Wisconsin team turns in explosive performance at USBC Open Championships
The members of Wisconsin’s Red Carpet Lanes have found continued success at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but they have yet to claim a victory on the championship lanes.
That all may change after their performance May 5 at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, New York, where they averaged more than 232 as a team during doubles and singles to soar into the Team All-Events lead with a 10,252 total.
The team’s latest addition, David Labinski, led Red Carpet Lanes in the Salt City with a 2,129 all-events total, which is fifth in Regular All-Events. Ken Duffield, who is one of 35 players in tournament history with a 300 game and 800 series at the event, moved into sixth place with 2,111.
Dave Beres (2,065), former Junior Team USA member Chris Pierson (1,991) and Chad Maas (1,956) helped complete the team’s run to the top of the standings, surpassing previous leader, S & B Pro Shop 1 of Warren, Michigan, by more than 500 pins. S & B Pro Shop 1 previously held the lead in Team All-Events with 9,708, and leads Regular Team with 3,322.
The Red Carpet Lanes teammates have left in the lead in the past, but they only have a handful of top-five finishes to show for their efforts. After so many close calls in the last dozen years, they’re hoping they raised the bar high enough this time.
Labinski joined Red Carpet Lanes at the USBC Open Championships for the first time this week in Syracuse, but he’s very familiar with the group from various state and local competitions in Wisconsin.
“I was very happy to join this team,” said Labinski, who had a 299 game and 787 series in team at the 2013 Open Championships. “We’ve bowled together in Wisconsin for a while, and it just worked out that we were able to join forces. I was trying to follow their lead, since they’ve been so close in the past. In Wisconsin, we pride ourselves on coming to this tournament and finding success, so it would mean the world if we could hold on to win.”
Past USBC Masters champion rolls perfect game at Oncenter Convention Center
Tom Hess of Urbandale, Iowa, became the 30th bowler in 115 years of the USBC Open Championships history to own multiple 300 games on the tournament lanes, and his most recent success definitely was memorable.
As the animated Hess, the 2011 USBC Masters Champion, approached the final frame of his perfect game May 2 at the Oncenter Convention Center, he showed signs of nothing but pure confidence.
While the 48-year-old right-hander waited to throw the final shot of the fifth 300 at the 2018 Open Championships, a fellow bowler next to Hess looked over and said, “take your time, you’ve got this.”
Hess then put the finishing touches on the second 300 of his 25-year Open Championships career. His first came during singles at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This year’s effort helped him to a 732 series in his team event, and he carried that momentum into doubles and singles, where he added sets of 707 and 725 for a 2,164 all-events total.
Hess still had a shot at the lead in Regular All-Events heading into his final frame, but a stubborn 9 pin ended his run. He settled into second place behind Kurt Pilon of Warren, Michigan, who leads with 2,186.
Two bowlers celebrate 50 years at 2018 USBC Open Championships
Donald Witt of Oak Park, Illinois, and Mike Lastowski of Aberdeen, Maryland, became the latest members of the 50-Year Club at the USBC Open Championships.
The two hit the tournament lanes at the Oncenter Convention Center on May 5 and May 7, respectively, and each received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
Witt’s Open Championships journey began at the 1969 tournament in Madison, Wisconsin, and he was joined in Syracuse this week for his milestone appearance by his wife, Lupe, sons Mike and Rich, and daughter, Lisa.
This year on the championship lanes, the 75-year-old Witt rolled sets of 535 in team, 503 in doubles and 401 in singles for a 1,439 all-events total. In 50 tournament appearances, he has knocked down 78,511 pins for a career average of 174.
Lastowski boasts more than 100 tournament victories in his career, from the smallest local sweepers to the 1983 USBC Masters, where he faced off against USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famers Earl Anthony and Pete Weber on the way to the title.
Lastowski, a 73-year-old right-hander, made his Open Championships debut at 1968 event in Cincinnati, and even a battle with Leukemia and prostate cancer couldn’t keep him from his milestone appearance this week in Syracuse.
He ranks his first 1,800 all-events total (1,810 in 1971), his Masters victory and his 50th tournament appearance in a three-way tie for his favorite tournament memory.
