Saturday, May 14, 2011

Williams, Allen shatter PABCON doubles record

5/10/11

By Lucas Wiseman
USBC Communications

RESULTS: Doubles | All-events

GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Team USA's Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Patrick Allen didn't just break the all-time Pan American Bowling Confederation Men's Championships record in doubles on Tuesday, they blew past it with ease.

Williams and Allen combined to shoot a six-game total of 2,917, an average of 243.08, at Bolerama Tapatio, eclipsing the previous record of 2,788 set in 2009 by their teammates Chris Barnes and Tommy Jones.

Allen led the pair with 1,461, while Williams contributed 1,456 in the winning effort. Canada's Dan MacLelland and Michael Schmidt took the silver medal with 2,742, while Puerto Rico's Bruno Diaz and Andro Simounet earned the bronze with 2,720.

The Americans entered the final doubles block knowing they needed a big performance after their teammates were out of medal contention from the morning session.

"After the performance this morning, we knew it was either us or nobody for a medal," Allen said. "It was just time for us to rise to the occasion so the team didn't get shut out."

The gold medalists got out of the gate fast with Williams starting with games of 298 and 278, while Allen opened with 247 and 233. They eventually pulled away from the Canadians in the final two games.

"I was surprised the scores weren't higher on the first block, but I knew there were still some pretty good bowlers on our squad," said Williams, who opened the block with 11 straight strikes before leaving the 2-8. "Fortunately, I had a real good look early on and Patrick bowled well, too."

Team USA's Mike Fagan, who also opened the day with a 298 game, and Wes Malott finished doubles in 10th place with 2,578. Barnes and Bill O'Neill were 11th with 2,576.

With two events to go in the all-events race, Allen leads the field with 2,810 for 12 games, an average of 234.17. MacLelland is second with 2,802, while Colombia's Manuel Otalora is third with 2,753.

As for the rest of the Americans, Williams is fifth, Fagan is sixth, Barnes is 10th, O'Neill is 11th and Malott sits in 18th. The top 16 players in all-events after 24 games advance to Friday's final event, the match-play Masters.

Action shifts to the trios event Wednesday morning with Barnes, Fagan and O'Neill teaming up and Malott, Allen and Williams joining forces for the United States.

The PABCON Men's Championships features teams in the American Zone competing in five-player team, trios, doubles, singles, all-events and match-play Masters.

2011 PAN AMERICAN BOWLING CONFEDERATION MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Bolerama Tapaito, Guadalajara, Mexico

DOUBLES
(Top 5; Six games)

1, Walter Ray Williams Jr./Patrick Allen, United States, 2,917. 2, Dan MacLelland/Michael Schmidt, Canada, 2,742. 3, Bruno Diaz/Andro Simounet, Puerto Rico, 2,720. 4, Marcos Baeza/Ricardo Lecuona, Mexico, 2,670. 5, Francisco Prats/Rafael Sebelen, Dominican Republic, 2,660.

ALL-EVENTS
(Top 10; 12 of 24 games completed)

1, Patrick Allen, United States, 2,810. 2, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 2,802. 3, Manuel Otalora, Colombia, 2,753. 4, Ernesto Franco, Mexico, 2,747. 5, Walter Ray Williams Jr., United States, 2,743. 6, Mike Fagan, United States, 2,731. 7, Michael Schmidt, Canada, 2,712. 8, Andro Simounet, Puerto Rico, 2,680. 9, Francisco Colon, Puerto Rico, 2,661. 10, Chris Barnes, United States, 2,648. Other U.S. players: 11, Bill O'Neill, 2,638. 18, Wes Malott, 2,582.


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Washington State bowler takes Classified Singles lead at USBC Open Championships

5/9/11

By Matt Cannizzaro and Emil Williams Jr.
USBC Communications


RENO, Nev. -
Glen Brown of Renton, Wash., got off to a hot start in singles and maintained that momentum all the way to the Classified Singles lead at the USBC Open Championships on Sunday.

The 40-year-old right-hander opened with a 10-strike 268 game and added 178 and 244 for a 690 series at the National Bowling Stadium. Robert Petersen of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Scott Blaisdell of Malad, Idaho, previously shared the lead with 680.

"It feels good," said Brown, who made his 19th consecutive Open Championships appearance. "I am extremely happy, but I was pretty nervous. My nervousness started about the seventh frame of the last game after I had five in a row. The ball stuck on my thumb because I gripped it. I got two more strikes and then the ball stuck again. Then, I finished up with a spare and a strike."

Brown always has wanted to finish in the top 10 or 15 at the Open Championships and now has the opportunity to win a title.

"I've always wanted to place in the top 10 or 15," said Brown, who bowls league at Sun Villa Lanes. "I didn't think I would ever bowl well enough to take a lead. My higher-priority goal was to shoot 300 here. But, this might top it if I win."

Brown made his Open Championships debut at the 1993 event in Tulsa, Okla., after he was invited by a team captain who needed a bowler. He has been to every tournament since and has no plans of stopping. He is focused on additional spots in the record books as a member of the tournament's 50 and 60-Year Clubs.

This year's tournament was extra special for Brown because he has been dealing with the loss of both of his parents in the last three years. He dedicated his success on the tournament lanes to them.

"This tournament is for them," Brown said. "I had both of my parents pass away within three years, with my dad passing away in January. I actually haven't done much bowling this year. It's very emotional for me, and this tournament is for them."


Brown finished his 2011 Open Championships campaign with 563 in team and 537 in doubles for a 1,790 all-events total, which is good for sixth place in Classified All-Events. Mark Bylander of Vergas, Minn., leads with 1,842.

The Classified Division is for bowlers with entering averages of 180 and below.

Click here to watch video highlights from the 2011 Open Championships.
Presenting sponsors for the 2011 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, 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.


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