Pennsylvania bowler just misses top spot at USBC Open Championships
06/17/06
With one game to go at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Andrew Neuer of Milton, Pa., knew he'd have to be nearly perfect to put himself in position to take home the Regular All-Events title.
The 40-year-old left-hander handled the pressure like the Professional Bowlers Association national champion that he is and opened the final game with 10 consecutive strikes, but a wobbly 3-pin on his 11th offering left him six pins short of Dave Mitchell of Farmington, Minn., who leads with 2,189.
Neuer made the spare and finished with 289 and a 726 singles set. He added 754 in doubles and 703 in team for 2,183 all-events, but immediately began searching for where those six extra pins could've come from. He marked in 87 of 90 frames and had 23 nine counts during the nine games.
"You never expect to shoot 300 to win it, so to even get that close and give myself a chance was amazing," said Neuer, whose lone PBA title came at the 1994 Bud Light Hall of Fame Championships. "Any one shot along the way could've been the difference, but in the end, how can I be upset about being in second place out of the thousands of bowlers who have been to the tournament?"
Neuer, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance, also started his second game of doubles with 10 strikes, but got a little too aggressive and the next ball over-reacted. He finished with 286 and teamed up with Dave Schley of Carlisle, Pa., for a 1,329 doubles effort, and that shot still was in the back of his mind when the lead was on the line.
"The first time I had the front 10, I was too aggressive, so this time I eased up on it too much, although it almost came back," Neuer said. "It was clean off my hand, and if it had been one more board to the right it would have hit flush, but that's the way it goes sometimes. After shooting 202 the second game, I definitely thought 300 was a long shot. Once I got to seven and then eight, I got pumped, but it just didn't happen."
As a regular on the PBA Tour from 1987 until 1997, Neuer learned how important preparation, practice and spare shooting can be for survival at the highest level, and although he isn't as competitive anymore, those lessons are still as important as ever.
To prepare for his trip to the Open Championships, Neuer took advantage of having the tournament lane condition available to all bowlers on the Internet. Even though the bowling center he operates has wood lanes, he still was able to get a general idea of how the pattern would play, and it paid off.
"Of course you still have to work at it and put in the time to prepare, but that's what it takes to be successful at anything," Neuer said. "Plus, everyone has the same opportunity to look at the pattern and practice on it, and I can't see not taking advantage of that."
Presenting sponsors for the 2006 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Texas State Aquarium, Majestic Ventures Yacht Charters, Inc., USS Lexington Museum and Texas Treasure Casino Cruises.
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls:
Team
1, Browning Pontiac (Steve Fehr, George Gohagan III, Ken Jessee, Jon Murph, Ken Abner), Cincinnati, 3,496. 2, Bowlers Universe 1, Rockford, Ill., 3,472. 3, Brunswick Shox, Wichita, Kan., 3,436. 4, The Benik Corporation, Silverdale, Wash., 3,402. 5, Bowling Dynamics Inc., Phoenix, 3,400. 6, Trophy King Pro Shop, Davenport, Iowa, 3,394. 7, Red Carpet Waukesha, Waukesha, Wis., 3,387. 8, Fran's Pro Shop 3, Waterloo, Iowa, 3,382. 9, True Amateur Tournament 1, Upland, Calif., 3,372. 10, Chilton Billiard Supply, Wichita, Kan., 3,365.
Doubles
1, Paul Yoder, Albuquerque, N.M./Bobby Stives, El Paso, Texas, 1,497. 2, Pat McGainey Jr., Baltimore/Brian Bennett, Lewes, Del., 1,496. 3, Paul Zuehlke, Oshkosh, Wis./Jon Schure, Ripon, Wis., 1,461. 4, Kevin Adam/Jacques Jacobson, Reading, Pa., 1,447. 5, Shane Keefauver, Canton, Ill./Doug Manhart, Bloomington, Ill., 1,432. 6, Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M./John Weltzien, Wellington, Fla., 1,425. 7, Scott Terzo/Mark McClain, Rochester, N.Y., 1,421. 8, Aaron Pawloski, Volcano, Calif./Bobby Huckaby, Santa Cruz, Calif., 1,420. 9, Mike Friedman, Adams, Tenn./Tony Szeluga, Clarksville, Tenn., 1,413. 10, Ryan Lever, New Berlin, Wis./Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 1.412.
Singles
1, Norm Titus, Columbia, Tenn., 811. 2, Dave Barker, Springfield Ill., 793. 3, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 792. 4, Michael Chontos, Finleyville, Pa., 791. 5, Janette Piesczynski, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 789. 6 (tie), Dave Hewitt, Fremont, Calif., and Jeff Carter, Springfield Ill., 788. 8, David Williams Jr., Omaha, Neb., 783. 9, Ernest Goedicke, Brigham City, Utah, 774. 10, Mike Danielson, Vancouver, Wash., 773.
