When Matt McNiel (r.) of Chanhassen, Minn., completed his nine games at this year's USBC Open Championships, he had no idea he'd just posted the highest all-events total in 107 years of tournament history. Now, the rlefty can add eagle winner to his growing resume as the official Regular All-Events champion at the 2010 event, which ended its 136-day run at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday.
A year ago, Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, teamed up for the highest doubles total in USBC Open Championships history, and although they won't repeat as Regular Doubles champions, they always will share a spot in the record books. The two were at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend to put their title on the line and a disappointing performance in team Saturday only motivated them more heading into doubles and singles Sunday.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
After David Ackerman (pictured) of Lena, Ill. is two weeks away from possibly taking home a title at the USBC Open Championships. The 62-year-old right-hander put together games of 200, 262 and 226 for a 688 series to move into the lead in Classified Singles at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday. David Garcez of Merced, Calif., and Don Clayborn of Kansas City, Kan., previously held the lead with 669. The 2010 Open Championships kicked off its 136-day run on Feb. 20 and
will conclude on July 5.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
Wisconsin always is well-represented at the USBC Open Championships, and the next generation of Badger-State bowlers made their presence known on the sport's biggest stage Saturday.
Propelled by a 1,258 game, the fourth-highest team effort in tournament history, Warhawks (pictured) of Milton, Wis., made a run at the top spot in Regular Team before settling into third place with a 3,387 total. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop (right) of Neenah, Wis., the 2003 team champion, leads with 3,408.
1999 PBA Rookie of the Year rolls 1018 four-game series
As an exempt player on the PBA Tour, Paul Fleming (pictured) of Fort Worth, Texas, was not eligible to compete at the USBC Open Championships. With his professional career complete, the 1999 PBA Rookie of the Year made a successful return to the championship lanes last year in Las Vegas and wasted no time making an impact at the 2010 event in Reno. He fired games of 235, 245 and 277 and 261 to take the Open Singles lead
at the Bowlers Journal Championships with a 1,018 four-game total
Thursday.
Some people say that laughter is the best medicine, but for Tony Bass (pictured) of Mount Holly, N.C., it also was a key to success at the USBC Open Championships. With his friends and teammates there to keep him loose on the lanes, Bass closed out his 2010 tournament campaign with 12 consecutive strikes for the 25th perfect game of this year's event. The 38-year-old right-hander started singles with games of 170 and 237
and finished with a 707 series at the National Bowling Stadium on
Monday.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
John Wonders Sr. (pictured) of Florissant, Mo., added his name to the record books at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships when he became the 129th bowler in history to compete in 50 tournaments. The 75-year-old right-hander has competed in 33 cities in 20 states and made his ceremonial march down Center Aisle surrounded by family and friends at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Overall, his five decades on the championship lanes have been memorable.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
In 2002, Brett Wolfe of Tempe, Ariz., won the prestigious United States Bowling Congress Masters at the National Bowling Stadium, and he found success at the one-of-a-kind venue again at the 2010 USBC Open Championships. The 33-year-old left-hander was back in his comfort zone and averaged 249.4 on his way into second place in Regular All-Events with a 2,245 total Monday. Fellow southpaw Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn., leads with a record 2,326.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
Earon Vollmar (pictured) of Toledo, Ohio, got off to a rough start in singles at the 2010 USBC Open Championships, failing to mark in two of his first three frames. The 21-year-old right-hander decided to make a ball change, and everything fell into place. He rattled off a near-record 28 consecutive strikes on the way to games of 247, 300 and 264 for an 811 series, which is tied for second place in Regular Singles. Terrence Syring of Bay City, Mich., leads with 833.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
Five years ago, KR Strikeforce of Decatur, Ill., conquered a very demanding lane condition and outdistanced its nearest competitor by 119 pins to take home the Regular Team title at the USBC Open Championships. With success comes added pressure, and one of the team's main goals since winning has been to prove that the victory wasn't just a fluke. The group has only cracked the top 100 one time since winning, but nearly reclaimed the top spot at the National Bowling Stadium on Wednesday night.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
William Chestnut of Cantrall, Ill., made his United States Bowling Congress Open Championships debut as a last-minute substitute at the 1961 event in Detroit, and he has been to every tournament since. With his family by his side (pictured), the 76-year-old right-hander made his 50th march down Center Aisle and became the 128th bowler in tournament history to join the elite 50-Year Club. Also this weekend, Craig Auerbach of Sunrise, Fla., cracked the top 10 in four events.
