U.S. Open (bowling)

The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. Prior to 1971, this event was known as the BPAA All-Star. BPAA All-Star winners in the PBA era (1959-1970) were initially not credited with PBA titles for their victories. A rule change in 2008, however, retroactively awarded titles to the winners if they were PBA members at the time of their victories. With five wins, Pete Weber holds the most U.S. Open trophies of all time.^[1]

In recent years, the U.S. Open winner earned $50,000 and automatic entry into the match play round at the PBA Tournament of Champions.

Unable to find viable sponsorship, the U.S. Open was canceled for 2014, amid speculation that the tournament may not return at all.^[2] However, the USBC and BPAA later reached a three-year agreement that will bring the tournament back for 2015, 2016 and 2017.^[3] The USBC and BPAA have secured Bowlmor AMF, the largest operator of bowling centers in the world, as the title sponsor for 2015.^[4] The 2015 tournament took place November 2–8 in Garland, Texas.

2015 event

The 2015 U.S. Open was held at AMF Garland Lanes in Garland, Texas, with qualifying on November 2–7 and the live televised finals on November 8. Ryan Ciminelli won from the #1 seed position, defeating Dominic Barrett in the final match to win his first major title and fourth title overall.^[5]

2015 Event

A five-player stepladder finals format was used.

• Prize Pool:

1. Ryan Ciminelli, USA – $50,000

2. Dominic Barrett, England – $25,000

3. Pete Weber, USA – $15,000

4. Norm Duke, USA – $10,000

5. Wes Malott, USA – $8,000

Past Champions

U.S. Open Champions

BPAA All-Star Champions

• 1942 – John Crimmons
• 1943 – Connie Schwoegler
• 1944 – Ned Day
• 1945 – Buddy Bomar
• 1946 – Joe Wilman
• 1947 – Andy Varipapa
• 1948 – Andy Varipapa
• 1949 – Connie Schwoegler
• 1950 – Junie McMahon
• 1951 – Dick Hoover
• 1952 – Junie McMahon
• 1953 – Don Carter
• 1954 – Don Carter
• 1955 – Steve Nagy
• 1956 – Bill Lilliard
• 1957 – Don Carter
• 1958 – Don Carter
• 1959 – Billy Welu
• 1960 – Harry Smith
• 1961 – Bill Tucker
• 1962 – Dick Weber
• 1963 – Dick Weber
• 1964 – Bob Strampe, Sr.
• 1965 – Dick Weber
• 1966 – Dick Weber
• 1967 – Les Schissler
• 1968 - Jim Stefanich
• 1969 – Billy Hardwick
• 1970 – Bobby Cooper

U.S. Open oil pattern

The U.S. Open featured what PBA.com describes as "the toughest lane oil design in all of bowling." The pattern is considered "flat," meaning equal amounts of oil are applied to every lane board. (A typical lane condition allows more oil in the middle section of lane boards, and lesser amounts on the outer boards.)

Many claim the oil pattern was responsible for the lack of left-handed winners in this tournament, because there isn't enough ball traffic on the left side to create a "track area."^[6] When Mike Scroggins won the 2009 event in North Brunswick, New Jersey, he became the first left-hander in 20 years (Mike Aulby, 1989) to earn a U.S. Open title. Interestingly, Aulby's win was on an oil pattern where oil was applied more heavily on the outer boards (that is, those closest to the gutters), to the point where the outer parts of the lanes were effectively unplayable. In all, left-handers accounted for six victories (McGrath [1973], Moser [1976], Petraglia [1977], Cook [1986], Aulby [1989], and Scroggins [2009]) and nine runner-up finishes (Anthony [1973, 1979, 1980], Davis [1974], Devers [1992], Bohn [1994], Couch [1999], Allen [2005], Scroggins [2010]) at the U.S. Open since 1971. It was also the only major title that left-hander and 43-time titleist Earl Anthony never won in his career, though he did finish runner-up three times.

See also

• U.S. Women's Open

References

External links

• PBA.com Site