Two Texas bowlers shoot 299 at USBC Open Championships
June 21, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Tony Franklin of Frisco, Texas, and Rick Minier of Houston each stepped onto the approach with a shot at the 27th perfect game of the 2010 USBC Open Championships, but they both left 4 pins and finished with the 10th and 11th 299s of this year's event.
Franklin's attempt at perfection came as a pleasant surprise Sunday night, as his ultimate goal on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium this year simply was to have a good time with his family and friends.
The 38-year-old right-hander opened his singles set with 11 consecutive strikes before the 4 pin refused to fall. He followed up the near-perfect effort with games of 238 and 214 for a 751 series. Terrence Syring of Bay City, Mich., leads Regular Singles with 833, while there is a tie for 10th place at 781.
"I have never had the front 10 here before," said Franklin, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance. "It's a little bit more fun to do it here and to see if you can add your name to the list of stars and those with honor scores. It's always fun to get your name on a list here at the Open Championships."
One of Franklin's favorite things to do is bowl doubles with his wife, Genie, although he has not held up his end of the bargain.
"The key for me is not to throw my wife in the river," Franklin said. "She had a very sour look on her face at about the ninth frame of the first game when I had the first nine strikes. She was certainly wondering where that was 15 minutes earlier in doubles when I shot 625 compared to her 702, so she is steaming at me right now. At the 2000 event in Albuquerque (N.M.), I shot 785 in team, 607 in doubles with her and 744 in singles. She is still steaming about that one, too."
Franklin only bowled nine games this year prior to traveling to Reno, which included six games of practice for the Open Championships. Even without being sharp, he wanted to get out on the lanes.
"We were able to catch some really good pairs," said Franklin, who owns nine Professional Bowlers Association regional titles. "For the most part, I don't bowl at all. I bowl this tournament every year mainly because I enjoy bowling with my wife. That's really what matters to me. It's always fun to bowl in team and doubles to see how well we can do."
From age 15 to 30, Franklin's life was consumed with competitive bowling. He competed on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour from 1992 until 2003 and bowled countless regional events as well as local tournaments. Once his daughter, Tori, was born, he began to slowly step away from the game.
"We have an almost 3-year-old daughter, and work keeps me busy," said Franklin, who is a recovery manager for PepsiCo. "In order to bowl competitively at the highest level and be great, you have to put in the work. I feel like I gave it my all from age 15 to 30, but now it is time for other things. I would much rather spend my weekends with my daughter. I enjoy going to the park with her, riding on the swings and watching her run around."
Franklin added 606 in team for a 1,982 all-events total. Genie finished things out with 620 in singles and 612 in team for 1,934.
Minier's run at 300 came in his second game of doubles Monday afternoon. He bookended the effort with games of 243 and 233 for a 775 series and teamed up with his son, Paul, for a 1,397 doubles total. Steve Bohn of Norwood, Minn., and John Kreyer Jr. of Fridley, Minn., lead Regular Doubles with 1,514.
After a frustrating 579 start in team Sunday, Minier made a few minor adjustments and averaged more than 249 in doubles and singles. He added games of 233, 210 and 278 for a 721 singles set and finished with a 2,075 all-events total. Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn., leads Regular All-Events with 2,326.
"I've never even been close to shooting 300 at the Open Championships, so it was pretty exciting," said Minier, who made his 33rd tournament appearance. "I wasn't very happy last night because I thought I threw the ball better than I scored, so I was glad that things turned around today. I used the ball I ended with yesterday, moved a board left and tried to open up the lane a little bit."
The 58-year-old right-hander entered the year 18th on the tournament's lifetime average list with 210.2 after posting a career-best 2,120 all-events total last year in Las Vegas.
Minier is no stranger to success on the lanes, which includes 12 PBA regional titles and a win at the 2007 PBA Senior U.S. Open, but he has only had close calls at the Open Championships, including a second-place team finish in 1996.
Overall, though, Minier is happy with his performance and consistency on the tournament lanes from year to year.
