• USBC NEWS
    Eoff, Vermilyea to blog from USBC Masters in Reno

    2/5/10

    By Gianmarc Manzione
    USBC Communications

    Bowling fans looking for a different spin on coverage of the 2010 Masters from the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., are in for a treat. The USBC's own Derek Eoff and Erik Vermilyea will compete in the event and write a blog about their experiences.

    Eoff, the 2008 QubicaAMF World Cup Champion and two-time member of Team USA, brings the unique perspective of someone who has not only competed in the event, but someone who barely fell short of the Masters telecast in 2007. That year, Eoff finished fifth, scoring a 5-2-0 match-play record and averaging 228 for the tournament.

    "I felt that I could not possibly have bowled any better than I did, and I still missed the show," the four-time collegiate All-American said. "You can't fully understand just how good the pros are until you get out there yourself."

    Eoff also won the 2006-07 USBC Sport Bowling National High Average Award when he recorded a 222 average on USBC Sport Bowling patterns that season. He looks forward to tapping into this wealth of experience as a USBC Masters blogger when competition gets underway in Reno.

    "It's a chance to give the bowling fan that couldn't make it out there to watch or bowl a first-hand perspective of a bowler in the event," Eoff said. "I will be focusing on how the lane pattern is breaking down over time, what ball choices I am making, and how much the decisions I make through the week help or hurt my performance."


    Derek Eoff battles Martin Larsen for the 2008 QubicaAMF title


    In addition to topics such as lane play and ball choices, former Team USA member and 2003 Junior Gold champion Erik Vermilyea looks forward to discussing how players such as Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Norm Duke are playing the lanes. Vermilyea also is excited to complement the week's free live streaming with an insider's view of the action.

    "I'm looking forward to adding some unique insight and my dry sense of humor to Masters' coverage next week," Vermilyea said. "I'm excited to give fans a player's perspective on the action. I'll be looking at how other players are adjusting to the lane pattern as well as what equipment and styles are having the most success throughout the week and why."

    Both players will begin blogging after the practice session on Monday evening, and will blog each night thereafter through the last round of match play. Be sure to keep checking the "Featured" tab on BOWL.com starting the night of Feb. 8 for Vermilyea and Eoff's daily blog updates from Reno.