Minnesota bowler connects for 300 game at 2018 USBC Open Championships
April 30, 2018
Watch the final frame
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Robert Clements of Plymouth, Minnesota, recently joined one of the most revered groups in the history of the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and it definitely has been a worthwhile experience for the 45-year-old right-hander.
Since joining the contingent long known as Linds Lakers, Clements has been able to learn from the blueprint that has resulted in 15 titles among the group, and he hopes to one day join his talented teammates in claiming a coveted Eagle trophy, which is presented to tournament champions each year.
Clements did not leave the Oncenter Convention Center this year in position to claim an Eagle, but he departed having experienced his first moment in the USBC Open Championships spotlight after rolling the third 300 game of the 2018 event.
He started his singles set Sunday with games of 198 and 214 and capped his 16th Open Championships appearance with the first perfect game in singles competition this year to finish with a 712 series. Cotie Holbek of Burlington, Wisconsin, leads Regular Singles with 802.
Clements joined the famed Lakers group from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in 2017 after bowling on and off with them in local and state events.
The group includes USBC Hall of Famers Todd Savoy and Sam Lantto, along with Open Championships titlists Charles Vashaw, Gary Green and John Eiss. The group is organized by Tom Corbett, who made his 44th tournament appearance this week.
In addition to the wins, Lantto (2004), Green (2014), Eiss (1993) and Luke Voaklander (2011) also have rolled 300 games on the championship lanes.
Clements felt the team's strategy Sunday played out well.
Their game plan was the result of several sessions at Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC, which is being held at the nearby AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes and features the same lane condition being used in doubles and singles at the Open Championships.
Despite a strong start in doubles, including a 277 effort in Game 2, Clements didn't expect to be the one making a run into the tournament record book.
"After multiple sessions at the Bowlers Journal, I think we had a good idea, and we set the shot up pretty well in practice," said Clements, who added sets of 687 in doubles and 568 in team for a 1,967 all-events total. "I definitely didn't expect to be shooting a 300, though. I think it finally opened up a little bit for all of us. We all bowled pretty well, and I was the fortunate one to be in the position to shoot 300."
As he approached his final frame, Clements tried to keep things as simple as possible, and his talented teammates kept encouraging him.
"I was trying to execute those shots the best as I could," Clements said. "I didn't want to help it. I just wanted to stay low, execute and keep the ball on the same line. To have those guys around to bounce ideas off and support me really kept me going. To share this experience with them was tremendous."
Although Clements will have to wait another year to make a run at an Eagle, he will have the chance to be announced as a tournament celebrity alongside his teammates starting next year in Las Vegas.
"I really hope to get an Eagle at some point in my career," Clements said. "I aspire to be where they are, but, for now, it'll just be special to be announced."
The other perfect games at the 2018 Open Championships belong to USBC Hall of Famer Steve Kloempken of Pleasant View, Utah (doubles), and Peter Zmozynski of Depew, New York (team).
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Robert Clements of Plymouth, Minnesota, recently joined one of the most revered groups in the history of the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and it definitely has been a worthwhile experience for the 45-year-old right-hander.
Since joining the contingent long known as Linds Lakers, Clements has been able to learn from the blueprint that has resulted in 15 titles among the group, and he hopes to one day join his talented teammates in claiming a coveted Eagle trophy, which is presented to tournament champions each year.
Clements did not leave the Oncenter Convention Center this year in position to claim an Eagle, but he departed having experienced his first moment in the USBC Open Championships spotlight after rolling the third 300 game of the 2018 event.
He started his singles set Sunday with games of 198 and 214 and capped his 16th Open Championships appearance with the first perfect game in singles competition this year to finish with a 712 series. Cotie Holbek of Burlington, Wisconsin, leads Regular Singles with 802.
Clements joined the famed Lakers group from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in 2017 after bowling on and off with them in local and state events.
The group includes USBC Hall of Famers Todd Savoy and Sam Lantto, along with Open Championships titlists Charles Vashaw, Gary Green and John Eiss. The group is organized by Tom Corbett, who made his 44th tournament appearance this week.
In addition to the wins, Lantto (2004), Green (2014), Eiss (1993) and Luke Voaklander (2011) also have rolled 300 games on the championship lanes.
Clements felt the team's strategy Sunday played out well.
Their game plan was the result of several sessions at Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC, which is being held at the nearby AMF Strike 'N Spare Lanes and features the same lane condition being used in doubles and singles at the Open Championships.
Despite a strong start in doubles, including a 277 effort in Game 2, Clements didn't expect to be the one making a run into the tournament record book.
"After multiple sessions at the Bowlers Journal, I think we had a good idea, and we set the shot up pretty well in practice," said Clements, who added sets of 687 in doubles and 568 in team for a 1,967 all-events total. "I definitely didn't expect to be shooting a 300, though. I think it finally opened up a little bit for all of us. We all bowled pretty well, and I was the fortunate one to be in the position to shoot 300."
As he approached his final frame, Clements tried to keep things as simple as possible, and his talented teammates kept encouraging him.
"I was trying to execute those shots the best as I could," Clements said. "I didn't want to help it. I just wanted to stay low, execute and keep the ball on the same line. To have those guys around to bounce ideas off and support me really kept me going. To share this experience with them was tremendous."
Although Clements will have to wait another year to make a run at an Eagle, he will have the chance to be announced as a tournament celebrity alongside his teammates starting next year in Las Vegas.
"I really hope to get an Eagle at some point in my career," Clements said. "I aspire to be where they are, but, for now, it'll just be special to be announced."
The other perfect games at the 2018 Open Championships belong to USBC Hall of Famer Steve Kloempken of Pleasant View, Utah (doubles), and Peter Zmozynski of Depew, New York (team).
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.