In his 50th Open Championships, Lastowski rolled sets of 495 in singles, 462 in doubles and 455 in team for a 1,412 all-events total. In his tournament career, he has knocked down 85,428 pins for a career average of 192.4.
Montana bowler takes Standard Singles lead in Syracuse
When Rob Pierson of Miles City, Montana, stepped up for the final frame of his 2018 USBC Open Championships campaign, the last thing on his mind was taking the lead in Standard Singles.
The 48-year-old right-hander simply was focused on making great shots in hopes of rolling a 700 series at the Oncenter Convention Center.
As he filled 28 pins in the 10th frame May 6 for a 706 series, he was elated, but didn’t realize the significance of his final tally.
Pierson started slowly in doubles, but the lanes opened up, and he was able to begin singles with eight consecutive strikes on the way to a 277 effort. He added games of 196 and 233, which included three consecutive strikes starting in the ninth frame, to secure his spot at the top of the standings.
Pierson added sets of 526 in team and 480 in doubles for a 1,712 all-event total, which is just inside the top 25 in Standard All-Events.
Alex Houston of Rochester, Minnesota, who leads Standard All-Events with a 1,855 total, previously held the singles lead with 686.
A look ahead
Bud Olriksen of Las Vegas, who finished third in Classified All-Events in 2017 with his daughter, Ashley, will be the next bowler to celebrate 50 years of USBC Open Championships participation this year in Syracuse.
The 75-year-old will be on the lanes at the Oncenter Convention Center on May 8-9.
Fifteen bowlers are scheduled to join the 50-Year Club this year.
For more information on the Open Championships or USBC Masters, visit BOWL.com.
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2018 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oncenter Convention Center
Syracuse, N.Y.
(Division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
REGULAR DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 1,046 and above)
1, S & B Pro Shop 1 (Bill Orlikowski, Andrew Burke, Marcus McClain, Ryan Mouw, Kurt Pilon), Warren, Mich., 3,322. 2, The Locker Guy 1, Owatonna, Minn., 3,279 3, Red Carpet Lanes, Greenfield, Wis., 3,277. 4, The Shim Reapers, Franklin, Wis., 3,206. 5, Cambridge Credit Counseling 1, Westfield, Mass., 3,188. 6, A & M Affiliates 2, Minneapolis, 3,182. 7, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 3,180. 8, A to Z Pro Shop Blue, Farmington, Minn., 3,167. 9, Nicholas J’s Pro Shop 2, La Crosse, Wis., 3,162. 10, Ironville, Fitchburg, Wis., 3,152.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 419 and above)
1, Steve Kloempken, Pleasant View, Utah/David Haynes, Las Vegas, 1,453. 2, Francois Louw, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa/Michael Mak, Hong Kong, 1,437. 3, Matt Tomsu/Jay Watts, Omaha, Neb., 1,421. 4, Chad Svendsen, Monroe, Wis./Jonathan Schalow, Evansville, Wis., 1,403. 5, David O’Sullivan, Maitland, Fla./Sean Riccardi, St. Petersburg, Fla., 1,402. 6, Joe Conti, Liverpool, N.Y./Derek Magno, Cicero, N.Y., 1,388. 7, Rob Gotterbarn, Garden City South, N.Y./Cristina Reale, Merrick, N.Y., 1,387. 8, Nick Heilman/Andy Mills, La Crosse, Wis., 1,384. 9, Samuel Lantto, Eden Prairie, Minn./Todd Savoy, Superior, Wis., 1,379. 10(tie), Bill Webb, Guilford, Conn./Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., and Bradley Cieslewicz, Amherst, Minn./Brian Mattmiller, Antigo, Wis. 1,376.
Singles
(Averages of 210 and above)
1, Cotie Holbek, Burlington, Wis., 802. 2, Chris Hill, Franklin, Wis., 795. 3, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 784. 4, Rameses Chambers, Kansas City, Mo., 771. 5(tie), David Olynyk, Rosemount, Minn., and Joseph DiNardo, Niagara Falls, N.Y., 752. 7(tie), Matt Tomsu, Omaha, Neb., and David Langer, Maple Grove, Minn., 750. 9, Christopher Castle, Melbourne, Australia, 745. 10, Joshua Volk, Jamestown, N.Y., 744.
