Mitch Beasley of Hermitage, Tennessee, is coming off the best season of his professional bowling career, and that momentum continued April 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas, where he rolled the second perfect game of the 2017 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

The 48-year-old right-hander (pictured above) waited patiently for the right look to develop on the lanes as he posted games of 185 and 197, but once he saw the ball motion he was hoping for, he took advantage and tossed 12 consecutive strikes in the finale.

Beasley’s 300 was the first in team competition this year at the Bowling Plaza. The event’s other perfect game belongs to Todd Lathrop of Colchester, Connecticut, who achieved the feat during singles March 31.

“I was really focused on just blocking everything out and trying to make really good shots,” said Beasley, who made his 10th USBC Open Championships appearance. “I’ve never shot an honor score or anything here at Nationals, so it’s kind of special to do.”

Beasley added 690 in singles and 625 in doubles for a 1,997 all-events total.

Wisconsin bowlers lead Standard Doubles at South Point Bowling Plaza

Thomas Fredrick of Watertown, Wisconsin, struck nine times in his final game of doubles May 2 at the 2017 USBC Open Championships to give his partner, Mark Mallow, also from Watertown, a chance to fill his final frame for the lead in Standard Doubles.

Mallow, a 56-year-old left-hander, struck on his first shot and went high on his second offering, leaving the 6-10 combination. He converted the spare to secure the top spot in the standings by a single pin.

Fredrick, a 57-year-old right-hander, led the way with a 625 set, and Mallow contributed 567 for a 1,192 total. Raymond Haran and Ramon Pagan of Chicago previously held the lead with 1,191.

Five bowlers celebrate 50 years at 2017 USBC Open Championships

This week was a celebration of longevity at the USBC Open Championships as five bowlers were recognized for 50 years of tournament participation.

Wilbert Bellamy of New Britain, Connecticut, and Dave Hauber of Dickeyville, Wisconsin, reached the milestone April 25, Paul Portsche of Lincoln, Nebraska, hit the lanes April 27, J.R. Schmidt of Park Ridge, Illinois, made his 50th appearance April 29 and Larry Evans Sr. of Orlando, Florida, made his memorable march to the lanes May 1.

Each bowler received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin on the lanes at the South Point Bowling Center to commemorate the achievement.

Bellamy (left), 87, whose Open Championships career started at the 1968 event in Cincinnati, completed the first game of his team event before stepping aside for a substitute, who rolled the final two games. Bellamy pushed his career pinfall total to 71,723, a lifetime average of 175.

Hauber (right) was surrounded by friends and family, including his brother, John, who made his 45th Open Championships appearance.

Hauber, a 70-year-old right-hander, also made his tournament debut in 1968, and he got his start alongside Dick Rice of Platteville, Wisconsin, a member of the tournament’s 60-Year and 100,000 Pin-Clubs.

In his 50th appearance, Hauber rolled sets of 520 in singles, 465 in team and 397 in doubles for a 1,382 all-events total. He has knocked down 76,486 pins during his Open Championships career for a lifetime average of 174.6.

Portsche (left), now 66, got his Open Championships start in 1968 as a 16-year-old, when he was asked to fill a spot on his father’s team.

This year in Las Vegas, the Lincoln Bowling Association Hall of Famer rolled sets of 512 in team, 501 in doubles and 493 in singles for a 1,506 all-events total, bringing his career pinfall at the Open Championships to 83,156, a 184.7 lifetime average.

Schmidt (pictured left with his good friend Don Witt, right, who will be making his own milestone march next year in Syracuse, New York), a world-renowned bowling historian and longtime writer for Bowlers Journal International, finished his 2017 tournament campaign with 541 in singles, 444 in doubles and 426 in team for a 1,411 all-events total. In 50 tournaments, the 69-year-old has knocked down 76,331 pins for a career average of 175.

Evans (left) was 42 years old when he made his first appearance at the Open Championships in 1968. He has been to every tournament since, with a highlight coming in 1971 when he bowled with his father, brother and son. His son, Larry Evans Jr., was on the lanes with him again this year for his special night.

