Two bowlers roll perfect games at 2018 USBC Open Championships
May 29, 2018
By Christine Nichols and Aaron Smith
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A busy Monday at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships resulted in a pair of bowlers finishing their team sets with 300 games at the Oncenter Convention Center.
Bradley Ceraolo of Mooresville, North Carolina, was the first to accomplish the feat Monday, and he was joined in the tournament's record book several hours later by Greg Walters Jr. of Slidell, Louisiana.
Ceraolo and Walters became the eighth and ninth bowlers, respectively, to roll perfect games at the 2018 USBC Open Championships, and now four bowlers have thrown a 300 game during team competition. Monday's performance by Ceraolo and Walters also marked the first time this year that multiple bowlers achieved perfection on the same day.
Ceraolo, a 40-year-old right-hander, made his return to the Open Championships this week after missing the previous eight editions of the event. After a slow start to the day, Ceraolo began to settle in.
"I was really frustrated with how I started out," said Ceraolo, who started with games of 145 and 214 for a 659 series. "We didn't break down the lanes correctly and had some footing issues. Unfortunately, as a team, we were all over the place. With such a rocky start to the tournament, I decided instead of getting angry, I would just focus on having fun. That helped take my mind off my rough first game."
He posted a clean second game with a fresh mindset, which included the final three strikes. Ceraolo kept the momentum going as he approached his final frame.
"The first nine frames leading up to the 10th were all really good," said Ceraolo, who helped Expo VII of Hodges, South Carolina, to a 2,927 total. "As I approached the 10th, the first shot was good. The second shot, I missed a little at the bottom and got lucky to roll out the 8 pin. And the final shot, I had a little conversation with my teammate, which made it the easiest one."
Although Ceraolo didn't plan to bowl the 2018 event, when the opportunity came up, he quickly accepted. He was able to share the moment as part of an eight-team group, with a number of friends not only joining him on the lanes, but in the stands as well.
"It just worked out being able to bowl this year," said Ceraolo, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance and first since the 2009 event in Las Vegas. "This group of guys from the Carolinas come out to the Open Championships every year, and they were able to squeeze me in. It's a great accomplishment in an atmosphere like this, and it will certainly stay with me for the rest of my life."
Walters, a 42-year-old right-hander, also got stronger as his set went on, starting with games of 179 and 222 for a 701 series to help Rollin Rock Pro Shop of Temecula, California, to a 2,935 total.
Walters made his seventh Open Championships appearance this week, but he was excited to head to Syracuse with a new group of teammates, including former Professional Bowlers Association Tour exempt players Todd Book and David Leverage.
"These guys called me a couple of months ago because somebody backed out, and I was pretty stoked that they asked me," Walters said. "I bowled with Todd over the years, but he was the only one I knew out of our 10-player group. So I drove 1,000 miles to come out and bowl with people I didn't know."
Working with a new group meant a lot of communication and planning prior to lacing up at the Oncenter Convention Center, and Walters ended up finding the right ball in the right area to finish his first game.
"We talked about trying to break down the gutter a little bit and kind of shape the pattern and move in with some shiny stuff afterwards," Walters said. "But there was a lot more hook than what we usually see at Nationals. I ended up getting in with a pearl pretty quick. I changed to that ball in the 10th frame of the first game and struck out, and from there, I never really moved my feet. I ended up having a really good look with it."
During the course of the final game, Walters saw that he developed some hold to the left and tried to keep his angles tight to the pocket.
"I threw a few shots that I thought were going to jump, but it held," Walters said. "I knew I had a little bit of room to miss in. I didn't want to get any of them out, because there was hang, so I played a tight line and tried to keep my speed up."
Walters is no stranger to 300 games, but his performance Monday quickly jumped to the top of his list.
More importantly, he was able to show his new teammates what he's capable of bringing to their talented group.
"This is definitely the best one," Walters said. "It's also my only 300 on a Sport (Bowling) condition, so it's a pretty amazing feeling. To bowl with a group of guys who are out here for the same thing and know what they want to accomplish is great, and I hope they ask me to bowl again."
