Playing with the big boys

Florida youth cashes at U.S. Open

Gathering the courage to play elbow to elbow with professional bowlers on the sport's toughest lane conditions.

Dreaming of national success and fame, not to mention the $100,000 top prize.

Drawing on skills and stamina to advance through grueling qualifying rounds and cash among the best adult bowlers in the nation and from around the world.

Andrew Koff

Sixteen-year-old Miami native Andrew Koff lived that dream at the 65th Denny's U.S. Open in March. Of the 488 entrants in the competition, Andrew was one of 10 USBC Youth members who took advantage of a recent change in Youth Eligibility Rule 400, signing a waiver to accept any prize earnings as scholarship dollars to participate in the adult singles event.

The event began much like USBC's Junior Gold Championships, bowling six games each day for three days straight in the qualifying rounds. (Andrew is a Junior Gold bowler with four years of experience at the national championships. Last year he advanced through the event's semifinals and finals to place 20th from a field of 1,080 boys.)

Andrew's energy at the U.S. Open showed in his scores. He held second place after the first round, eighth place after the second round and 25th place after the third round. His 18-game total pinfall was 3,763 for a 209 average on the most challenging lane conditions imaginable.

The top 25% of bowlers (122 competitors including Andrew) advanced on to the cashers qualifying round. Those nine games – rolled in a block from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – determined cash or scholarship prize amounts for all but the top 24 competitors who went on to match play.

After 27 games, only one pin separated 25th place Andrew from 24th place Mark Scroggins. 

Andrew was out of the running but earned $1,900 in scholarship funds and finished the event with his head held high. Among the pros he outscored were Brian Kretzer, Sean Rash, Jeff Carter, Brian Himmler, Tony Reyes, Dino Castillo, Robert Smith, Brian Voss, Walter Ray Williams, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Kelly Kulick, Patrick Allen, Chris Barnes, Mike DeVaney, Steve Jaros, Chris Warren, Mike Machuga, Rhino Page, Jack Jurek and Danny Wiseman.

Norm Duke emerged from the event's match play and stepladder finals to win the 2008 U.S. Open title with its $100,000 prize and a two-year exemption for the Denny's PBA Tour. It was Duke's second Major win of the season and the last event he needed to become only the second PBA player in history with career wins in all four Grand Slam events: the USBC Masters, Tournament of Champions, World Championship and the U.S. Open.

10 USBC Youth members take on the U.S. Open

A total of 10 high-average youth bowlers accepted the challenge of competing with top pro and amateur adult bowlers from the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Venezuela and Australia on the toughest lane conditions imaginable at the 65th Denny's U.S. Open. Here are their results:

Andrew Koff*, Miami – averaged 207.67 for 25th place Steven Arehart*, Chesapeake, Va. – averaged 192.06 for 176th place Shane Tetterton*, Kenhorst, Pa. – averaged 188.56 for 215th place Joseph Steiner*, Tioga Center, N.Y. – averaged 188.44 for 216th place G. Brett Cunningham*, Clay, N.Y. – averaged 186.28 for 241st place Mark Duca, Wayne, N.Y. – averaged 185.22 for 260th place Travis Celmer*, Wernersville, Pa. – averaged 179.56 for 329th place Adam Ferri*, Jeanette, Pa. – averaged 175.44 for 374th place William Hodroski, Woodbridge N.J. – averaged 163.72 for 431st place Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J. – averaged 159.72 for 446th place

Conducted in late March at Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., the U.S. Open drew a total of 488 entrants. *indicates experience at USBC Junior Gold Championships