Southwest duo takes Doubles lead at USBC Open Championships
06/10/06
Bobby Stives of El Paso, Texas, has seen his share of pressure on the lanes, but after he threw two strikes and got nine on his final ball of doubles at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Thursday night, all of the pressure was on his partner, Paul Yoder of Albuquerque, N.M.
Needing at least a spare and eight pins to take the lead in Regular Doubles, Yoder got just that and helped the pair of right-handers into the top spot with a 1,497 total. Pat McGainey of Baltimore and Brian Bennett of Lewes, Del., previously led with 1,496.
"I wasn't sure of the exact count, and my first ball wasn't a great shot," said Yoder, who owns four Professional Bowlers Association regional titles. "But I made the spare and then got eight on my fill ball. I thought I'd lost it for us until I looked up at the number on the scoreboard."
Stives led the way with games of 231, 245 and 276 for 752, while Yoder added 257, 252 and 236 for 745 at the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall.
"Towards the end of the set, we knew we had a chance at a great score," said Stives, a 30-year-old right-hander who is the general manager of Oasis Lanes in El Paso, the center where he set the PBA seven-game scoring record with 1,853 during qualifying at the 2005 El Paso Classic. "Every bowler wants to win an eagle, and it's an unbelievable feeling to know that we now have that opportunity."
Stives already was off to a good start with 735 in team and tried to ride the wave of emotion to the all-events lead and a chance at a second eagle trophy, which symbolizes a win at the Open Championships. Unfortunately, he struggled in singles and only added 637 for a 2,124 total, which is currently 19th. Dave Mitchell of Farmington, Minn., leads with 2,189.
"I was bowling well and knew I had a chance in all-events," Stives said. "It was difficult to come down from that emotional high and move to another pair that was playing very different from what we had just seen. I finally made the right move before it was over, but it was too late by then."
But it was confidence and an optimistic outlook before ever throwing a shot on the tournament lanes that may have been the extra ingredients the duo needed for an edge over the rest of the field.
"When the team captain was setting up our roster he asked me who I wanted to bowl with," said the 44-year-old Yoder, who had 654 in singles and 597 in team for 1,996 all-events. "Bobby was my first choice because I'd seen him bowl and I knew exactly what he's capable of. I was sure that if we could both get lined up at the same time we could be dangerous."
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, Dave Barker, Springfield Ill., 793. 2, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 792. 3, Michael Chontos, Finleyville, Pa., 791. 4, Janette Piesczynski, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 789. 5 (tie), Dave Hewitt, Fremont, Calif., and Jeff Carter, Springfield Ill., 788. 7, David Williams Jr., Omaha, Neb., 783. 8, Ernest Goedicke, Brigham City, Utah, 774. 9, Mike Danielson, Vancouver, Wash., 773. 10, (tie), Marcia Kamrowski, Pleasantview, Utah, and Joe Spoonmore, Sandwich, Ill., 772.
All-Events
1, Dave Mitchell, Farmington, Minn., 2,189. 2, Aaron Walsh, Amarillo, Texas, 2,180. 3, Kelly Ray, Arlington, Texas, 2,179. 4, Shane Keefauver, Canton, Ill., 2,171. 5, Rob Schuh, Neenah, Wis., 2,161. 6, Robert Dillman, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,158. 7, Mitch Sacks, Mundelein, Ill., 2,156. 8, David Cirigliano, Phoenix, 2,154. 9, Sam Lantto, Eden Prairie, Minn., 2,147. 10, Mike Sopper, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,141.
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, Cardinal Lanes, Hoisington, Kan., 2,740. 10, Sandhills Rollers 2, Aberdeen, N.C., 2,735.
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, Kevin Mitchell, Millbrae, Calif./Robert Stephens, San Francisco, 1,214. 4, Jared Gould, Jamestown, N.Y./Harvey Osterstuck, Perrysburg, N.Y., 1,212. 5, Kirby Lomax, Gainesville, Ga./Samuel Murray, Toccoa, Ga., 1,211. 6, Ron Hester/Ken Varner, Lexington, N.C., 1,209. 7, Leroy Bellemin, Grand Coteau, La./Rodney Leblanc, Lafayette, La., 1,201. 8 (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, James McLendon, Charlotte, N.C., 1,781. 10, James Carter, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,777.
