APRIL 2015 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
Open Championships Weekly Glance
Clutch finish lifts team at USBC Open Championships
Former Team USA member Rob Gotchall of Clarksville, Tennessee, delivered
two clutch strikes in his final frame to catapult his team to the top of the leader-
board at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on April 20.
The 37-year-old right-hander put the finishing touches on a 783 series, the high-
est individual set in team competition this year at the El Paso Convention Center,
to lead Team NABR of West Henrietta, New York, to a 3,368 total. Junior Team
USA Support 1 of Las Vegas previously held the lead in Regular Team with 3,359.
Team NABR had no room for error with three bowlers to go in the finale. Profes-
sional Bowlers Association regional standout Brian Waliczek and 2007 Regular All-
Events champion Mike Rose Jr. both doubled to give Gotchall a chance to secure
the lead.
The group finished with games of 1,057, 1,123 and 1,188, and Gotchall was fol-
lowed by Rose (697), Waliczek (659), Guinness world record holder Adam Barta
(636) and former Team USA member Scott Pohl (593).
Gotchall returned to the lanes April 21 and cruised into the top spot in Regular All
-Events with a 2,181 total. He added sets of 719 in singles and 679 in doubles to
pass Chad Maas of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who previously held the lead with
2,152. His performance helped Team NABR into second place in Team All-Events
with a 9,886 total..
Waliczek added a 2,019 all-events effort and was joined by Rose (1,978), Barta
(1,866) and Pohl (1,842). Junior Team USA Support 1 of Las Vegas leads with
10,064.
"It's just a dream come true, no matter the end result," Gotchall said. "I got to
share it with some of my best friends that I've met through the great game of bowl-
ing. If I'm fortunate enough to take home an eagle when the tournament is all said
and done, it's not just for me. It's for the guys as well."
Delaware bowler reaches 50 years at USBC Open Championships
Jerry Stewart of New Castle, Delaware, became the 176th bowler in history to
reach 50 years of participation at the USBC Open Championships.
The 73-year-old made his milestone march down Center Aisle at the El Paso
Convention Center on April 20 and received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel
pin to commemorate the achievement. He is the second of 12 bowlers scheduled
to celebrate 50 years at the 2015 event.
Stewart's Open Championships career began at the 1960 tournament in Toledo,
Ohio. This year in El Paso, he shot 587 in team, 538 in doubles and 469 in singles
for a 1,594 all-events total.
In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 87,425 pins for a
career average of 194.2.
A look ahead
There will be two live stream broadcasts from the 2015 USBC Open Champion-
ships this week. First, defending Regular Singles champion Louis Jenkins Jr. of
Warr Acres, Oklahoma, will hit the lanes at the El Paso Convention on April 21 at
10:30 p.m. EDT to put his title on the line.
Jenkins claimed the 2014 singles crown with an 826 series on games of 257, 300
and 269, a memorable performance that was nearly 300 pins better than his dou-
bles series. All of Jenkins' doubles and singles games in El Paso will be broadcast
live on BowlTV.
The other live broadcast from El Paso this week will be a talented team from the
Madison, Wisconsin, area, led by Chris Gibbons, one of 28 bowlers in tournament
history with multiple 300s on the tournament lanes.
Gibbons rolled his first perfect game on the big stage at the 1991 event in Toledo,
Ohio, and matched that feat two decades later at the 2011 tournament in Reno,
Nevada. He'll lead his team into the El Paso Convention Center on April 26 at 7
p.m. EDT
El Paso Convention Center, El Paso, Texas
(Top 10 division leaders with hometown and pinfall)
REGULAR DIVISION
Team
1, Team NABR (Adam Barta, Scott Pohl, Brian Waliczek, Mike Rose Jr., Rob
Gotchall), West Henrietta, N.Y., 3,368. 2, Junior Team USA Support 1, Las Vegas,
3,359. 3, Hashtag Team Dole, Cleveland, 3,231. 4, Bowling With Leverage Pro
Shop, Peoria, Ariz., 3,211. 5, Coach K Scholarship, Pleasant View, Utah, 3,178. 6,
Motion Plus, Greenfield, Wis., 3,169. 7, ND Storm, Mandan, N.D., 3,149. 8, To Be
Determined Too, Lexington, Ky., 3,116. 9, Artistic Expressions 1, Oklahoma City,
3,088. 10(tie), Off The Sheet Pro Shop 1, Oklahoma City, and Before The 1st
Frame 1, Rocky Mount, N.C., 3084. (Continued on page 8)
The 105
TH
Petersen Classic Returns
Legendary Tournament To Be Hosted At Brunswick Zone River Grove
New York, NY, March 4, 2014
– Bowlmor AMF, the world leader in bowling enter-
tainment, is proud to announce the return of the Petersen Classic, one of bowling’s
oldest and grandest traditions. The legendary tournament is now accepting reserva-
tions for its 105
th
contest, which will take place between April 30 and September 6.
This year, the Petersen has a new home: Brunswick Zone River Grove in River
Grove, Illinois. The new site is conveniently located just outside of Chicago (ten min-
utes by car from O’Hare International Airport) and offers both area bowlers and visi-
tors easy access to nearby hotels and exciting regional attractions.
Since 1921, over 850,000 bowlers have won more than $31 million in the Peter-
sen—and this year, the legendary tournament invites bowlers back to Illinois to com-
pete for thousands of prizes. Top prizes in the singles event include: $20,000 for first
place, $10,000 for second place, $4,000 for third place—even $850 for 100
th
place!
Additional prizes from the Petersen ―Pot of Gold‖ will be awarded in the singles
event for pins over average, high games, squad prizes, senior prizes, as well as
many other categories. Bowlers can enter up to six events, including Doubles Team,
All Events, Pins Over Average, Squad Prize, Women Only POA, and a Hotel Prize
List.
The Lumberjack Challenge, the official companion to the Petersen Classic, will also
return this year and will take place during the same dates as the Petersen. Bowlers
will have the opportunity to knock down the ―heavy timber pins‖ to win $2,500.
Founded by Louis P. Petersen in 1921, the tournament has acquired the reputation
of being one of the fairest around, offering bowlers an equal opportunity to share in
the prize money regardless of whether they are tournament newcomers or Petersen
veterans. It’s the reason why so many bowlers continue to come back to the Peter-
son to experience the fun and tradition of this historic contest.
To secure your spot in the tournament contact Sandy Patterson, tournament direc-
tor, at
or call (847) 885-9944.
For more information on the 105
th
Petersen Classic and to stay up-to-date on the
tournament, please visit
Congratulations!
Proprietors of the Year
will be introduced at the luncheon. State bowling proprietors nominated by
their State Associations will be recognized for their contributions, accom-
plishments and excellent entrepreneurial efforts:
James Wangeman, Harvest Park Bowl, Northern California
Ron Plander, Harley’s Camarillo Bowl, Southern California