All-Events
1, Dave Mitchell, Farmington, Minn., 2,189. 2, Andrew Neuer, Milton, Pa., 2,183. 3, Aaron Walsh, Amarillo, Texas, 2,180. 4, Kelly Ray, Arlington, Texas, 2,179. 5, Norm Titus, Columbia, Tenn., 2,177. 6, Shane Keefauver, Canton, Ill., 2,171. 7, Rob Schuh, Neenah, Wis., 2,161. 8, Robert Dillman, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,158. 9, Mitch Sacks, Mundelein, Ill., 2,156. 10, David Cirigliano, Phoenix, 2,154.
Team All-Events
1, Linds Lakers 1 (Sam Lantto, Gary Green, Charles Vashaw, Todd Savoy, John Eiss), Minneapolis, 9,940. 2, MoRich Ball Company, Milwaukee, 9,893. 3, Bowling Dynamics Inc., Phoenix, 9,866. 4, Montgomery Industries Inc., Braintree, Mass., 9,851. 5, Smith Barney 1, Madison, Wis., 9,849. 6, Warrior Lanes, Des Moines, Iowa, 9,837. 7, Browning Pontiac, Cincinnati, 9,829. 8, Ebonite HQ 1, Hopkinsville, Ky., 9,816. 9, On Track/Custom Thumb A, Brooklyn Center, Minn., 9,799. 10, Chilton Billiard Supply, Wichita, Kan., 9,793.
Team
1, Torkelson Construction (Greg Schipull, Roger Haupt, Troy Schultz, Dustin Elston, Eric Douglass), Clarion, Iowa, 2,878. 2, Suburban Lanes, Meade, Kan., 2,851. 3, Sportsman Bowling Club 3, Cerritos, Calif., 2,807. 4, Grogan's Dairy Queen, Dyersburg, Tenn., 2,789. 5, D&R Golf, New Iberia, La., 2,750. 6, Sparta Pro Shop, Sparta, Mich., 2,745. 7, Hole in the Wall 2, Newton, Iowa, 2,744. 8, Lucky-Lucky, Lubbock, Texas, 2,743. 9, Dos Amigos, Page, Ariz., 2,742. 10, Cardinal Lanes, Hoisington, Kan., 2,740.
Doubles
1, Robert Tukker, Mount Prospect, Ill./David Clauss, Chicago, 1,248. 2, Richard Cockerhan, Davison, Mich./Ron Caldwell, North Branch, Mich., 1,234. 3, Chris Lott, Murfreesboro, Tenn./Ronald Morris, Nashville, Tenn., 1,229. 4, Kevin Mitchell, Millbrae, Calif./Robert Stephens, San Francisco, 1,214. 5, Jared Gould, Jamestown, N.Y./Harvey Osterstuck, Perrysburg, N.Y., 1,212. 6, Kirby Lomax, Gainesville, Ga./Samuel Murray, Toccoa, Ga., 1,211. 7, Ron Hester/Ken Varner, Lexington, N.C., 1,209. 8, Leroy Bellemin, Grand Coteau, La./Rodney Leblanc, Lafayette, La., 1,201. 9 (tie), Larry Sorenson/Virgil Taylor, Streator, Ill., Tim Anderson, Dawson, Minn./Rob Bennett, Montevideo, Minn., and Glynn Arceneaux, Lafayette, La./Rob Clark, Duson, La., 1,198.
Singles
1 (tie), Steve Jacoby, Gowen, Mich., and Ted Skrzynecki Jr., Ida, Mich., 679. 3 (tie), Darlene Baker, Mahomet, Ill., and Todd Guidry, Lafayette, La., 675. 5, Rand Syverson, Onamia, Minn., 665. 6, Aaron Biagioni, Ottawa, Ill., 661. 7, Frederick Green, Waterford Township, Mich., 660. 8, Chris Case, Knoxville, Tenn., 657. 9, Greg Hidalgo, Austin, Texas, 655. 10 (tie), Daryl Leal, Augusta, Ga., and Tate Ziglar, Lexington, N.C., 654.
All-Events
1, Kirby Lomax, Gainesville, Ga., 1,861. 2, John Millet Jr., Greenland, N.H., 1,851. 3, Todd Guidry, Lafayette, La., 1,824. 4, John Murray, Pompano Beach, Fla., 1,802. 5, Jeffery Schrupp, Lester Prairie, Minn., 1,800. 6, Keith Braun, Celina, Ohio, 1,797. 7, Billy Haferkamp, Clifton, Texas, 1,788. 8, Michael Licko, Carol Stream, Ill., 1,787. 9, Robyn Haires, Panama City, Fla., 1,785. 10, James McLendon, Charlotte, N.C., 1,781.