Evans, now 91, has a career average of 168 through 50 events. This year at the South Point Bowling Plaza, he rolled sets of 485 in doubles, 407 in singles and 397 in team for a 1,289 all-events total. His career pinfall at the Open Championships is 74,480.

The 2017 Open Championships kicked off Feb. 18 with 23 bowlers scheduled to celebrate 50 years of participation.

A look ahead

Four more bowlers are scheduled to celebrate 50 years of USBC Open Championships participation this week at the South Point Bowling Plaza.

Edwin Macha of Decorah, Iowa, will hit the lanes May 2, Gerrit DeMeulenaere of Macomb, Michigan, and Joseph Krajkovich of North Brunswick, New Jersey, will compete May 4 and Patrick Risner of Dansville, Michigan, will join the 50-Year Club on May 8.

For more information on the Open Championships, click here.

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2017 USBC Open Championships – Regular Division

Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfall

Team
(Combined averages of 1,046 and above)
1, Team NABR (Adam Barta, Anthony Pepe, Mike Rose Jr., Scott Pohl, Brian Waliczek), Fairport, N.Y., 3,266. 2, HoF Silver Lanes 1, New Hartford, Conn., 3,239. 3, Kruse’s Pro Shop, Fargo, N.D., 3,198. 4, TJ’s Pro Shop, Beaver Dam, Wis., 3,191. 5, Supreme Deck, Grand Haven, Mich., 3,174. 6, ND Storm, Glenburn, N.D., 3,161. 7(tie), Chet’s Crew 1, Arlington, Texas, and The Lakers 1, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 3,160. 9, Classic Lanes Raisins, Milwaukee, 3,158. 10, SIR 1, Tafton, Pa., 3,148.

Doubles
(Combined averages of 419 and above)
1, Ryan Zagar, Racine, Wis./Tylor Greene, Davison, Mich., 1,409. 2, Charles Richey, Concord, N.C./Steve Arehart, Chesapeake, Va., 1,385. 3, Scott Erickson, Waunakee, Wis./Chris Gibbons, Madison, Wis., 1,378. 4, Michael Kubacki Sr., Griffith, Ind./Sammy Krucek, Hammond, Ind., 1,369. 5(tie), Jonathan Schalow, Evansville, Wis./Chad Svendsen, Monroe, Wis., Chris Hans, Battleboro, N.C./Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., and Doug Hayes, Clarksville, Tenn./Jimmy Cook II, Indianapolis, 1,365. 8, David Labinski, South Milwaukee, Wis./Steven Brinkman, Sussex, Wis., 1,362. 9, Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan./Dan MacLelland, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1,345. 10(tie), Darin Craine, Flint, Mich./Robert Leser, Fenton, Mich., James Ring, Madison, Wis./Ross Strand, Centennial, Colo., and Trevor Yonan, Sheboygan, Wis./Rob Warren, Antigo, Wis., 1,342.

Singles
(Averages of 210 and above)
1(tie), Matt Gasn, Clarksville, Tenn., and Steve De Kerf Jr., Sheboygan Falls, Wis., 802. 3, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 776. 4(tie), Sam Sylevester and Todd Lathrop, Colchester, Conn., 770. 6, Tony Buck, Rockford, Mich., 768. 7, Rick Knickerbocker, Sacramento, Calif., 758. 8(tie), Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., and Christopher Hester, Louisville, Ky., 743. 10, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Clinton Township, Mich., 742.

All-Events
(Averages of 210 and above)
1, Jacob Boresch, Kenosha, Wis., 2,122. 2, Todd Lathrop, Colchester, Conn., 2,105. 3, Chris Gibbons, Madison, Wis., 2,102. 4, Shawn Naumann, Orlando, Fla., 2,053. 5, Brian Waliczek, Frankenmuth, Mich., 2,051, 6, Ryne Greenwood, Kenosha, Wis., 2,045. 7, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 2,040. 8, Sammy Krucek, Hammond, Ind., 2,035. 9, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 2,031. 10(tie), Geoffrey Young, Keller, Texas, and Mykel Holliman, Collierville, Tenn., 2,028.

