British teams enjoy first trip to USBC Open Championships
07/12/09
Lol Ellis of Cannock Staffs, England, has competed in events as prestigious as the Men's World Championships and as high-paying as the High Roller and Mini-Eliminator in Las Vegas, and this week, he got his first taste of the USBC Open Championships.
The 58-year-old right-hander and the rest of his Team Camel teammates traveled more than 5,000 miles from England to Las Vegas to join the more than 86,000 bowlers competing at Cashman Center this year, and the experience was a memorable one.
Team Camel 1 (from left to right - Lol Ellis, Lee Miller, Lee Chatfield, Stu Little and Mark Ellis)
"It is pretty exciting," Ellis said. "I've played in the World Championships before for Team England, but this is probably the biggest tournament ever."
The 10 bowlers showed their excitement and support for each other by cheering loudly throughout their team event Thursday night.
"We've been bowling together for about four or five years, maybe," said Ellis, who as aspirations of competing on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour someday. "We are a close-knit team. We've got some really good bowlers, and we play as a unit, so everyone is up for the game."
Ellis, who has been bowling since he was 11 years old, organized the teams and was pleased with his teammates' attitudes about the challenging lane conditions they expected to face at the Open Championships.
"It's a tough condition, but we used an hour session at the Gold Coast (with USBC Silver coach Mike Jasnau) for team building and to learn more about how to play the pattern, and that was a big help," Ellis said. "We made a great start. The second game was sort of flat, and then we got back on the third game, so that was really pleasing."
Ellis shot 616 and helped Team Camel 1 to games of 1,008, 880 and 1,057 for a 2,945 team total. He was joined by his son Mark Ellis (630), Lee Miller (586), Stu Little (579) and Lee Chatfield (534).
Team Camel 2 finished with 2,718, led by Mark Woods (568), who was followed by Richard Beck (549), Chris Maughan (548), Neil Walker (545) and Kat Little (508).
Team Camel 2 (from left to right - Chris Maughan, Kat Little, Mark Woods, Richard Beck and Neil Walker)
Although their scores were not what they expected, both teams will take the experience of their first Open Championships and use it to help their bowling skills for when they get back to England and get ready for 2010 Open Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
"We've already said that we're going to Reno next year, if I can get it organized," Ellis said. "It's a bit of a holiday for us as well. I want to make sure that we are all focused for the game and that we can also have a good time afterwards. I'm pretty sure I'll send one team, if not two."
Ellis expressed the importance of being serious about the sport, but he also considers it crucial to have a group of people who will support each other no matter what.
"I've set the emotion, and I tried to put together players who not only bowl well, but fit in well," said Ellis who is an accountant and a bowling coach in his free time. "For team bowling, you need that friendship. We have some really good players, but no one thinks they're better than anyone else."
The teams got their names from an expression they use while they bowl. When they take to the lanes and someone has a poor showing, they say, "what a camel," according to Ellis.
The team wore shirts that camels embroidered on them, along with their nicknames. The nicknames demonstrate either the personality or style of each player while bowling. "My name is Mr. Fun," Ellis said. "My real name is Lawrence, really, but Lol is Dutch for fun."
Ellis added 558 in singles and 553 in doubles to round out his debut with a 1,727 all-events total. He and his teammates enjoyed their first trip to the Open Championships and are looking to become regulars on the championship lanes.
"Thanks to the USBC for letting us come and play," Ellis said. "They played our national anthem, and that was really good. They made us feel very welcome."
Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Nev. (Feb. 21 - July 24, 2009)
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
1, Linds Limited (Gus Yannaras, Gary Daroszewski, Ryan Lever, Lennie Boresch Jr., Dale Traber), Milwaukee, 3,449. 2, Sack Toe, Sacramento, Calif., 3,427. 3, Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1, Madison, Wis., 3,403. 4, Buddy Tierno Senior Tour, Mount Laurel, N.J., 3,335. 5, S and B Pro Shop 2, Sterling Heights, Mich., 3,325. 6, Jr Team USA Support, New Port Richey, Fla., 3,307. 7, Don Johnson Memorial, 3,306. 8, Northern Lanes Rec, Gaylord, Mich., 3,290. 9, Rock River Lanes, Fort Atkinson, Wis., 3,285. 10, Lodge Lanes 1, Saline, Mich., 3,280.