All-Events
(Averages of 210 and above)
1, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 2,186. 2, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,164. 3, Jonathan Schalow, Evansville, Wis., 2,146. 4, Francois Louw, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 2,131. 5, David Labinski, South Milwaukee, Wis., 2,129. 6, Ken Duffield, Platteville, Wis., 2,111. 7, Christopher Castle, Melbourne, Australia, 2,110. 8, Rob Gotterbarn, Garden City South, N.Y., 2,095. 9, Richard Abboud, Omaha, Neb., 2,094. 10, Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 2,086.
Team All-Events
(Combined all-events totals of all five team members)
1, Red Carpet Lanes (Christopher Pierson, David Labinski, Ken Duffield, Chas Maas, David Beres), Greenfield, Wis., 10,252. 2, Brian Brazeau Pro Shop, Ocala, Fla., 9,959. 3, 3, S & B Pro Shop 1, Warren, Mich., 9,708. 4, Tetris With Hands, Clarksville, Tenn., 9,679. 5, Coach K Scholarship, Pleasant View, Utah, 9,633. 6, Maximum Potential Pro Shop, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 9,617. 7, Nicholas J’s Pro Shop 2, La Crosse, Wis., 9,601. 8, BuddiesProShop.com 2, Naugatuck, Conn., 9,571. 9, Melrose Bowl 2, Norwood, Minn., 9,553. 10, S & B Shop 2, Warren, Mich., 9,520.
STANDARD DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 901-1,045)
1, AJ’s Boys & Grandkids (Jerry Austin, Todd Austin, Steve Austin, Derek Austin, Joseph Austin), Sparta, Mich., 2,735. 2, Mel’s Diner, Calmar, Iowa, 2,720. 3, Pla-Mor Lanes 5, Coldwater, Ohio, 2,719. 4, R&G Ag. 2, Grand Forks, N.D., 2,708. 5, J&B Mechanical 2, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,700. 6, Plato Wood Works Two, Gaylord, Minn., 2,684. 7, Oakridge Farms, Fergus Falls, Minn., 2,680. 8, Eagles Nest, Stafford, Va., 2,672. 9, Hi-Skore Lanes 1, West Branch, Mich., 2,666. 10, Barn Speed 2, Lee, Mass., 2,651.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 361-418)
1(tie), Bradley Ziegenhagen, Hutchinson, Minn./Brad Brueggemeier, Watertown, Minn., and Fellow Lewis, Charlotte, N.C./Tyrone Brewington, Goldsboro, N.C., 1,169. 3, Steven Orlowski, Germantown, Wis./Kenneth Murack, Milwaukee, 1,164. 4, Robert McGough, Fort Recovery, Ohio/Jason Lefeld, St. Henry, Ohio, 1,156. 5, Jon Lee, Alexandria, Minn./Jed Lye, Benson, Minn., 1,155. 6, Jason Baker/John Lynch, Ilion, N.Y., 1,152. 7, Abass Kamara, Richmond, Va./Andrew Mason, Midlothian, Va., 1,144. 8(tie), Sean Templeton, Sparks, Nev./David Beisswenger, Reno, Nev., and Dennis Holtz, Granite Falls, Minn./Benjamin Holtz, Appleton, Wis., 1,142. 10, Marissa Campbell/Kenton Sandfoss, Brighton, Mich., 1,138.
Singles
(Averages of 181-209)
1, Rob Pierson, Miles City, Mont., 706. 2, Alex Houston, Rochester, Minn., 686. 3, Robert Tuchek, Alliance, Neb., 667. 4, Kevin Cotterman, Sidney, Ohio., 666. 5, Gary Babcock, Montague, Mich., 652. 6, Hank Jasso, Bloomdale, Ohio, 649. 7, Jesse Gibson, Vincennes, Ind., 638. 8, Brian Kidwell, Tiffin, Ohio, 628. 9, Kevin Serfass, Palmerton, Pa., 626. 10, Garrett Latsch, Loves Park, Ill., 625.