United States
American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas (Feb. 11 - July 3, 2006)
Bobby Stives of El Paso, Texas, has seen his share of pressure on the lanes, but after he threw two strikes and got nine on his final ball of doubles at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Thursday night, all of the pressure was on his partner, Paul Yoder of Albuquerque, N.M. Needing at least a spare and eight pins to take the lead in Regular Doubles, Yoder got just that and helped the pair of right-handers into the top spot with a 1,497 total. Pat McGainey of Baltimore and Brian Bennett of Lewes, Del., previously led with 1,496.
"I wasn't sure of the exact count, and my first ball wasn't a great shot," said Yoder, who owns four Professional Bowlers Association regional titles. "But I made the spare and then got eight on my fill ball. I thought I'd lost it for us until I looked up at the number on the scoreboard."
Stives led the way with games of 231, 245 and 276 for 752, while Yoder added 257, 252 and 236 for 745 at the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall.
"Towards the end of the set, we knew we had a chance at a great score," said Stives, a 30-year-old right-hander who is the general manager of Oasis Lanes in El Paso, the center where he set the PBA seven-game scoring record with 1,853 during qualifying at the 2005 El Paso Classic. "Every bowler wants to win an eagle, and it's an unbelievable feeling to know that we now have that opportunity."
Stives already was off to a good start with 735 in team and tried to ride the wave of emotion to the all-events lead and a chance at a second eagle trophy, which symbolizes a win at the Open Championships. Unfortunately, he struggled in singles and only added 637 for a 2,124 total, which is currently 19th. Dave Mitchell of Farmington, Minn., leads with 2,189.
"I was bowling well and knew I had a chance in all-events," Stives said. "It was difficult to come down from that emotional high and move to another pair that was playing very different from what we had just seen. I finally made the right move before it was over, but it was too late by then."
But it was confidence and an optimistic outlook before ever throwing a shot on the tournament lanes that may have been the extra ingredients the duo needed for an edge over the rest of the field.
"When the team captain was setting up our roster he asked me who I wanted to bowl with," said the 44-year-old Yoder, who had 654 in singles and 597 in team for 1,996 all-events. "Bobby was my first choice because I'd seen him bowl and I knew exactly what he's capable of. I was sure that if we could both get lined up at the same time we could be dangerous."
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, Dave Barker, Springfield Ill., 793. 2, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 792. 3, Michael Chontos, Finleyville, Pa., 791. 4, Janette Piesczynski, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 789. 5 (tie), Dave Hewitt, Fremont, Calif., and Jeff Carter, Springfield Ill., 788. 7, David Williams Jr., Omaha, Neb., 783. 8, Ernest Goedicke, Brigham City, Utah, 774. 9, Mike Danielson, Vancouver, Wash., 773. 10, (tie), Marcia Kamrowski, Pleasantview, Utah, and Joe Spoonmore, Sandwich, Ill., 772.
All-Events
1, Dave Mitchell, Farmington, Minn., 2,189. 2, Aaron Walsh, Amarillo, Texas, 2,180. 3, Kelly Ray, Arlington, Texas, 2,179. 4, Shane Keefauver, Canton, Ill., 2,171. 5, Rob Schuh, Neenah, Wis., 2,161. 6, Robert Dillman, Albuquerque, N.M., 2,158. 7, Mitch Sacks, Mundelein, Ill., 2,156. 8, David Cirigliano, Phoenix, 2,154. 9, Sam Lantto, Eden Prairie, Minn., 2,147. 10, Mike Sopper, Schaumburg, Ill., 2,141.
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, Cardinal Lanes, Hoisington, Kan., 2,740. 10, Sandhills Rollers 2, Aberdeen, N.C., 2,735.
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, Kevin Mitchell, Millbrae, Calif./Robert Stephens, San Francisco, 1,214. 4, Jared Gould, Jamestown, N.Y./Harvey Osterstuck, Perrysburg, N.Y., 1,212. 5, Kirby Lomax, Gainesville, Ga./Samuel Murray, Toccoa, Ga., 1,211. 6, Ron Hester/Ken Varner, Lexington, N.C., 1,209. 7, Leroy Bellemin, Grand Coteau, La./Rodney Leblanc, Lafayette, La., 1,201. 8 (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, James McLendon, Charlotte, N.C., 1,781. 10, James Carter, Albuquerque, N.M., 1,777.