Utah bowlers take Classified Team lead at USBC Open Championships
May 22, 2010
RENO, Nev. - Edward Howa of Helper, Utah, led his Southeast Paint teammates into the Classified Team lead at the USBC Open Championships on Friday.
Howa helped the group to games of 878, 930 and 1,000 for a 2,808 at the National Bowling Stadium using a very basic game plan. Huikko's Bowling Center 3 of Buffalo, Minn., previously held the lead with 2,730.
"We come out here as a vacation, but we definitely take it seriously," said Howa, who made his 24th Open Championships appearance. "It's pretty awesome to be in the lead. You come out and just want to bowl well, have a good time and maybe make some money. I don't think it's hit us yet that we're in the lead. We were just excited to bowl well and consistently."
Southeast Paint's strategy was simple. The teammates communicated throughout their three games, focused on making their spares and did their best to keep up with the teams around them.
"We know how important spares are, so that's something we really try to focus on," Howa said. "We also had our eyes on a team two lanes away that was bowling well, so when we were ahead of them, we knew we were doing all right."
Howa led Southeast Paint with a 619 series and was followed by Mark Montoya (618), Joe Juliano (549), Gary Nelson (516) and Frank Marrelli (506).
Nelson, who has been plagued by knee problems, has been working on a new bowling style, and it appears to have been effective Friday.
"I know Gary was in a lot of pain, but his new style seemed to be working, and he was throwing the ball well," Howa said. "For me, the lanes opened up a little, and I was able to get some pins back. I made a few mistakes and was glad to make up for it."
Marrelli is the proprietor at Gateway Lanes in Helper, Utah, where the teammates regularly bowl league, and the conditions they face there definitely helped them at the Open Championships this year.
"Frank doesn't believe in easy conditions," Howa said. "That has a lot to do with our success because it teaches us to make better shots. It definitely helps us on shots like this when you only have a board or two to work with."
On Saturday morning, Howa and Nelson moved into second place in Classified Doubles with a 1,189 total. Robert Blum of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Frank DeFrancesco of Poway, Calif., lead with 1,200.
Howa led the way with a 634, while Nelson contributed 555. Howa closed things out with 515 in singles for a 1,768 all-events total, and Nelson finished with 416 in singles for 1,487.
To be eligible for the Classified Division, a team must have a combined average of 900 or less, 360 or less for doubles and 180 or less for singles and all-events.
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.
Howa helped the group to games of 878, 930 and 1,000 for a 2,808 at the National Bowling Stadium using a very basic game plan. Huikko's Bowling Center 3 of Buffalo, Minn., previously held the lead with 2,730.
"We come out here as a vacation, but we definitely take it seriously," said Howa, who made his 24th Open Championships appearance. "It's pretty awesome to be in the lead. You come out and just want to bowl well, have a good time and maybe make some money. I don't think it's hit us yet that we're in the lead. We were just excited to bowl well and consistently."
Southeast Paint's strategy was simple. The teammates communicated throughout their three games, focused on making their spares and did their best to keep up with the teams around them.
"We know how important spares are, so that's something we really try to focus on," Howa said. "We also had our eyes on a team two lanes away that was bowling well, so when we were ahead of them, we knew we were doing all right."
Howa led Southeast Paint with a 619 series and was followed by Mark Montoya (618), Joe Juliano (549), Gary Nelson (516) and Frank Marrelli (506).
Nelson, who has been plagued by knee problems, has been working on a new bowling style, and it appears to have been effective Friday.
"I know Gary was in a lot of pain, but his new style seemed to be working, and he was throwing the ball well," Howa said. "For me, the lanes opened up a little, and I was able to get some pins back. I made a few mistakes and was glad to make up for it."
Marrelli is the proprietor at Gateway Lanes in Helper, Utah, where the teammates regularly bowl league, and the conditions they face there definitely helped them at the Open Championships this year.
"Frank doesn't believe in easy conditions," Howa said. "That has a lot to do with our success because it teaches us to make better shots. It definitely helps us on shots like this when you only have a board or two to work with."
On Saturday morning, Howa and Nelson moved into second place in Classified Doubles with a 1,189 total. Robert Blum of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Frank DeFrancesco of Poway, Calif., lead with 1,200.
Howa led the way with a 634, while Nelson contributed 555. Howa closed things out with 515 in singles for a 1,768 all-events total, and Nelson finished with 416 in singles for 1,487.
To be eligible for the Classified Division, a team must have a combined average of 900 or less, 360 or less for doubles and 180 or less for singles and all-events.
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.