Jack Jurek takes second round lead in 67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open

02/25/10

2009-10 PBA Tour #14

Venezuela’s Amleto Monacelli advances from 29th place to second

200910PBAJackJurek.jpg200910PBAAmletoMonacelli.jpgJack Jurek (pictured left) of Lackawanna, N.Y., who ended a record 14-year drought between titles earlier this season, claimed the second round lead in the 67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open at Woodland Bowl Wednesday, averaging 222 for 12 games to take a 13-pin lead over PBA Hall of Famer Amleto Monacelli (right) of Venezuela.

Jurek, who was in third place after the opening round, posted a 2,672 pinfall total to lead Monacelli’s 2,659. Monacelli was in 29th place after the first six games.

Dave Beres of Waukesha, Wis., was in third place with 2,656 pins followed by Jason Wojnar of Chicago at 2,652 and first round leader Robert Smith of Columbus, Ohio, with 2,650 pins. Beres and Wojnar are both trying for the first PBA Tour titles. Smith won the 2000 U.S. Open.

Jurek, 46, is trying for his first PBA Tour major title and third overall career title. He defeated Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., over Labor Day weekend in Detroit to win the PBA Shark Championship, his first title since winning the 1995 Tums Classic in Windsor Locks, Conn. While the pressure to end that streak is now gone, he finds himself leading a tournament that hasn’t been kind to him in years past.

“This is by far the best start I’ve ever had in a U.S. Open,” he said. “The whole season has been going well. It’s a combination of things.

“Today I started with a 179, but then I stumbled into a little better shot. The second squad has always been a little tougher for me because the condition is broken down and you have to move to an inside angle where the ball returns get in the way,” Jurek added. “But today I was been able to play a little farther to the right, so I felt like I bowled 200 (pins) over (a 200 average) today.”

200910PBABillONeill.jpg200910PBAWesMalott.jpgAmong the players who made significant moves Wednesday were PBA Player of the Year contender Bill O’Neill (left) of Southampton, Pa., who averaged 242 during the second round to advance from 185th place to 13th, and reigning PBA Player of the Year Wes Malott (right), who jumped from 135th place to 33rd.

All players in the U.S. Open will bowl six more qualifying games Thursday before the field is cut to the top 88 for a cashers’ round Friday morning.

The top 24 will then advance to eight-game match play rounds Friday night and Saturday to determine the four finalists for Sunday’s live ESPN telecast at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

At stake in the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour’s final major championship of the 2009-10 season is a $60,000 first prize and a three-year PBA Tour exemption.

 


Related Articles


2000 champion Robert Smith rolls into first round lead in 67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open
Pressure's on as Final Major Championship of PBA's 2009-10 Season begins
67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open returns to Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis

 


67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open - Second Round Results


Players with position, hometown and 12-game total. * indicates non PBA-member