Team All-Events
(Combined all-events totals of all five team members)
1, Vanilla Salsa (Shawn Naumann, David O’Sullivan, Matt Gasn, Sean Riccardi, PJ Haggerty), Roseville, Calif., 9,743. 2, Lakeview Lanes, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 9,635. 3, High5Gear, Wichita, Kan., 9,596. 4, Every Kiss Begins With Kruml, O’Fallon, Mo., 9,588. 5, Ogle 5, Louisville, Ky., 9,461. 6, SIR 1, Tafton, Pa., 9,447. 7, Cundiff’s Pro Shop, Appleton, Wis., 9,423. 8, Stars & Leafs, Grand Rapids, Mich., 9,393. 9, 11thFrame.com 1, Oregon, Wis., 9,383. 10, Sunnybrook Lanes, Clinton Township, Mich., 9,379.

2017 USBC Open Championships – Standard Division

Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfall

Team
(Combined averages of 901-1,045)
1, Minnesota Select Sires 1 (Arvid Strande, Carl Krause, Paul Buendiger, Scott Molnar, Andrew Kasten), Fergus, Minn., 2,922. 2, Chris’ Boys, Livingston, Mont., 2,778. 3, General Distributors 2, Beavercreek, Ore. 2,748. 4, Scotty’s 3, Alexandria, Minn., 2,738. 5, Aztec 4, Lacey, Wash., 2,729. 6, Rimmy’s Pro Shop 2, Oak Lawn, Ill., 2,709. 7, Ten Pins Pro Crew 3, Fremont, Calif., 2,697. 8, Becker’s Pro Shop, Muskego, Wis., 2,696. 9, Wildcat Lanes 1, Wayne, Neb., 2,688. 10, The Door Guys, Bismarck, N.D., 2,680.

Doubles
(Combined averages of 361-418)
1, Thomas Fredrick/Mark Mallow, Watertown, Wis., 1,192. 2, Ramon Pagan/Raymond Haran, Chicago, 1,191. 3, Danny Smart, Shreveport, La./Jim Daubenheyer, Valparaiso, Ind., 1,188. 4, Debra Barmore, Omaha, Neb./Tim Kightlinger, West Des Moines, Iowa, 1,187. 5, Cody Maier/James Medina, Spring Creek, Nev., 1,180. 6, Michael Barber, Winnemucca, Nev./Benjamin Wells, Old Hickory, Tenn., 1,177. 7, Todd Montgomery/Robert Denison, Woodland, Calif., 1,176. 8, Kenneth Jones, Belcamp, Md./Kevin Walker, Havre de Grace, Md., 1,175. 9(tie), Jeffrey Schwebke, McHenry, Ill./Robert Dinger, Volo, Ill., and Jeff Kusnerick/Duane Kruger, Streator, Ill., 1,174.

Singles
(Averages of 181-209)
1, Charlie Theobald, Minot, N.D., 696. 2, Earl Bowe, Freeport, Bahamas, 667. 3, Jonathon Berg, Bismarck, N.D., 663. 4, Fred Phillips, Richland, Wash., 658. 5, Don Thompson, Rio Rancho, N.M., 652. 6, John Dowell, Portland, Ore., 651. 7, Edmond Dair, Missouri City, Texas, 650. 8(tie), Terry McKerchie, Grand Blanc, Mich., and Albert Jew, Houston, 649. 10(tie), Jeffrey Luther, Mukwonago, Wis., and Larry Riggs, Sidney, Mont., 648.