United States
American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas (Feb. 11 - July 3, 2006)
With one game to go at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Andrew Neuer of Milton, Pa., knew he'd have to be nearly perfect to put himself in position to take home the Regular All-Events title. The 40-year-old left-hander handled the pressure like the Professional Bowlers Association national champion that he is and opened the final game with 10 consecutive strikes, but a wobbly 3-pin on his 11th offering left him six pins short of Dave Mitchell of Farmington, Minn., who leads with 2,189.
Neuer made the spare and finished with 289 and a 726 singles set. He added 754 in doubles and 703 in team for 2,183 all-events, but immediately began searching for where those six extra pins could've come from. He marked in 87 of 90 frames and had 23 nine counts during the nine games.
"You never expect to shoot 300 to win it, so to even get that close and give myself a chance was amazing," said Neuer, whose lone PBA title came at the 1994 Bud Light Hall of Fame Championships. "Any one shot along the way could've been the difference, but in the end, how can I be upset about being in second place out of the thousands of bowlers who have been to the tournament?"
Neuer, who made his 12th Open Championships appearance, also started his second game of doubles with 10 strikes, but got a little too aggressive and the next ball over-reacted. He finished with 286 and teamed up with Dave Schley of Carlisle, Pa., for a 1,329 doubles effort, and that shot still was in the back of his mind when the lead was on the line.
"The first time I had the front 10, I was too aggressive, so this time I eased up on it too much, although it almost came back," Neuer said. "It was clean off my hand, and if it had been one more board to the right it would have hit flush, but that's the way it goes sometimes. After shooting 202 the second game, I definitely thought 300 was a long shot. Once I got to seven and then eight, I got pumped, but it just didn't happen."
As a regular on the PBA Tour from 1987 until 1997, Neuer learned how important preparation, practice and spare shooting can be for survival at the highest level, and although he isn't as competitive anymore, those lessons are still as important as ever.
To prepare for his trip to the Open Championships, Neuer took advantage of having the tournament lane condition available to all bowlers on the Internet. Even though the bowling center he operates has wood lanes, he still was able to get a general idea of how the pattern would play, and it paid off.
"Of course you still have to work at it and put in the time to prepare, but that's what it takes to be successful at anything," Neuer said. "Plus, everyone has the same opportunity to look at the pattern and practice on it, and I can't see not taking advantage of that."
Presenting sponsors for the 2006 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Texas State Aquarium, Majestic Ventures Yacht Charters, Inc., USS Lexington Museum and Texas Treasure Casino Cruises. REGULAR DIVISION
Team
1, Browning Pontiac (Steve Fehr, George Gohagan III, Ken Jessee, Jon Murph, Ken Abner), Cincinnati, 3,496. 2, Bowlers Universe 1, Rockford, Ill., 3,472. 3, Brunswick Shox, Wichita, Kan., 3,436. 4, The Benik Corporation, Silverdale, Wash., 3,402. 5, Bowling Dynamics Inc., Phoenix, 3,400. 6, Trophy King Pro Shop, Davenport, Iowa, 3,394. 7, Red Carpet Waukesha, Waukesha, Wis., 3,387. 8, Fran's Pro Shop 3, Waterloo, Iowa, 3,382. 9, True Amateur Tournament 1, Upland, Calif., 3,372. 10, Chilton Billiard Supply, Wichita, Kan., 3,365.
Doubles
1, Paul Yoder, Albuquerque, N.M./Bobby Stives, El Paso, Texas, 1,497. 2, Pat McGainey Jr., Baltimore/Brian Bennett, Lewes, Del., 1,496. 3, Paul Zuehlke, Oshkosh, Wis./Jon Schure, Ripon, Wis., 1,461. 4, Kevin Adam/Jacques Jacobson, Reading, Pa., 1,447. 5, Shane Keefauver, Canton, Ill./Doug Manhart, Bloomington, Ill., 1,432. 6, Gary Skidmore, Albuquerque, N.M./John Weltzien, Wellington, Fla., 1,425. 7, Scott Terzo/Mark McClain, Rochester, N.Y., 1,421. 8, Aaron Pawloski, Volcano, Calif./Bobby Huckaby, Santa Cruz, Calif., 1,420. 9, Mike Friedman, Adams, Tenn./Tony Szeluga, Clarksville, Tenn., 1,413. 10, Ryan Lever, New Berlin, Wis./Chad Maas, Brookfield, Wis., 1.412.
Singles
1, Norm Titus, Columbia, Tenn., 811. 2, Dave Barker, Springfield Ill., 793. 3, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 792. 4, Michael Chontos, Finleyville, Pa., 791. 5, Janette Piesczynski, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 789. 6 (tie), Dave Hewitt, Fremont, Calif., and Jeff Carter, Springfield Ill., 788. 8, David Williams Jr., Omaha, Neb., 783. 9, Ernest Goedicke, Brigham City, Utah, 774. 10, Mike Danielson, Vancouver, Wash., 773.
