All Articles

CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT 2010 STORM BOWLERS JOURNAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

RENO, Nev. - After a lengthy hiatus from the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, Paul Fleming of Fort Worth, Texas, made up for his absence with a memorable performance at the 2010 event.

Fleming, who missed the Bowlers Journal Championships while he was bowling full-time on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour, claimed the Open Singles title this year and finished second in Classic Singles and Mixed Doubles with Team USA member Stefanie Nation.

The 42-year-old right-hander grabbed the top spot in Open Singles with games of 235, 245, 277 and 261 for a 1,018 total and nearly made it a pair of singles wins when he briefly took the lead in Classic Singles three days later with 988.

Anthony Thompson of Redding, Calif., went on to win the Classic Singles crown, however, with games of 248, 256, 299 and 224 for a 1,027 total a week later.

Fleming took home $10,000 for his Open Singles victory and $1,300 for his runner-up finish in Classic Singles. Thompson earned $2,000 for his singles title and an additional $600 for topping the Dual Entry standings, which includes bowlers who chose to use their four-game totals for doubles and singles at the same time.

"This feels great," said Fleming, who shared $500 for his second-place Mixed Doubles effort with Nation. "I was surprised to hang on because even though the previous-leading score (1,017) was pretty huge, I was able to bowl well enough to take the lead. However, I was a little worried that my score wouldn't hold up."

Fleming's return to the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in 2009 did not include a visit to the Bowlers Journal, so he arrived in Reno three days early to make sure he had time to compete. After a lesson from USBC Silver coach Mike Jasnau at Lane 81, inside the pro shop area at the National Bowling Stadium, he headed over to the Bowlers Journal, which was held at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino.

"I definitely had a good game plan, and it worked great," Fleming said. "I think I am going to continue that in the future and possibly get there a few days earlier. I was a little anxious for the tournament to be over, though. As the weeks went by, I started to get a little more anxious, so I am very excited to win."

In the 205 & Under Singles, Ryan Colburn of Falconer, N.Y., tossed games of 299, 236, 235 and 169 for a 939 total and earned $2,500 for the victory, while Clarence Moch of Napoleon, N.D., outdistanced his 180 & Under "Pins Over Average" Singles competitors with games of 230, 189, 184 and 207 for an 810 total. His effort earned him $1,000.

Six days before the end of this year's event, Kerry Painter of Henderson, Nev., made his way to Reno and put himself in position for a senior sweep with games of 242, 242, 264 and 248 for a 996 total. The effort helped him to the $5,000 Senior Singles title and the top spot in Senior Doubles with his brother, Roger Painter of Woodbridge, Va. Roger contributed games of 224, 198, 187 and 243 for 852 and a 1,848 overall total, which earned them $2,000.

"It feels pretty good," said Painter, who teamed up with Nick Morgan of Sacramento, Calif., to win Senior Doubles at the 2008 event in Albuquerque, N.M. "My brother and I weren't worried about winning. We were just focused on bowling well. We just bowled because we always do. It also feels nice to win the singles portion because I have never won the singles title, and I am double elated."

Leading the way in Open Doubles was 2010 PBA Rookie of the Year Anthony LaCaze of Melrose Park, Ill., and former Team USA member Erik Vermilyea of Mansfield, Texas, who combined for a record total of 1,972.

LaCaze paced the pair with games of 257, 247, 269 and 247 for a 1,020 total, while Vermilyea added 258, 256, 215 and 223 for 952. The duo took the lead on April 2 and had the longest wait of all the tournament champions.

LaCaze, 27, is headed back to the PBA Tour as an exempt player for the 2010-11 season after winning the Earl Anthony Memorial Classic in Dublin, Calif., and is excited to be heading into the new season, which starts in October, on such a high note.

"It feels great to be on top," said LaCaze, whose first television appearance came two seasons ago as an amateur. "This year has been great, and to win doubles with Erik is even better. We both had pretty good looks on the lanes, and we were able to shoot a score that held up. It has been a great year."

The husband and wife duo of Robin and Billy Orlikowski of Grand Rapids, Mich., earned the Mixed Doubles title with a 1,838 total, also a record at the Bowlers Journal Championships. Billy led the way with games of 236, 267, 257 and 189 for a 949 set, and Robin added games of 181, 236, 223 and 249 for 889.

This year's event also saw a record-breaking performance by Bryan O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, whose 1,054 total on games of 275, 286, 258 and 235 was the highest individual set on the tournament lanes since the event changed to a four-game format in 2006.

Unfortunately for O'Keefe, his record score came during doubles, and he was not entered in singles at the same time. He did not go away empty-handed, however, as the effort helped him and Chris Viale of Westfield, Mass., to a fourth-place finish in Open Doubles with 1,932.

Chad Maas of Brookfield, Wis., previously held the four-game record with 1,045, which he shot on the way to the Classic Singles title in 2008.

This year's Bowlers Journal saw nearly 5,000 unique bowlers take to the lanes at the Grand Sierra. In all, there were five 300 games, six 299s, one 298 and three 800 series.

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.

For more information on the 64th Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, presented by USBC, including Strike-It-Rich, 40 Clean Frames, High Game and Dual Entry information, visit USBCopen.com.

United States Bowling Congress

The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than two million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

The interactive home of USBC is BOWL.com. Go to twitter.com/USBC for the fastest USBC headlines.

