.
But for as outstanding as McQueen's entire Day 2-performance was, it was the 800 that he'll cherish the most when he looks back on the 2022 Open Championships.
"To shoot 800 out here on this stage is something that I've always dreamed of," McQueen said. "This year's Open Championships was a great ride, and I hope to keep doing this every year."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.