Doubles
1, Stephen Padilla/Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 1,566. 2, Marc McDowell, Monona, Wis./Mike Shady, Fairview, Pa., 1,474. 3, Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, Ill./Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,466. 4, Adam Cardwell, Woodbury, Minn./Richard Volhard, Marathon, Wis., 1,460. 5, Jason Guest, Urbandale, Iowa/Scott Wohlwend, Moline, Ill., 1,453. 6, Steve Brinkman, Sussex, Wis./Lennie Boresch, Kenosha, Wis., 1,446. 7, John Brodersen, Helena, Mont./Bruce Steffani, Great Falls, Mont., 1,444. 8. Greg Thompson, Cupertino, Calif./Fero Williams, West Carrollton, Ohio, 1443. 9, Edward Gallagher, Clarksville, Tenn./Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,440. 10, Mike Holland/Ryan Holland, Houston, 1,429.
Singles
1, Bo Goergen, Midland, Mich., 862. 2, Ron Vokes, Racine, Wis., 857. 3, Rick Perry, Kalispell, Mont., 814. 4, Vincent Yoder, Wooster, Ohio, 810. 5, David Cirigliano, Phoenix, Ariz., 793. 6, Raymond Smarsh, Matawan, N.J., 792. 7, Sean Riccardi, Piscataway, N.J., 789. 8, Joseph Burgio, Buffalo, N.Y., 788. 9, Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 785. 10, Hutch Battreall, St. Joseph, Mo., 783.
All-Events
1, Ron Vokes, Racine, Wis., 2,321. 2, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2,223. 3, Bo Goergen, Midland, Mich., 2,190. 4, Don Burdick, DeKalb, Ill., 2,168. 5, Sean Riccardi, Piscataway, N.J., 2,164. 6, Joe Hostetler, Minerva, Ohio, 2,156. 7, Brett Wolfe, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2,147. 8, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 2,138. 9, Chris Collins, Savannah, Ga., 2,136. 10, Matt Descoteaux, Spokane, Wash., 2,134.
Team All-Events
1, Linds Limited (Gus Yannaras, Gary Daroszewski, Ryan Lever, Lennie Boresch Jr., Dale Traber), Milwaukee, 10,372. 2, Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1, Madison, Wis., 10,317. 3, Northern Lanes Pro Shop, Sanford, Mich., 10,116. 4, Don Johnson Memorial, Lexington, Ky., 10,056. 5, Jr. Team USA Support, New Port Richey, Fla., 10,034. 6, Rock River Lanes, Fort Atkinson, Wis., 9,915. 7, Sack Toe, Sacramento, Calif., 9,858. 8, Junior Team USA Support, Orlando, Fla., 9,846. 9, Northern Lanes Rec, Gaylord, Mich., 9,839. 10 (tie), Pepsi/Lanemasters 1, Rochester, N.Y., and Miguel Rosa, Dartmouth, Mass., 9,829.
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
1, K&K Bowling Services 11 (Bob Godden, Bruce Burkey, Rich Hunter, Oscar Jimenez, Robert Yadao), Las Vegas, 2,813. 2, Exterminators, Camp Springs, Md., 2,749. 3, Malad Gun Club, Malad City, Idaho, 2,745. 4, Kens Old West, Page, Ariz., 2,743. 5,E. Montana Flatlanders, Rio Rancho, N.M., 2,734. 6, Pinboy's Faithful 2, Virginia Beach, Va., 2,708. 7, Fire One, Clearlake Oaks, Calif., 2,703. 8, ATW, New London, Minn., 2,698. 9, Pro Zone 3, Mission Hills, Calif., 2,696. 10 (tie), Eagle Bowl 2, Eagle Grove, Iowa, and 5 Star Farms, Bowling Green, Mo., 2,686.
