Craig Szplett of Beecher, Ill., rolled a perfect game during his team event at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev., on June 20 and became the first bowler in United States Bowling Congress Open Championships history with three 300s on the championship lanes.
The 43-year-old right-hander also had 300s at the 1996 event in Salt Lake City and 2005 tournament in Baton Rouge, La. His effort this year marked the 30th perfect game of the 2013 USBC Open Championships and 800th in the event’s 110-year history.
Despite being in familiar territory, Szplett admitted to being nervous as he stepped up in the final frame on the 41-foot Sport Bowling-certified oil pattern.
“I was pretty nervous,” said Szplett, who made his 12th tournament appearance and added games of 259 and 217 for a 776 series and helped Bowlers Universe 1 of Rockford, Ill., to a 3,380 team score.
“I just tried to relax and go through the motions the same way I did before, and it worked out. I had a good look in practice, and I adjust pretty quickly, so I think that helped me. Every time something went high flush, I moved off of it. There was a nice shim on the lane, so I tried to stay around it.”
As posted on digitalbowling.com
