September 2015 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
History made as 2015 USBC Open Continued
The 32-year-old right-hander helped the same group
to the Team All-Events win in 2013 and returned to the
National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, a year
later to win Regular All-Events. He'll share a spot in
tournament lore with USBC Hall of Famer Les Zikes of
Palatine, Il., who won in 1962, 1963 and 1964. Zikes is
a member of the 60-Year and 100,000-Pin Clubs at the
Open Championships and owns six titles overall.
This year in El Paso, LaCaze contributed a 1,988 all-
events total to the winning score, and he was joined by
Erik Vermilyea (2,083), Matthew Tuckfield (2,048),
Steve Novak (1,982) and Jeffrey Mersch (1,963). The
group also finished second in Regular Team with a
3,359 total.
"This is an honor and an unbelievable feeling," La-
Caze said. "It's hard to find the words to describe it. If it
weren't for my teammates - my team and our compan-
ion team - I wouldn't be in this position, and to be able
to share it with them as the Team All-Events champi-
ons makes it even better."
In the team event, Adam Barta, Brian Waliczek and
former Team USA members Rob Gotchall and Scott
Pohl found their way to the winner's circle on the big-
gest stage in bowling for the first time, while Mike Rose
Jr., the 2007 Regular All-Events champion, added a
second win to his resume.
The five came together as Team NABR of West Hen-
rietta, New York, and an exciting finish
ifted them to the Regular Team win with a
3,368 total. They had games of 1,057, 1,123 and 1,188.
Gotchall led the way for Team NABR with a 783 se-
ries and was followed by Rose (697), Waliczek (659),
Barta (636) and Pohl (593).
"I told the guys last night that it has hit me, but it has-
n't really hit me," said Gotchall, who finished second in
Regular All-Events with a 2,181 total and led Team
NABR to a second-place finish in Team All-Events
(9,886). "This is something we've always dreamed of,
but what we achieved and accomplished together really
won't sink in until we get there next year and see the
eagles next to our names on the scoreboard."
The Regular Doubles title went to Mark Sleeper Jr. of
Kaufman, Texas, and 18-
year-old two-hander Anthony
Simonsen of Princeton, TX,
who earned the win in just
his third Open Champion-
ships appearance with a
1,409 total.
Sleeper, a 31-year-old right-
hander, led the way with games of 247, 262 and 235
for a 744 series, while Simonsen, who attacks the lanes
from the right side, added 204, 236, 225 for a 665 set.
"I've never been in this position before, so I wasn't
sure what to think or feel," said Sleeper, who rolled a
perfect game at the 2014 Open Championships. "Right
now, there is a combination of disbelief and relief be-
cause the wait is finally over. It's such an incredible
feeling. It's also pretty neat to be able to get together
with someone as talented as Anthony and win it."
Ronnie Sparks Jr. of Redford, MI., was able to con-
tinue his success in The Sun City, this time claiming the
Regular Singles title at the El
Paso Convention Center.
The 27-year-old right-hander
put together games of 278, 246
and 269 for a 793 series.
"This is right next to the national
championship with Wichita, but
that's a little different because so
much work goes into that over nine or 10 months, and
you get to share it with others," said Sparks, a former
Team USA member and collegiate standout who
helped Wichita State to the men's title at the 2010
XBowling Intercollegiate Team Championships, also at
the El Paso Convention Center. "This win is very spe-
cial, and it's ironic that it happened in the same place. It
could've been anyone on any squad who changed the
outcome for me, but I'm very blessed to have held on.
I'm also fortunate to have the time and support to be
able to bowl and chase my dreams."
In the Classified Division, the team trophy will head to
Alexandria, Minnesota, for the second consecutive
year, this time to Scotty's 3, which earned the win with
a 2,676 total.
The group put together games of 849, 922 and 905
and added its name to the record book beside Scotty's
1, which claimed the title in 2014.
Tyler Grabow led the charge for Scotty's 3 with a 587
series and was followed by Marshal Lagred (586),
Brady Erdmann (539), Jed Lye (509) and Alan Iverson
(455).
Lagred continued his momentum
in doubles and singles and found
individual success, earning the
Classified All-Events title with a
1,734 total. He added 512 in dou-
bles and 636 in singles, which was
third overall.
The Classified Doubles title went
to Vicky and Jamie Pollard of Versailles, Indiana, who
added to their family legacy at the Open Champion-
ships.
Vicky, a 54-year-old right
-hander, led the effort
with games of 165, 243
and 204 for a 612 series,
while Jamie, a 26-year-
old right-hander, added
137, 201 and 212 for 550, giving the pair a 1,162 total.
Pollard's Bowl, which claimed the 1996 Team All-
Events crown with a record score of 10,425, included
brothers and USBC Hall of Famers Rick and Ron Pol-
lard.
"It has been a really long wait, but it has been pretty
exciting, too," Vicky Pollard said. "We're really looking
forward to seeing the banner hanging in our little eight-
lane bowling center after it comes down next year."
Finally, for the first time since the introduction of the
Classified Division in 1999, there was a tie for first
place in Classified Singles.
Dave Berky of Ely, Nevada, and Patty Turner of Oak
Lawn, Il., shared the top spot with 642.
Berky, a 49-year-old right-hander bounced back from
a disappointing doubles effort with games of 223, 234
and 185. Turner, a 39-year-old right-hander who throws
a back-up ball,
shot 228, 236 and
178. The two also
tied for fourth
place in Classi-
fied All-Events
with 1,706.
Individuals in the Classified Division have entering
averages of 180 and below, doubles teams have com-
bined entering averages of 360 and below and teams
must have entering averages of 900 and below.
Some of the most memorable moments at the 2015
Open Championships did not translate to the leader-
board.
On March 18, 92-year-old Sylvester Thiel of Lake City,
Minnesota, became the third bowler in history to cele-
brate 70 appearances on the championship lanes. He
joined late USBC Hall of Famers Bill Doehrman of Fort
Wayne, Indiana, and Joe Norris of San Diego in the
event's elite 70-Year Club and plans to tie their partici-
pation record of 71 years next March in Reno.
(Continued on page 9)