All-Events
(Averages of 181-209)
1, Alex Houston, Rochester, Minn., 1,855. 2, Jesse Gibson, Vincennes, Ind., 1,822. 3, Tyrone Brewington, Goldsboro, N.C., 1,811. 4, Jon Lee, Alexandria, Minn., 1,795. 5, John Albrecht, Oak Creek, Wis., 1,794. 6, Paul Nickle, Rising Sun, Md., 1,777. 7, Robert Hoffman, Cottage Grove, Md., 1,771. 8, Alex Guglielmucci, Cottage Grove, Md., 1,771. 9, Robert McGough, Fort Recovery, Ohio, 1,763. 10, Thomas Rohl, Leroy, N.Y., 1,761.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Team
(Combined averages of 900 and below)
1, 2 Legit 2 Split (Eric Dolecheck, Dawn Dolecheck, Carrie Main, Wiley Main, Kenneth Robertson), Mount Ayr, Iowa, 2,386. 2, Anuenue, Levittown, Pa., 2,329. 3, Wayne’s World, Perryville, Md., 2,325. 4, Averill Recreation 2, Sparta, Mich., 2,315. 5, Minnesota Select Sires V, Fergus Falls, Minn., 2,312. 6, Nordic Lanes, Winona, Minn., 2,310. 7, Rand-AL Farms, Calmar, Iowa, 2,292. 8, Scotty’s 1, Alexandria, Minn., 2,285. 9, R & J Sheetmetal 2, Amsterdam, N.Y., 2,282. 10, Balls of Fury, Sherwood, Ore., 2,281.
Doubles
(Combined averages of 360 and below)
1, Jennifer Geimer, Miami Shores, Fla./Doug Romanik, Miami, 1,077. 2, Butch Booker, Clarissa, Minn./Marvin Cole, Long Prairie, Minn., 1,056. 3, Willie Harrell, Hamilton, Ohio/Arthur Thomas, Cincinnati, 1,050. 4, Lanny Anderson, Scranton, N.D./Ron Braaten, Ludlow, S.D., 1,048. 5, Leslie Presberg, Cathedral City, Calif./Vicki O’Connor, Yucca Valley, Calif., 1,046. 6, Darnell Williams, Boston/Gregory Ingram, Brockton, Mass., 1,043. 7, Richard Swanson, Monticello, Minn./Steven Schroepfer, Waite Park, Minn., 1,043. 8, Pete Appell/Robby Appell, Richfield, Idaho, 1,034. 9, Jana Anderson/Jerry Anderson, Miles City, Mont., 1,033. 10(tie), Tanis Lydecker, South Glens Falls, N.Y./Chelsea Pearce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., and Richard Larson, McHenry Ill./Gerald Denk, Crystal Lake, Ill., 1,029.
Singles
(Averages of 180 and below)
1, Juan Cavazos, Clinton, Iowa, 617. 2, Rocky Martin, Enosburg Falls, Vt., 597. 3(tie), Meggan McCarthy, Waukegan, Ill., and Terry Smith, Chicago, 591. 5, Tracy Golding, Pleasant Valley, N.Y., 582. 6, Brent Ricker, Mount Ayr, Iowa., 576. 7, Kevin Dawson, Cincinnati, 572. 8(tie), Mark Marohl, Sisseton, S.D., and Paul Cousineau, Chatfield, Minn., 568. 10(tie), Ryan Schumacher, Scranton, N.D., and Charles Albaugh, Smithton, Pa., 563.
All-Events
(Averages of 180 and below)
1, Wayne Kommalan, Perryville, Md., 1,594. 2, Chad Brandt, Alexandria, Minn., 1,592. 3, Charles Albaugh, Smithton, Pa., 1,588. 4, Chelsea Pearce, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 1,578. 5, Preston Huggins, Boone, N.C., 1,575. 6, Ron Braaten, Ludlow, S.D., 1,574. 7, Chenoa Cavanaugh, York, Pa., 1,573. 8, Lee Hessenius, Askov, Minn., 1,565. 9, Kristine Bonow, Winona, Minn., 1,559. 10, Gordon Jones, Elko, Nev., 1,554.
