7/4/2006

By Matt Cannizzaro and David Ellis

USBC Communications

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - After 143 days of nearly non-stop competition, the curtain came down on the 2006 Open Championships on Monday, and the tournament's 103rd installment ended in record fashion.

With just one day of competition remaining, former Professional Women's Bowling Association star Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., stormed into the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall and posted an 812 series in singles to become the first woman to win a Regular Division title.

The 38-year-old right-hander, who already owns four titles at the USBC Women's Championships and three USBC Queens victories, posted games of 248, 300 and 264 to edge past Norm Titus of Columbia, Tenn., who finished second with 811.

Macpherson's perfect game was the second of the year by a woman and the third in the history of the Open Championships. In addition, she joined Kristal Scott of Wichita, Kan., as the only two women to record an 800 series on the tournament lanes. Scott made headlines when she rolled an 816 series during team event.

"I would never have imagined that something like this could happen," said Macpherson, a 20-time PWBA champion. "I never looked at the top scores, and I didn't really think about it much until I started throwing a lot of strikes. Being announced as a champion is something every bowler thinks about back in the squad room, and I'm just really proud and excited."

USBC Hall of Famer and three-time Open Championships titlist Steve Fehr of Cincinnati waited 24 years to find his way back into the winner's circle at the Open Championships. Since his last title came on the final day of team competition in 1982, he was on the edge of his seat until the very last team finished bowling Sunday night.

Fehr helped Browning Pontiac to a 3,496 effort, the third highest team total in tournament history. George Gohagan III led the way with 715 and was followed by Ken Jessee (710), Jon Murph (710), Ken Abner (696) and Fehr (665).

"It was so hard to wait all of these weeks, but it was such a thrill to sweat it out everyday," said Fehr, who also won the 1994 USBC Masters. "But no matter how good your score is, it's not safe until it's all over. Getting close or being in the hunt are always fun, but nothing compares to grabbing a title, especially after all these years."

In addition to Fehr's return to the top, USBC Director Sam Lantto of Eden Prairie, Minn., led his Linds Lakers 1 teammates to another Team All-Events crown, the same event the group won together at the 2002 event in Billings, Mont.

The group finished its 45 games with a 9,940 total this year. Lantto contributed 2,147 and was followed by USBC Hall of Famer Todd Savoy (2,037), Charles Vashaw (1,952), John Eiss (1,943) and Gary Green (1,861).

"This is just as special as the first time, and it's even better because it was the same five guys," said Lantto, who leads the tournament's lifetime average list with 215.4. "This tournament has always been important to us, and when we go out there we just want to represent the sport and each other the best we can. No matter how we bowl we're out there to have fun, but there's nothing like winning."

In Regular All-Events and Regular Doubles, there were first-time winners. Dave Mitchell of Farmington, Minn., shot 780 in team, 757 in singles and 652 in doubles to take home the all-events title with 2,189, while Bobby Stives of El Paso, Texas, and Paul Yoder of Albuquerque, N.M., teamed up to grab the doubles crown with 1,497.

"To be able to bowl that well and win a national title is amazing, and I'm glad I can relax and finally stop watching the scores on the Internet everyday," Mitchell said. "Everyone told me my score would hold up, but there were some big scores along the way and I got pretty nervous a few times."

In the Classified Division, Torkelson Construction of Clarion, Iowa, held on to the top spot for nearly four months before getting the call that its 2,878 total was enough to claim the Classified Team title. Troy Schultz led the way with 647 and was followed by Greg Schipull (599), Roger Haupt (578), Dustin Elston (545) and Eric Douglass (509).

The Classified Singles title went to Shawn Fisher of Albuquerque, N.M., who shot 684, while David Clauss of Chicago and Robert Tukker Jr. of Mount Prospect, Ill., combined to shoot 1,248 for the Classified Doubles win. Kirby Lomax of Gainesville, Ga., won Classified All-Events with 1,861.

To be eligible for competition in the Classified Division, teams must have a combined average of 900 or less, doubles teams must have a combined average of 360 or less and a bowler must enter at 180 or below for singles and all-events.

"Even last year when we finished eighth in team, I told them we could definitely do better, and this year we did," Schultz said. "I never thought we could've held on for so long, and I really can't put it into words quite yet. We got together yesterday and talked about it, and I am just relieved that it's over and we held on."

The 2006 Open Championships began on Feb. 11 and competition continued from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. for nearly five months. During that time, more than 63,000 bowlers on 12,606 teams made their way to the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall for the second largest event to be held outside of Reno, Nev., and competed for more than $4.5 million in prize money. Next year, the Open Championships returns to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno and more than 10,000 teams already are registered.

Presenting sponsors for the 2006 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Texas State Aquarium, Majestic Ventures Yacht Charters, Inc., USS Lexington Museum and Texas Treasure Casino Cruises.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCOpen.com.