Doubles
1, Melanie Sweet, Capitol Heights, Md./Lashawn Farrish, Bowie, Md., 1,220. 2, Eric Douglass, Goldfield, Iowa/Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,204. 3, Veronica Boone/Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,195. 4, George Marquez, Whittier/ Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,192. 5, Po Ling Klip, San Francisco/Maria Lau, Daly City, Calif., 1,185. 6, Bootnie Gray/Denis Gray Sr., Charlotte, N.C., 1,183. 7, Bob Godden, Las Vegas/Bruce Burkey, Henderson, Nev., 1,181. 8, Brandon Vaught, McGill, Nev./Mike Kapetan, Ely, Nev., 1,178. 9, Devonn Turner, Charlotte, N.C./Darryl Turner, Mint Hill, N.C., 1,174. 10 (tie), Rick Armitage/Angela Kathol, Norfolk, Neb., and Angel Rodriquez, San Juan, Puerto Rico/Juan Cains, Hollywood, Fla., 1,169.
Singles
1, Vernon Daniels, Bermuda, 692. 2, Ed Gronski, Mulkeytown, Ill., 687. 3 (tie), Dennis Tomhave, Vermillion, S.D., and Tom Hammack, Jenks, Okla., 679. 5, Kelly Aeikens, Benson, Minn., 677. 6, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 664. 7, Adam Macleod, Brampton, Ontario, 662. 8, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 657. 9, Jean Reese, Owatonna, Minn., 654. 10, Elizabeth Scott, Lenoir, N.C., 652.
All-Events
1, Bob Godden, Las Vegas, 1,854. 2, Anthony Kastle, Charlotte, N.C., 1,834. 3, Frank Boehm Jr., Regina, Saskatchewan, 1,818. 4, Dennis Tomhave, Vermillion, S.D., 1,799. 5, Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,798. 6, Richard Ruby, Milford, N.J., 1,796. 7, John Waliczek, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,795. 8, Darryl Turner, Mint Hill, N.C., 1,788. 9, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 1,782. 10, Jason Davis, Marshall, Mo., 1,777.
United States
Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Nev., United States (Feb. 21 - July 24, 2009)
Lol Ellis of Cannock Staffs, England, has competed in events as prestigious as the Men's World Championships and as high-paying as the High Roller and Mini-Eliminator in Las Vegas, and this week, he got his first taste of the USBC Open Championships. The 58-year-old right-hander and the rest of his Team Camel teammates traveled more than 5,000 miles from England to Las Vegas to join the more than 86,000 bowlers competing at Cashman Center this year, and the experience was a memorable one.
Team Camel 1 (from left to right - Lol Ellis, Lee Miller, Lee Chatfield, Stu Little and Mark Ellis)
"It is pretty exciting," Ellis said. "I've played in the World Championships before for Team England, but this is probably the biggest tournament ever."
The 10 bowlers showed their excitement and support for each other by cheering loudly throughout their team event Thursday night.
"We've been bowling together for about four or five years, maybe," said Ellis, who as aspirations of competing on the Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour someday. "We are a close-knit team. We've got some really good bowlers, and we play as a unit, so everyone is up for the game."
Ellis, who has been bowling since he was 11 years old, organized the teams and was pleased with his teammates' attitudes about the challenging lane conditions they expected to face at the Open Championships.
"It's a tough condition, but we used an hour session at the Gold Coast (with USBC Silver coach Mike Jasnau) for team building and to learn more about how to play the pattern, and that was a big help," Ellis said. "We made a great start. The second game was sort of flat, and then we got back on the third game, so that was really pleasing."
Ellis shot 616 and helped Team Camel 1 to games of 1,008, 880 and 1,057 for a 2,945 team total. He was joined by his son Mark Ellis (630), Lee Miller (586), Stu Little (579) and Lee Chatfield (534). Team Camel 2 finished with 2,718, led by Mark Woods (568), who was followed by Richard Beck (549), Chris Maughan (548), Neil Walker (545) and Kat Little (508).
Team Camel 2 (from left to right - Chris Maughan, Kat Little, Mark Woods, Richard Beck and Neil Walker)
Although their scores were not what they expected, both teams will take the experience of their first Open Championships and use it to help their bowling skills for when they get back to England and get ready for 2010 Open Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
"We've already said that we're going to Reno next year, if I can get it organized," Ellis said. "It's a bit of a holiday for us as well. I want to make sure that we are all focused for the game and that we can also have a good time afterwards. I'm pretty sure I'll send one team, if not two."