Three years ago, John Kreyer Jr. (right) of Fridley, Minn., made headlines with the first perfect game of the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and this weekend, he's back in the spotlight at the National Bowling Stadium. The 29-year-old left-hander threw 30 strikes on the way to games of 258, 279 and 279 for an 816 series and teamed up with fellow southpaw Steve Bohn (left) of Norwood, Minn., to take the Regular Doubles lead with a 1,514 total Saturday.
Last year, Bo Goergen (far left) of Midland, Mich., rolled the highest series in 107 years of USBC Open Championships history and took home the 2009 Regular Singles title, but something was missing. The 49-year-old right-hander knows the accomplishment would be five times more satisfying if he could share it with his teammates. Now, Goergen may have that chance after helping Northern Lanes Pro Shop of Sanford, Mich., into the top spot in Team All-Events with a 10,284 total.
It took Don Burdick of DeKalb, Ill., six frames to throw his first strike of the 2010 USBC Open Championships, but once he settled down and got comfortable, he found himself in familiar territory. The 50-year-old right-hander started his 2010 tournament campaign with a 171 game, but a few small adjustments helped him regain his confidence. He went on to strike 20 times in the next two games and came within one shot of rolling his second perfect game at the Open Championships.
The second half of the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships is underway, and the scoring pace has picked up as three bowlers rolled perfect games at the National Bowling Stadium. Ken Konczos of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, rolled the 11th 300 of the year in his final game of singles Thursday night, while Matthew Randall of Allen Park, Mich., tossed the 12th in his last game of doubles Friday afternoon. Rodney Machacek of Lincoln, Neb., followed suit three games later to make it a baker's dozen.
After an uncharacteristically poor spare-shooting performance left them just shy of the Regular Team lead at the 2010 USBC Open Championships, the members of Linds Lakers 1 of Minneapolis easily could've lost their focus on the tournament lanes. Instead, the group turned to 124 years of USBC Open Championships experience and averaged more than 226 during doubles and singles to take over the top spot in Team All-Events with a 10,187 total, the eighth-highest in tournament history.
73-year-old shoots better than 600 in all three events
Clancy Mueller of St. Charles, Mo. (pictured), has enjoyed one milestone after another on the tournament lanes of the USBC Open Championships and celebrated the crowning moment of his career as he became the 126th bowler in tournament history to compete in the event 50 times. Mueller made his milestone march at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday night. The 73-year-old right-hander had 617 in team
and added 642 in doubles and 607 in singles for a 1,866 all-events total.
Oklahoma bowler shoots 299 at USBC Open Championships
After a disappointing performance at the USBC Masters in February, Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn., worked hard to make sure he was prepared for his return to the National Bowling Stadium for the 2010 USBC Open Championships. The 24-year-old left-hander blistered the tournament lanes for a 2,326 all-events effort Sunday to break the all-events record of 2,321 set by Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., at the 2009 tournament in Las Vegas.
John Bauerle Jr. (pictured) of Indianapolis was in such a zone at the 2010 USBC Open Championships that nothing could've stopped him from taking the Regular All-Events lead Saturday afternoon. The 38-year-old right-hander was confident heading into doubles and singles after shooting 759 in team Friday night, and he added 738 in singles and 728 in doubles for a 2,225 all-events effort, the highest in the tournament's six visits to the National Bowling Stadium. Bauerle also became the first bowler this year to record three series of 700 or better.
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., United States (Feb. 20 - July 5, 2010)
Don Mitchell of Indianapolis became the 125th bowler to reach 50 years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Thursday night. The 78-year-old right-hander made his first USBC Open Championships appearance at the 1950 event in Columbus, Ohio, and made his milestone march down Center Aisle in front of his family, friends and fellow bowlers at the National Bowling Stadium. Mitchell received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.
