Carl Richard's Open, Joplin Mo

Well, I just got back from the Carl Richard's Open in Joplin, Mo last night.  Definitely had some highs and lows.  Can't remember the last time I bowled as bad as I did in team and singles, but then I set new personal highs when I bowled in doubles.  So it was a mixed bag.  During the Singles and Team event, I was doing so bad that I was asking my self what I was doing there, what made me think I could compete.  But with rolling my high series and game in the Doubles event, it showed what is possible, and that I need to keep at it.

I entered the tournament with a 174 average, and ended up averaging 169 at the tournament.  If anybody has any suggestions for my spare shooting, please let me know.

1st set - Singles

We started out rolling singles on Saturday.  I couldn't find a good line on my 1st ball, and as usual, my spare shooting totally vanished in the second game.  My spare shooting was even worse than usual.

I started out with a 156 for the 1st game.  Only had 3 strikes, I did pick up all 3 of my single pin spares, but I did have 4 opens.  My 1st ball average was 7.54 which just doesn't cut it.

Like I said earlier, my spare shooting totally left me for my 2nd game.  I only had 1 strike, and I missed 8 out of 10 spare attempts for a 113.  One good not for the 2nd game was that my 1st ball average increased to a 8.36.

On my 3rd game, my spare shooting did improve.  I felt like my spare shooting was a little more consistent than the 1st game.  However, like the 1st game, I only had 3 strikes and had 4 opens.  I did manage to keep my 1st ball average at 8.36, and I rolled a 151.  I did mange to put a couple of balls in the pocket in the 10th frame, so I at least ended up on a good note.  I ended up rolling a 420 series in singles, and I was glad I did that in singles and not doubles.  (My handicap for the tournament was a 174.)

2nd set - Doubles


Things totally turned around for doubles.  I ended up rolling my 1st 600 series since switching to bowling left handed, and also had my high game since switching back in January of this year.


In the 1st game, I had a total of 6 strikes (3 doubles) and picked up 3 out of 5 spares.  (Did not miss any single pin spares.)  My 1st ball average was up to 8.91, and started the set off with a 194.

I rolled my high score in the 2nd game.  I started out by not converting a baby split (3-5-10) and then the next 9 balls were strikes (the 1st 8 were in the pocket).  I did cross over and carry a Brooklyn for the 1st ball of the 10th frame.  I paid for it with the next ball.  Put it in the pocket, and left the 7 pin (which I did convert).  With all of the strikes, my 1st ball average was up to a 9.63, and I ended up rolling a 266.

I rolled well the 3rd game also, just not as well.  I had a total of 7 strikes (a 4 bagger and a double) and had 2 opens (1 split) for a 210.  The split happened in the 10th frame.  I think if I had been able to stike out in the 10th, I could have hit 700.  But I will take a 670 series (almost 100 pins over my previous high).

3rd set - Team


The team event on Sunday was pretty much like the single's event on Saturday.  Couldn't find the strike shot, and my spare shooting was mediocre.  Should have got something to eat while I was bowling though.  During the 3rd game, I started feeling light headed and was starting to sweat.  I turned out to be low blood sugar, and I was ok a couple of hours later, but that didn't help my bowling.  I ended up rolling 143, 163 and a 127 for a 433 series.