Ellis expressed the importance of being serious about the sport, but he also considers it crucial to have a group of people who will support each other no matter what.
"I've set the emotion, and I tried to put together players who not only bowl well, but fit in well," said Ellis who is an accountant and a bowling coach in his free time. "For team bowling, you need that friendship. We have some really good players, but no one thinks they're better than anyone else."
The teams got their names from an expression they use while they bowl. When they take to the lanes and someone has a poor showing, they say, "what a camel," according to Ellis.
The team wore shirts that camels embroidered on them, along with their nicknames. The nicknames demonstrate either the personality or style of each player while bowling. "My name is Mr. Fun," Ellis said. "My real name is Lawrence, really, but Lol is Dutch for fun."
Ellis added 558 in singles and 553 in doubles to round out his debut with a 1,727 all-events total. He and his teammates enjoyed their first trip to the Open Championships and are looking to become regulars on the championship lanes.
"Thanks to the USBC for letting us come and play," Ellis said. "They played our national anthem, and that was really good. They made us feel very welcome."
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Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman's Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry's Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel.
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2009 USBC Open Championships
Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Nev. (Feb. 21 - July 24, 2009)
REGULAR DIVISION
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
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Team1, Linds Limited (Gus Yannaras, Gary Daroszewski, Ryan Lever, Lennie Boresch Jr., Dale Traber), Milwaukee, 3,449. 2, Sack Toe, Sacramento, Calif., 3,427. 3, Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1, Madison, Wis., 3,403. 4, Buddy Tierno Senior Tour, Mount Laurel, N.J., 3,335. 5, S and B Pro Shop 2, Sterling Heights, Mich., 3,325. 6, Jr Team USA Support, New Port Richey, Fla., 3,307. 7, Don Johnson Memorial, 3,306. 8, Northern Lanes Rec, Gaylord, Mich., 3,290. 9, Rock River Lanes, Fort Atkinson, Wis., 3,285. 10, Lodge Lanes 1, Saline, Mich., 3,280.
Doubles
1, Stephen Padilla/Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 1,566. 2, Marc McDowell, Monona, Wis./Mike Shady, Fairview, Pa., 1,474. 3, Ron Nelson, Bridgeview, Ill./Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,466. 4, Adam Cardwell, Woodbury, Minn./Richard Volhard, Marathon, Wis., 1,460. 5, Jason Guest, Urbandale, Iowa/Scott Wohlwend, Moline, Ill., 1,453. 6, Steve Brinkman, Sussex, Wis./Lennie Boresch, Kenosha, Wis., 1,446. 7, John Brodersen, Helena, Mont./Bruce Steffani, Great Falls, Mont., 1,444. 8. Greg Thompson, Cupertino, Calif./Fero Williams, West Carrollton, Ohio, 1443. 9, Edward Gallagher, Clarksville, Tenn./Ray Edwards, Middle Island, N.Y., 1,440. 10, Mike Holland/Ryan Holland, Houston, 1,429.
Singles
1, Bo Goergen, Midland, Mich., 862. 2, Ron Vokes, Racine, Wis., 857. 3, Rick Perry, Kalispell, Mont., 814. 4, Vincent Yoder, Wooster, Ohio, 810. 5, David Cirigliano, Phoenix, Ariz., 793. 6, Raymond Smarsh, Matawan, N.J., 792. 7, Sean Riccardi, Piscataway, N.J., 789. 8, Joseph Burgio, Buffalo, N.Y., 788. 9, Brenda Edwards, Mansfield, Texas, 785. 10, Hutch Battreall, St. Joseph, Mo., 783.
All-Events
1, Ron Vokes, Racine, Wis., 2,321. 2, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 2,223. 3, Bo Goergen, Midland, Mich., 2,190. 4, Don Burdick, DeKalb, Ill., 2,168. 5, Sean Riccardi, Piscataway, N.J., 2,164. 6, Joe Hostetler, Minerva, Ohio, 2,156. 7, Brett Wolfe, Scottsdale, Ariz., 2,147. 8, Ron Nelson Jr., Bridgeview, Ill., 2,138. 9, Chris Collins, Savannah, Ga., 2,136. 10, Matt Descoteaux, Spokane, Wash., 2,134.
