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DEFENDING DOUBLES CHAMPIONS PUT TITLE ON LINE AT USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
The two were at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend to put their title on the line and a disappointing performance in team Saturday only motivated them more heading into doubles and singles Sunday.
When the lights came on for doubles, they showed they were ready to make a good showing. Edwards, a 35-year-old right-hander, led the way with games of 209, 234 and 277 for a 720 series, while Padilla, a 33-year-old right-hander, contributed 233, 245 and 179 for 657 and a 1,377 total. Steve Bohn of
"Obviously, doubles definitely had some extra significance this year," said Padilla, who works for USBC as a coaching specialist and is an assistant coach for Team
Last year in Las Vegas, Edwards and Padilla took home the doubles title with a record score of 1,566, and since they recently bought a new house and will be getting married on New Year's Eve, their eagle trophies forever will be perched together on their mantle.
"This last year has been such a roller coaster ride," said Edwards, who won the 2010 USBC Team USA Trials and made her seventh Open Championships appearance this weekend. "My success on the lanes last year, coupled with Stephen asking me to marry him, winning the Team USA Trials and USBC going through some changes, made for a crazy year. I have had to endure some stress trying to find a teaching position as well, but you really learn to appreciate the different things in life."
Edwards went on to finish the 2009 event in record fashion with a 300 game in singles on the way to a 2,132 all-events total, the highest by a woman in tournament history. Her perfect game was just the sixth by a woman on the championship lanes. Women first were allowed to compete in 1994.
This year's finish wasn't quite as strong after she tweaked her knee during singles. She finished with a 574 series to go along with 462 in team for a 1,756 all-events effort. Padilla had 573 in singles and 558 in team for 1,788.
"We didn't want to put a lot of pressure on ourselves coming into this year," said Padilla, who made his sixth Open Championships appearance. "We came in wanting to enjoy what was going on, but keep a level head, make good shots and have fun. We didn't bowl as well as we wanted, but we got to celebrate the fact that we were successful last year. We are really excited for the chance to come back to the venue year after year and see how long our record holds up."
Although the days are running out at the 2010 Open Championships, the scoring pace hasn't slowed down as two more bowlers tossed perfect games at the National Bowling Stadium this weekend.
Bryon Smith of
Among Smith's memorable moments at the Stadium are his win at the 2003 USBC Masters, his Regular Team title with Lava Lanes of Medford, Ore., at the 2007 USBC Open Championships and now a solid singles performance on the championship lanes.
The 36-year-old right-hander started singles with a 237 game before rattling off 12 consecutive strikes. He closed things out with 258 for a 795 series, which puts him in a tie for seventh place in Regular Singles. Terrence Syring of
"This is pretty cool," said Smith, who made his fourth Open Championships appearance. "This is my first 300 at the Open Championships, and it's a very hard thing to do. It's a great accomplishment, and it's definitely a great thing to have on your resume."
Smith posted a 711 series in doubles and teamed up with his 2007 championship-winning teammate, Jake Dreier, for a 1,379 total. Smith added 639 in team for a career-high 2,145 all-events total, which is good for 15th place overall. Matt McNiel of
Mayberry may not have the accolades Smith brings to the table, but their names will be side-by-side in the record books, and they both will be announced as celebrities at future Open Championships.
"This makes me feel like I have accomplished something within the sport," said Mayberry, who made his 10th Open Championships appearance. "It is another stepping stone in my bowling career. Every time I lace up my shoes, I am trying to throw the best shots possible, hoping it equals perfection. Every year I come back to the tournament, I will know that I was able to shoot 300 on one of the sport's biggest stages."
The 46-year-old right-hander only bowls in one league during the season resulting in just three games per week, but he proved to be sharp at the Open Championships this year.
Mayberry accomplished his feat on a tough condition, which is something that he likes about the Open Championships.
"As long as I am physically able to bowl, I will be here," said Mayberry, who is a shipping manager at Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. "This tournament lets you know whether or not you can make adjustments, read the lanes and get through the transition. It's a very good challenge, and one I look forward to next year."
The 2010 Open Championships started on Feb. 20 and will conclude its 136-day run on July 5. By the tournament's end, 14,189 five-player teams will have made their way to
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in
For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.
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2010 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At National Bowling Stadium,
(Top 10 division leaders with hometowns and pinfalls)
REGULAR DIVISION
Team
1, Bowlers Edge Pro Shop (Brad Kuhr, Timothy Rice, Dan Paul, Kenny Kempf, Jason Wendt),
Doubles
1, Steve Bohn, Norwood, Minn./John Kreyer Jr., Fridley, Minn., 1,514. 2, Jeffrey Mersch, Orlando, Fla./Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 1,507. 3, Patrick Tiller,
Singles
1, Terrence Syring,
All-Events
1, Matt McNiel,
Team All-Events
1, Northern Lanes Pro Shop (Bo Goergen, Derwin Pitre, Dale Hofmeister, JR Raymond, Dan MacLelland),
CLASSIFIED DIVISION
Team
1, Southeast Paint (Mark Montoya, Frank Marrelli, Joe Juliano, Gary Nelson, Ed Howa), Price,
Doubles
1, Daphene Thompson/Mark Thompson,
Singles
1, David Ackerman,
All-Events
1, Ken Iredale,