All-Events
(Averages of 181-209)
1, Stephanie Sanders, Bakersfield, Calif., 1,826. 2, Timothy Hagar, Celina, Ohio, 1,809. 3, Mike Thielen, Eagle Grove, Iowa, 1,801. 4(tie), David Miller, Menomonie, Wis., and Stanley Chambliss, Opelousas, La., 1,795. 6, Paul Chelminiak, Oconomowoc, Wis., 1,784. 7, Clarence Wallace, Freeport, Ill., 1,783. 8(tie), Donald Van Dine, Orlando, Fla., and Tyler Bryant, Canon City, Colo., 1,778. 10, Nicholas Barkman, Houston, 1,773.

2017 USBC Open Championships – Classified Division

Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfall

Team
(Combined averages of 900 and below)
1, Scotty’s 8 (Chad Brandt, Ryan Dew, Bruce Corneliusen, Zach Hedine, Alan Iverson), Alexandria, Minn., 2,569. 2, Dusty’s Floor Covering, Twin Valley, Minn., 2,487. 3, Brant Construction, Spirit Lake, Iowa, 2,462. 4, Kutztown Fire 1, Kutztown, Pa., 2,456. 5, Decorah Auto Center, Calmar, Iowa, 2,437. 6, Wags N Whiskers, Livingston, Mont., 2,436. 7, Crooked Creek 1 Bar & Grill, Bowman, N.D., 2,413. 8, Pat’s Dairy Whip, Princeville, Ill., 2,405. 9, Brunswick Keglers 2, West Covina, Calif., 2,389. 10, 11th Frame 1, Elko, Nev., 2,384.

Doubles
(Combined averages of 360 and below)
1(tie), Aaron Hagen/Brody Hagen, Benson, Minn., and Mark Nelson, Clitherall, Minn./Lynn Good, Battle Lake, Minn., 1,102. 3, Cari Wiest/Larry Wald, Wishek, N.D., 1,091. 4, Dalton/Jessica Mortenson, Moorhead, Minn., 1,083. 5(tie), Fannie Patterson, Clymer, N.D.,/Sarah Plecker, Hummelstown, Pa., and Leilani Basinger/Jonathan Greer, Riverside, Calif., 1,069. 7, Cameron Simmonds, DeGraff, Minn./Allen Jackson, Belle Plaine, Minn., 1,064. 8, Carol Fuller/Jason Ingram, Sioux City, Iowa, 1,060. 9(tie), Charles Lindeman, Belt, Mont./John Lindeman, Fort Benton, Mont., Sheldon Smith, Timber, Mont./Nick Stenberg, Big Timber, Mont., William Lampe, Gaithersburg, Md./Stephen Peterson, Rockville, Md., and Willie Harrell, Hamilton, Ohio/Arthur Thomas, Cincinnati, 1,058.

Singles
(Averages of 180 and below)
1, Nick Stenberg, Big Timber, Mont., 621. 2, Michael Tengan, Hilo, Hawaii, 607. 3, Gary Pettway, Sweetwater, Tenn., 598. 4, Rory Hanlon, Las Vegas, 592. 5, Efrain Rodriguez, New York, N.Y., 590. 6, James Lee, North Platte, Neb., 589. 7, Gregory Lancaster, Port Orchard, Wash., 587. 8, Cody Maier, Spring Creek, Nev., 584. 9, Jonathan Eickhoff, Lowell, Mich., 583. 10, Robert Gibson, Hopewell, Va., 582.

All-Events
(Averages of 180 and below)
1, Nick Stenberg, Big Timber, Mont., 1,733. 2, Gary Pettway, Sweetwater, Tenn., 1,704. 3, Cody Maier, Spring Creek, Nev., 1,686. 4, Phuoc Tran, West Covina, Calif., 1,661. 5, Joel Willis, LaPlata, Md., 1,640. 6, Efrain Rodriguez, New York, N.Y., 1,636. 7, Tyler Hagen, Stayton, Ore., 1,633. 8, Nicole Kleutgen, Plainfield, Wis., 1,632. 9, Bim Marston, Hardin, Mont., 1,623. 10, Alex Molina, Sun Valley, Calif., 1,619.