Ceraolo and Walters will return to the Oncenter Convention Center for their doubles and singles competition Tuesday. Ceraolo will bowl at 2:30 p.m. Eastern, while Walters will hit the lanes at 10:45 p.m. Eastern.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A busy Monday at the 2018 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships resulted in a pair of bowlers finishing their team sets with 300 games at the Oncenter Convention Center.
Bradley Ceraolo of Mooresville, North Carolina, was the first to accomplish the feat Monday, and he was joined in the tournament's record book several hours later by Greg Walters Jr. of Slidell, Louisiana.
Ceraolo and Walters became the eighth and ninth bowlers, respectively, to roll perfect games at the 2018 USBC Open Championships, and now four bowlers have thrown a 300 game during team competition. Monday's performance by Ceraolo and Walters also marked the first time this year that multiple bowlers achieved perfection on the same day.
Ceraolo, a 40-year-old right-hander, made his return to the Open Championships this week after missing the previous eight editions of the event. After a slow start to the day, Ceraolo began to settle in.
"I was really frustrated with how I started out," said Ceraolo, who started with games of 145 and 214 for a 659 series. "We didn't break down the lanes correctly and had some footing issues. Unfortunately, as a team, we were all over the place. With such a rocky start to the tournament, I decided instead of getting angry, I would just focus on having fun. That helped take my mind off my rough first game."
He posted a clean second game with a fresh mindset, which included the final three strikes. Ceraolo kept the momentum going as he approached his final frame.
"The first nine frames leading up to the 10th were all really good," said Ceraolo, who helped Expo VII of Hodges, South Carolina, to a 2,927 total. "As I approached the 10th, the first shot was good. The second shot, I missed a little at the bottom and got lucky to roll out the 8 pin. And the final shot, I had a little conversation with my teammate, which made it the easiest one."
Although Ceraolo didn't plan to bowl the 2018 event, when the opportunity came up, he quickly accepted. He was able to share the moment as part of an eight-team group, with a number of friends not only joining him on the lanes, but in the stands as well.
"It just worked out being able to bowl this year," said Ceraolo, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance and first since the 2009 event in Las Vegas. "This group of guys from the Carolinas come out to the Open Championships every year, and they were able to squeeze me in. It's a great accomplishment in an atmosphere like this, and it will certainly stay with me for the rest of my life."
Walters, a 42-year-old right-hander, also got stronger as his set went on, starting with games of 179 and 222 for a 701 series to help Rollin Rock Pro Shop of Temecula, California, to a 2,935 total.Walters made his seventh Open Championships appearance this week, but he was excited to head to Syracuse with a new group of teammates, including former Professional Bowlers Association Tour exempt players Todd Book and David Leverage.
"These guys called me a couple of months ago because somebody backed out, and I was pretty stoked that they asked me," Walters said. "I bowled with Todd over the years, but he was the only one I knew out of our 10-player group. So I drove 1,000 miles to come out and bowl with people I didn't know."
Working with a new group meant a lot of communication and planning prior to lacing up at the Oncenter Convention Center, and Walters ended up finding the right ball in the right area to finish his first game.
"We talked about trying to break down the gutter a little bit and kind of shape the pattern and move in with some shiny stuff afterwards," Walters said. "But there was a lot more hook than what we usually see at Nationals. I ended up getting in with a pearl pretty quick. I changed to that ball in the 10th frame of the first game and struck out, and from there, I never really moved my feet. I ended up having a really good look with it."
During the course of the final game, Walters saw that he developed some hold to the left and tried to keep his angles tight to the pocket.
"I threw a few shots that I thought were going to jump, but it held," Walters said. "I knew I had a little bit of room to miss in. I didn't want to get any of them out, because there was hang, so I played a tight line and tried to keep my speed up."
Walters is no stranger to 300 games, but his performance Monday quickly jumped to the top of his list.
More importantly, he was able to show his new teammates what he's capable of bringing to their talented group.
"This is definitely the best one," Walters said. "It's also my only 300 on a Sport (Bowling) condition, so it's a pretty amazing feeling. To bowl with a group of guys who are out here for the same thing and know what they want to accomplish is great, and I hope they ask me to bowl again."
Ceraolo and Walters will return to the Oncenter Convention Center for their doubles and singles competition Tuesday. Ceraolo will bowl at 2:30 p.m. Eastern, while Walters will hit the lanes at 10:45 p.m. Eastern.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.