"Today was a good day," Minier said. "The lanes were good, my timing was good and I think the pace of doubles and singles helped. I bowled well in doubles and singles last year, too, and I'm happy. But my ultimate goal is to win something in team or doubles, since I get to bowl with my son."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.
Franklin's attempt at perfection came as a pleasant surprise Sunday night, as his ultimate goal on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium this year simply was to have a good time with his family and friends.
The 38-year-old right-hander opened his singles set with 11 consecutive strikes before the 4 pin refused to fall. He followed up the near-perfect effort with games of 238 and 214 for a 751 series. Terrence Syring of Bay City, Mich., leads Regular Singles with 833, while there is a tie for 10th place at 781.
"I have never had the front 10 here before," said Franklin, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance. "It's a little bit more fun to do it here and to see if you can add your name to the list of stars and those with honor scores. It's always fun to get your name on a list here at the Open Championships."
One of Franklin's favorite things to do is bowl doubles with his wife, Genie, although he has not held up his end of the bargain.
"The key for me is not to throw my wife in the river," Franklin said. "She had a very sour look on her face at about the ninth frame of the first game when I had the first nine strikes. She was certainly wondering where that was 15 minutes earlier in doubles when I shot 625 compared to her 702, so she is steaming at me right now. At the 2000 event in Albuquerque (N.M.), I shot 785 in team, 607 in doubles with her and 744 in singles. She is still steaming about that one, too."
Franklin only bowled nine games this year prior to traveling to Reno, which included six games of practice for the Open Championships. Even without being sharp, he wanted to get out on the lanes.
"We were able to catch some really good pairs," said Franklin, who owns nine Professional Bowlers Association regional titles. "For the most part, I don't bowl at all. I bowl this tournament every year mainly because I enjoy bowling with my wife. That's really what matters to me. It's always fun to bowl in team and doubles to see how well we can do."
From age 15 to 30, Franklin's life was consumed with competitive bowling. He competed on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour from 1992 until 2003 and bowled countless regional events as well as local tournaments. Once his daughter, Tori, was born, he began to slowly step away from the game.
"We have an almost 3-year-old daughter, and work keeps me busy," said Franklin, who is a recovery manager for PepsiCo. "In order to bowl competitively at the highest level and be great, you have to put in the work. I feel like I gave it my all from age 15 to 30, but now it is time for other things. I would much rather spend my weekends with my daughter. I enjoy going to the park with her, riding on the swings and watching her run around."
Franklin added 606 in team for a 1,982 all-events total. Genie finished things out with 620 in singles and 612 in team for 1,934.
Minier's run at 300 came in his second game of doubles Monday afternoon. He bookended the effort with games of 243 and 233 for a 775 series and teamed up with his son, Paul, for a 1,397 doubles total. Steve Bohn of Norwood, Minn., and John Kreyer Jr. of Fridley, Minn., lead Regular Doubles with 1,514.
After a frustrating 579 start in team Sunday, Minier made a few minor adjustments and averaged more than 249 in doubles and singles. He added games of 233, 210 and 278 for a 721 singles set and finished with a 2,075 all-events total. Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn., leads Regular All-Events with 2,326.
"I've never even been close to shooting 300 at the Open Championships, so it was pretty exciting," said Minier, who made his 33rd tournament appearance. "I wasn't very happy last night because I thought I threw the ball better than I scored, so I was glad that things turned around today. I used the ball I ended with yesterday, moved a board left and tried to open up the lane a little bit."
The 58-year-old right-hander entered the year 18th on the tournament's lifetime average list with 210.2 after posting a career-best 2,120 all-events total last year in Las Vegas.
Minier is no stranger to success on the lanes, which includes 12 PBA regional titles and a win at the 2007 PBA Senior U.S. Open, but he has only had close calls at the Open Championships, including a second-place team finish in 1996.
Overall, though, Minier is happy with his performance and consistency on the tournament lanes from year to year.
"Today was a good day," Minier said. "The lanes were good, my timing was good and I think the pace of doubles and singles helped. I bowled well in doubles and singles last year, too, and I'm happy. But my ultimate goal is to win something in team or doubles, since I get to bowl with my son."
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.