When Matt McNiel (r.) of Chanhassen, Minn., completed his nine games at this year's USBC Open Championships, he had no idea he'd just posted the highest all-events total in 107 years of tournament history. Now, the rlefty can add eagle winner to his growing resume as the official Regular All-Events champion at the 2010 event, which ended its 136-day run at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday.
A year ago, Brenda Edwards and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, teamed up for the highest doubles total in USBC Open Championships history, and although they won't repeat as Regular Doubles champions, they always will share a spot in the record books. The two were at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend to put their title on the line and a disappointing performance in team Saturday only motivated them more heading into doubles and singles Sunday. 
After David Ackerman (pictured) of Lena, Ill. is two weeks away from possibly taking home a title at the USBC Open Championships. The 62-year-old right-hander put together games of 200, 262 and 226 for a 688 series to move into the lead in Classified Singles at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday. David Garcez of Merced, Calif., and Don Clayborn of Kansas City, Kan., previously held the lead with 669. The 2010 Open Championships kicked off its 136-day run on Feb. 20 and
will conclude on July 5. 
Wisconsin always is well-represented at the USBC Open Championships, and the next generation of Badger-State bowlers made their presence known on the sport's biggest stage Saturday.
Propelled by a 1,258 game, the fourth-highest team effort in tournament history, Warhawks (pictured) of Milton, Wis., made a run at the top spot in Regular Team before settling into third place with a 3,387 total. Bowlers Edge Pro Shop (right) of Neenah, Wis., the 2003 team champion, leads with 3,408.
As an exempt player on the PBA Tour, Paul Fleming (pictured) of Fort Worth, Texas, was not eligible to compete at the USBC Open Championships. With his professional career complete, the 1999 PBA Rookie of the Year made a successful return to the championship lanes last year in Las Vegas and wasted no time making an impact at the 2010 event in Reno. He fired games of 235, 245 and 277 and 261 to take the Open Singles lead
at the Bowlers Journal Championships with a 1,018 four-game total
Thursday.
Some people say that laughter is the best medicine, but for Tony Bass (pictured) of Mount Holly, N.C., it also was a key to success at the USBC Open Championships. With his friends and teammates there to keep him loose on the lanes, Bass closed out his 2010 tournament campaign with 12 consecutive strikes for the 25th perfect game of this year's event. The 38-year-old right-hander started singles with games of 170 and 237
and finished with a 707 series at the National Bowling Stadium on
Monday.
John Wonders Sr. (pictured) of Florissant, Mo., added his name to the record books at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships when he became the 129th bowler in history to compete in 50 tournaments. The 75-year-old right-hander has competed in 33 cities in 20 states and made his ceremonial march down Center Aisle surrounded by family and friends at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Overall, his five decades on the championship lanes have been memorable.
In 2002, Brett Wolfe of Tempe, Ariz., won the prestigious United States Bowling Congress Masters at the National Bowling Stadium, and he found success at the one-of-a-kind venue again at the 2010 USBC Open Championships. The 33-year-old left-hander was back in his comfort zone and averaged 249.4 on his way into second place in Regular All-Events with a 2,245 total Monday. Fellow southpaw Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn., leads with a record 2,326.
Earon Vollmar (pictured) of Toledo, Ohio, got off to a rough start in singles at the 2010 USBC Open Championships, failing to mark in two of his first three frames. The 21-year-old right-hander decided to make a ball change, and everything fell into place. He rattled off a near-record 28 consecutive strikes on the way to games of 247, 300 and 264 for an 811 series, which is tied for second place in Regular Singles. Terrence Syring of Bay City, Mich., leads with 833. 
Five years ago, KR Strikeforce of Decatur, Ill., conquered a very demanding lane condition and outdistanced its nearest competitor by 119 pins to take home the Regular Team title at the USBC Open Championships. With success comes added pressure, and one of the team's main goals since winning has been to prove that the victory wasn't just a fluke. The group has only cracked the top 100 one time since winning, but nearly reclaimed the top spot at the National Bowling Stadium on Wednesday night.