Team All-Events
1, Linds Limited (Gus Yannaras, Gary Daroszewski, Ryan Lever, Lennie Boresch Jr., Dale Traber), Milwaukee, 10,372. 2, Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1, Madison, Wis., 10,317. 3, Northern Lanes Pro Shop, Sanford, Mich., 10,116. 4, Don Johnson Memorial, Lexington, Ky., 10,056. 5, Jr. Team USA Support, New Port Richey, Fla., 10,034. 6, Rock River Lanes, Fort Atkinson, Wis., 9,915. 7, Sack Toe, Sacramento, Calif., 9,858. 8, Junior Team USA Support, Orlando, Fla., 9,846. 9, Northern Lanes Rec, Gaylord, Mich., 9,839. 10 (tie), Pepsi/Lanemasters 1, Rochester, N.Y., and Miguel Rosa, Dartmouth, Mass., 9,829.
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CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfalls
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Team1, K&K Bowling Services 11 (Bob Godden, Bruce Burkey, Rich Hunter, Oscar Jimenez, Robert Yadao), Las Vegas, 2,813. 2, Exterminators, Camp Springs, Md., 2,749. 3, Malad Gun Club, Malad City, Idaho, 2,745. 4, Kens Old West, Page, Ariz., 2,743. 5,E. Montana Flatlanders, Rio Rancho, N.M., 2,734. 6, Pinboy's Faithful 2, Virginia Beach, Va., 2,708. 7, Fire One, Clearlake Oaks, Calif., 2,703. 8, ATW, New London, Minn., 2,698. 9, Pro Zone 3, Mission Hills, Calif., 2,696. 10 (tie), Eagle Bowl 2, Eagle Grove, Iowa, and 5 Star Farms, Bowling Green, Mo., 2,686.
Doubles
1, Melanie Sweet, Capitol Heights, Md./Lashawn Farrish, Bowie, Md., 1,220. 2, Eric Douglass, Goldfield, Iowa/Troy Schultz, Clarion, Iowa, 1,204. 3, Veronica Boone/Luis Boone, Mission Hills, Calif., 1,195. 4, George Marquez, Whittier/ Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,192. 5, Po Ling Klip, San Francisco/Maria Lau, Daly City, Calif., 1,185. 6, Bootnie Gray/Denis Gray Sr., Charlotte, N.C., 1,183. 7, Bob Godden, Las Vegas/Bruce Burkey, Henderson, Nev., 1,181. 8, Brandon Vaught, McGill, Nev./Mike Kapetan, Ely, Nev., 1,178. 9, Devonn Turner, Charlotte, N.C./Darryl Turner, Mint Hill, N.C., 1,174. 10 (tie), Rick Armitage/Angela Kathol, Norfolk, Neb., and Angel Rodriquez, San Juan, Puerto Rico/Juan Cains, Hollywood, Fla., 1,169.
Singles
1, Vernon Daniels, Bermuda, 692. 2, Ed Gronski, Mulkeytown, Ill., 687. 3 (tie), Dennis Tomhave, Vermillion, S.D., and Tom Hammack, Jenks, Okla., 679. 5, Kelly Aeikens, Benson, Minn., 677. 6, Ryan Knutson, Dilworth, Minn., 664. 7, Adam Macleod, Brampton, Ontario, 662. 8, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 657. 9, Jean Reese, Owatonna, Minn., 654. 10, Elizabeth Scott, Lenoir, N.C., 652.
All-Events
1, Bob Godden, Las Vegas, 1,854. 2, Anthony Kastle, Charlotte, N.C., 1,834. 3, Frank Boehm Jr., Regina, Saskatchewan, 1,818. 4, Dennis Tomhave, Vermillion, S.D., 1,799. 5, Pete Dumpit, El Monte, Calif., 1,798. 6, Richard Ruby, Milford, N.J., 1,796. 7, John Waliczek, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,795. 8, Darryl Turner, Mint Hill, N.C., 1,788. 9, Roy Umehira, Honolulu, 1,782. 10, Jason Davis, Marshall, Mo., 1,777.
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