By Sam Neves
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS - With hundreds of bowlers taking the lanes each day at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the potential for excitement is unrivaled, and Monday morning was no different.

Adam Chase of Ronkonkoma, New York, started things off by bowling the first 300 game of the year during doubles at the South Point Bowling Center. It was the seventh perfect game of the 2021 tournament and redemption for Chase, which was a decade overdue.

"The first year I bowled, I shot 299," said Chase, who made his 11th USBC Open Championships appearance this week. "The following year, they called my name in the Squad Room, and that felt amazing. Now, I get to hear it every year."

Not long after his near-perfect effort in his 2010 debut, 299 games no longer were part of the Squad Room announcements at the Open Championships. To guarantee himself a return to celebrity status, Chase would need to roll a 300 game or win a title, and his performance Monday might accomplish both.

Along with starting the day, and doubles, with 12 memorable strikes, the 33-year-old right-hander finished his six games with three clutch strikes to lock up the lead in Regular Singles. A lot happened in between, too.

Chase and Darren Andretta of New Hyde Park, New York, found themselves in the middle of a multi-team race for the lead in Regular Doubles, eventually settling into third place in with games of 539, 441 and 416 for a 1,396 total.

Chase added games of 194 and 224 for a 718 series, while Andretta contributed a 678 set. The two also were doubles partners in 2010.

Though they came up short in their bid for a doubles title, Chase was able to keep the momentum going in singles, where he started with a 247 game and followed it with a pair of 259s.

Three strikes in his final frame helped him slip by Todd Fenske of Wausau, Wisconsin, who previously held the lead in Regular Singles with 759.

"I was just trying to bowl my game," Chase said. "I honestly had no idea what was leading, so I didn't even think about it. I just got up and bowled."

Chase's time atop the standings nearly was short-lived, as Andy Buelow of Waterloo, Iowa, attempted to steal the spotlight a few lanes away. Buelow needed a double and seven pins in his final frame to take the lead, but a 6 pin on his first offering ended the threat. He finished with a 747 series, which is fifth overall.

Chase's team, Dinosaur Plus Four, also made a run in Team All-Events, coming up just short with 9,722. Striking Edge Pro Shop of Wausau, Wisconsin, leads with 9,831.

Chase led the way with a 2,067 all-events total and was followed closely by Robert Gotterbarn Jr. with 2,050. Rounding out the effort was Conner Egan (1,972), Andretta (1,946) and Mitchell Sacks (1,687).

During the initial doubles excitement Monday morning, Chase and Andretta were part of what appeared to be a three-team battle for the lead. In the end, it was the off-the-radar duo if Jonathan Schalow and Chad Svendsen surging to the top with a huge final game.

Schalow made his own run at perfection in the finale, leaving the 3-10 combination on to finish with 298, and Svendsen added a 246 game for a 544 total. Their 1,436 total surpassed previous leaders Erik Vermilyea of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Steve Novak of Louisville, Kentucky, who set the bar with 1,399.

Schalow's 298 was the first of the 2021 Open Championships. There also have been three 299s. 

Schalow led the overall doubles effort with a 766 series, and Svendsen added 670.

"There were teams both left and right of us that had some huge scores, so we weren't in the spotlight at all," said Schalow, a 36-year-old right-hander who made his 12th tournament appearance. "Looking around really fueled us, though, and we were both able to find a look and throw some better shots. Now, the rest is history."

Like Chase, Schalow also had a memorable debut at the Open Championships. His first event, held at Cashman Center in Las Vegas in 2009, included a 299 game and 807 series in doubles, also with Svendsen.

Schalow and Svendsen are no strangers to the top 10 at the Open Championships, but they've never left town with the lead in any event. Svendsen also owns a 299 on the championship lanes, which came in the team event in 2011.

"It's unbelievable, and we're overjoyed" Schalow said. "Being close so many times, we're absolutely elated to be leaving with a lead."

Svendsen, a 36-year-old right-hander making his 18th tournament appearance, mentioned the next part of the process, the nail-biting experience of scoreboard watching. The 79-day tournament kicked off May 1 and will run daily until July 18.

On the way to the doubles lead, Schalow and Svendsen were able to outdistance their own teammates, Nathan Breitsprecker of Dubuque, Iowa, and Jason Craigen of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, who put up a score of 1,355 and sit firmly in the top 10, too.

The double doubles effort helped propel their team, Gasthaus Motel 1 of Monroe, Wisconsin, toward the top of the Team All-Events standings. They finished with 9,572, good for fourth place in the standings.

Individually, Schalow paced the group with a 2,099 all-events total and was followed by Svendsen (1,942), Craigen (1,940), Breitsprecker (1,905) and Andrew Ewig (1,686).

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