All-Events
1, Dave Mitchell, Farmington, Minn., 2,189. 2, Andrew Neuer, Milton, Pa., 2,183. 3, Aaron Walsh, Amarillo, Texas, 2,180. 4, Kelly Ray, Arlington, Texas, 2,179. 5, Norm Titus, Columbia, Tenn., 2,177. 6, Shane Keefauver, Canton, Ill., 2,171. 7, Rob Schuh, Neenah, Wis., 2,161. 8, Robert Dillman, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,158. 9, Mitch Sacks, Mundelein, Ill., 2,156. 10, David Cirigliano, Phoenix, 2,154.
Team All-Events
1, Linds Lakers 1 (Sam Lantto, Gary Green, Charles Vashaw, Todd Savoy, John Eiss), Minneapolis, 9,940. 2, MoRich Ball Company, Milwaukee, 9,893. 3, Bowling Dynamics Inc., Phoenix, 9,866. 4, Montgomery Industries Inc., Braintree, Mass., 9,851. 5, Smith Barney 1, Madison, Wis., 9,849. 6, Warrior Lanes, Des Moines, Iowa, 9,837. 7, Browning Pontiac, Cincinnati, 9,829. 8, Ebonite HQ 1, Hopkinsville, Ky., 9,816. 9, On Track/Custom Thumb A, Brooklyn Center, Minn., 9,799. 10, Chilton Billiard Supply, Wichita, Kan., 9,793.
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Team
1, Torkelson Construction (Greg Schipull, Roger Haupt, Troy Schultz, Dustin Elston, Eric Douglass), Clarion, Iowa, 2,878. 2, Suburban Lanes, Meade, Kan., 2,851. 3, Sportsman Bowling Club 3, Cerritos, Calif., 2,807. 4, Grogan's Dairy Queen, Dyersburg, Tenn., 2,789. 5, D&R Golf, New Iberia, La., 2,750. 6, Sparta Pro Shop, Sparta, Mich., 2,745. 7, Hole in the Wall 2, Newton, Iowa, 2,744. 8, Lucky-Lucky, Lubbock, Texas, 2,743. 9, Dos Amigos, Page, Ariz., 2,742. 10, Cardinal Lanes, Hoisington, Kan., 2,740.
Doubles
1, Robert Tukker, Mount Prospect, Ill./David Clauss, Chicago, 1,248. 2, Richard Cockerhan, Davison, Mich./Ron Caldwell, North Branch, Mich., 1,234. 3, Chris Lott, Murfreesboro, Tenn./Ronald Morris, Nashville, Tenn., 1,229. 4, Kevin Mitchell, Millbrae, Calif./Robert Stephens, San Francisco, 1,214. 5, Jared Gould, Jamestown, N.Y./Harvey Osterstuck, Perrysburg, N.Y., 1,212. 6, Kirby Lomax, Gainesville, Ga./Samuel Murray, Toccoa, Ga., 1,211. 7, Ron Hester/Ken Varner, Lexington, N.C., 1,209. 8, Leroy Bellemin, Grand Coteau, La./Rodney Leblanc, Lafayette, La., 1,201. 9 (tie), Larry Sorenson/Virgil Taylor, Streator, Ill., Tim Anderson, Dawson, Minn./Rob Bennett, Montevideo, Minn., and Glynn Arceneaux, Lafayette, La./Rob Clark, Duson, La., 1,198.
Singles
1 (tie), Steve Jacoby, Gowen, Mich., and Ted Skrzynecki Jr., Ida, Mich., 679. 3 (tie), Darlene Baker, Mahomet, Ill., and Todd Guidry, Lafayette, La., 675. 5, Rand Syverson, Onamia, Minn., 665. 6, Aaron Biagioni, Ottawa, Ill., 661. 7, Frederick Green, Waterford Township, Mich., 660. 8, Chris Case, Knoxville, Tenn., 657. 9, Greg Hidalgo, Austin, Texas, 655. 10 (tie), Daryl Leal, Augusta, Ga., and Tate Ziglar, Lexington, N.C., 654.
All-Events
1, Kirby Lomax, Gainesville, Ga., 1,861. 2, John Millet Jr., Greenland, N.H., 1,851. 3, Todd Guidry, Lafayette, La., 1,824. 4, John Murray, Pompano Beach, Fla., 1,802. 5, Jeffery Schrupp, Lester Prairie, Minn., 1,800. 6, Keith Braun, Celina, Ohio, 1,797. 7, Billy Haferkamp, Clifton, Texas, 1,788. 8, Michael Licko, Carol Stream, Ill., 1,787. 9, Robyn Haires, Panama City, Fla., 1,785. 10, James McLendon, Charlotte, N.C., 1,781.