William Chestnut of Cantrall, Ill., made his United States Bowling Congress Open Championships debut as a last-minute substitute at the 1961 event in Detroit, and he has been to every tournament since. With his family by his side (pictured), the 76-year-old right-hander made his 50th march down Center Aisle and became the 128th bowler in tournament history to join the elite 50-Year Club. Also this weekend, Craig Auerbach of Sunrise, Fla., cracked the top 10 in four events.
Three years ago, John Kreyer Jr. (right) of Fridley, Minn., made headlines with the first perfect game of the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and this weekend, he's back in the spotlight at the National Bowling Stadium. The 29-year-old left-hander threw 30 strikes on the way to games of 258, 279 and 279 for an 816 series and teamed up with fellow southpaw Steve Bohn (left) of Norwood, Minn., to take the Regular Doubles lead with a 1,514 total Saturday.
Last year, Bo Goergen (far left) of Midland, Mich., rolled the highest series in 107 years of USBC Open Championships history and took home the 2009 Regular Singles title, but something was missing. The 49-year-old right-hander knows the accomplishment would be five times more satisfying if he could share it with his teammates. Now, Goergen may have that chance after helping Northern Lanes Pro Shop of Sanford, Mich., into the top spot in Team All-Events with a 10,284 total. 
It took Don Burdick of DeKalb, Ill., six frames to throw his first strike of the 2010 USBC Open Championships, but once he settled down and got comfortable, he found himself in familiar territory. The 50-year-old right-hander started his 2010 tournament campaign with a 171 game, but a few small adjustments helped him regain his confidence. He went on to strike 20 times in the next two games and came within one shot of rolling his second perfect game at the Open Championships.
The second half of the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships is underway, and the scoring pace has picked up as three bowlers rolled perfect games at the National Bowling Stadium. Ken Konczos of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, rolled the 11th 300 of the year in his final game of singles Thursday night, while Matthew Randall of Allen Park, Mich., tossed the 12th in his last game of doubles Friday afternoon. Rodney Machacek of Lincoln, Neb., followed suit three games later to make it a baker's dozen.
After an uncharacteristically poor spare-shooting performance left them just shy of the Regular Team lead at the 2010 USBC Open Championships, the members of Linds Lakers 1 of Minneapolis easily could've lost their focus on the tournament lanes. Instead, the group turned to 124 years of USBC Open Championships experience and averaged more than 226 during doubles and singles to take over the top spot in Team All-Events with a 10,187 total, the eighth-highest in tournament history.
Clancy Mueller of St. Charles, Mo. (pictured), has enjoyed one milestone after another on the tournament lanes of the USBC Open Championships and celebrated the crowning moment of his career as he became the 126th bowler in tournament history to compete in the event 50 times. Mueller made his milestone march at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday night. The 73-year-old right-hander had 617 in team
and added 642 in doubles and 607 in singles for a 1,866 all-events total.
After a disappointing performance at the USBC Masters in February, Matt McNiel of Chanhassen, Minn., worked hard to make sure he was prepared for his return to the National Bowling Stadium for the 2010 USBC Open Championships. The 24-year-old left-hander blistered the tournament lanes for a 2,326 all-events effort Sunday to break the all-events record of 2,321 set by Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., at the 2009 tournament in Las Vegas.
John Bauerle Jr. (pictured) of Indianapolis was in such a zone at the 2010 USBC Open Championships that nothing could've stopped him from taking the Regular All-Events lead Saturday afternoon. The 38-year-old right-hander was confident heading into doubles and singles after shooting 759 in team Friday night, and he added 738 in singles and 728 in doubles for a 2,225 all-events effort, the highest in the tournament's six visits to the National Bowling Stadium. Bauerle also became the first bowler this year to record three series of 700 or better.
Don Mitchell of Indianapolis became the 125th bowler to reach 50 years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Thursday night. The 78-year-old right-hander made his first USBC Open Championships appearance at the 1950 event in Columbus, Ohio, and made his milestone march down Center Aisle in front of his family, friends and fellow bowlers at the National Bowling Stadium. Mitchell received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement. 