Bowl with US

USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships Standings

as of July 5, 2010

OPEN SINGLES

1, Paul Fleming, Fort Worth, Texas, 1,018. 2, Derek Eoff, Arlington, Texas, 1,017. 3, Mark D'Angelo, Elmira, N.Y., 998. 4, David Ewald, Macomb, Mich., 992. 5, Pete Thomas, Oklahoma City, 987. 6, Pat McGainey Jr, Baltimore, 976. 7, Brian Dennis, Creedmoor, N.C., 970. 8, Eric Traylor, Cypress, Texas, 957. 9, Brian O'Mara, Webster, N.Y., 954. 10, Sean Riccardi, Plainsboro, N.J., 953.

205 & UNDER SINGLES

1, Ryan Colburn, Falconer, N.Y., 939. 2, Tom Pohl, LeRoy, N.Y., 899. 3 (tie), Shawn Jenkins, Bluefield, W. Va., and Chad Svendsen, Milton, Wis., 898. 5, Joseph Savarese, Manalapan, N.J., 884. 6, Steve Badovinac, Parker, Colo., 878. 7, Jeff Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 861. 8, Eric Schultz, Winterville, N.C., 857. 9, Raif Terry, Larned, Kan., 854. 10, Kristie Leong, Belmont, Calif., 847.

SENIOR SINGLES

1, Kerry Painter, Henderson, Nev., 996. 2 (tie), Marty Deh, Cupertino, Calif., and Jeff Britton, Kennewick, Wash., 957. 4, Pete Thomas, Oklahoma City, 936. 5, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas, 927. 6, Shannon Starnes, Fort Worth, Texas, 925. 7, Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash, 923. 8, Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., and Lyle Elo, Spokane, Wash., 916. 10, Ray Edwards, Fruitport, Mich., 904.

CLASSIC SINGLES

1, Anthony Thompson, Redding, Calif., 1,027. 2, Paul Fleming, Fort Worth, Texas, 988.

3 (tie), Kevin Cartier, Beverly, N.J., and Jeffrey Mersch, Orlando, Fla., 970. 5, Pat Brick, Buffalo, N.Y., 968. 6, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 963. 7, Michael Remaklus, Florissant, Mo., 962. 8, Clint Dacy, Keller, Texas, 955. 9, Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 952. 10, John Conroy, Mahopac, N.Y., 951.

180 & UNDER SINGLES

1, Clarence Moch, Napoleon, N.D., +146. 2, Faye Baltazar, Hayward, Calif., +131. 3, Danne Showers, Scobey, Mont., +130. 4, Dan Fisher, Fort Summer, N.M., +127. 5, Todd Beal, Amarillo, Texas, +106. 6, Gerald Belle, Cink, Ohio, +103. 7 (tie), Robert Juray Jr., Spartanburg, S.C., and Steven Sprague Sr., Scobey, Mont., +98. 9, Rebecca Clarkson, Farr West, Utah, +92. 10, LaVonne Frampton, Soaplake, Wash., +77.

OPEN DOUBLES

1, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill./Erik Vermilyea, Mansfield, Texas, 1,972. 2 (tie), Ryan Kretchmer, Rochester, N.Y./Mark D'Angelo, Elmira, N.Y., and Jeff Leaphart, Columbia, S.C./Brian Dennis, Creedmoor, N.C., 1,933. 4, Bryan O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas/Chris Viale, Westfield, Mass., 1,932. 5, Dan Langer, Owatonna, Minn./David Langer, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 1,922. 6, David Ewald, Macomb, Mich./Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 1,908. 7, Dale Hofmeister, Essexville, Mich./Michael Weston, Auburn, Mich., 1,883. 8, John Vournas, Glendale, Ariz./Anthony Thompson, Redding, Calif., 1,871. 9, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C./Paul Fleming, Fort Worth, Texas, 1,848. 10, Jim Mee, Jamestown, N.Y./Matt White, Warren, Pa., 1,832.

SENIOR DOUBLES

1, Harry Mickelson, Yakima, Wash./Jeff Britton, Kennewick, Wash., 1,830. 2, Pete McCordic, Katy, Texas/Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 1,790. 3, Dan Kukuk/Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash., 1,764. 4, John Masiello, Kenmore, N.Y./Carl Kinyon, Lockport, N.Y., 1,749. 5, Doug Anderson, Bettendorf, Iowa/Joe Lecroy, Bedford, Texas, 1,744. 6, Jace Peterson, Elkhorn, Wis./Jeff Peterson, Eagle, Wis., 1,742. 7, Bob Hanson, Spokane, Wash./Mike McPherson, Colfax, Wash., 1,714. 8, Gerald Nunes, Davis, Calif./Bill Nichols, Roseville, Calif., 1,710. 9, Kelly Urrea, Mesa, Ariz./Mike Friedrichs, Glendale, Ariz., 1,708. 10, Harry Mickelson/James Kent, Yakima, Wash., 1,704.

MIXED DOUBLES

1, Robin Orlikowski/Billy Orlikowski, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1,838. 2, Stefanie Nation, Grand Prairie, Texas/Paul Fleming, Fort Worth, Texas, 1,816. 3, Art Brown, Lansing, Mich./Jen Petrick, Canton, Ohio, 1,803. 4, Kristal Wilson/Russ Wilson, Lawrence, Kan., 1,735. 5, Andrea Fleming/Paul Fleming, Fort Worth, Texas, 1,728. 6, Jennifer Hernandez/Peter Hernandez, Land O Lakes, Fla., 1,727. 7, April Ellis/Brett Cooper, Euless, Texas, 1,669. 8, Bryan O'Keefe/Shannon O'Keefe, Arlington, Texas, 1,645. 9, Janette Nevels/Paul Smith, Universal City, Texas, 1,636. 10,  Samantha Williams, Hunt Valley, Md./Dan Schaden Jr., Essex, Md., 1,630.

More Articles