That experience is a key to adjusting and making moves here. "They seemed to get flatter and flatter every week in college, and that really helps prepare you for something like this. "College bowling helped a ton because the lane conditions were so tough, and they're definitely not easy here," Cantrell said. He owns A+ Pro Shop inside of Steve Cook's Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights, and building a relationship with the staff there has allowed him the resources to keep his game in top shape. We just bowled and did our best, and I was stoked to find out."Ĭantrell is a few years removed from an All-American career at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, but bowling still is part of his daily life. We had no idea what the singles lead was, not a clue. "I was able to stay in the same spot and give it a chance, and it kept striking. "I wasn't missing the pocket, so I knew I was in the right place, as long as I got the 10 out," Cantrell said. He rolled clean games of 245, 277 and 255 to sneak past Schlotfeld.Įven as the frames wound down, Cantrell and his teammates had no idea what the leading numbers were. He heeded his own advice and managed to do better in singles. It was pretty quick and simple, and I needed to do better."Ĭantrell knew he was playing in the right place with the right ball and simply needed to minimize the careless mistakes, along with hoping the pins continued to fall. "Then, I had two 9 pins late in the game and only got to 205. "I missed two makeable spares, and that can't happen," Cantrell said. Eric Nelson of Minot, North Dakota, and Daniel Kimmer of Monticello, Minnesota, lead with 1,399. The two finished with a 1,321 total, which is 11th in Regular Doubles. He finished with a 205 game and 762 series, while Adams also struggled. Unfortunately for Cantrell, he did the one thing he knows you can't do to become a champion on the sport's biggest stages - he missed two single-pin spares in the first five frames of the last game. After opening games of 278 and 279, the watch party began for an 800 series and a run at the lead in Regular Doubles with Alexander Adams of Citrus Heights, California. The final-frame split ultimately cost Cantrell a handful of pins and left him with a 620 series.Īn understanding of what happened during Tuesday's three games, along with his familiarity with the 60-lane venue, solidified his game plan for the new day and new oil pattern.Ĭantrell's strategy yielded immediate success, as he started the day with seven consecutive strikes. I ended up throwing the original ball all day today, and it gave me the look I needed." I ball changed after the first game of team, and looking back, I probably shouldn't have done that. "I could've bowled 260 the last game, and I left the Big 4 (4-6-7-10) in the 10th frame. "I was pretty mad last night," Cantrell said. It was an awesome day."Īfter a disappointing finish to his team event Tuesday, Cantrell returned to the Bowling Plaza very motivated and ready to show what he learned during the first three games of his 2022 tournament campaign. I got a good pair today and didn't have to move or change balls. "I haven't had a lot of success at this tournament, but I kept fighting and fighting. "It's pretty surreal," said Cantrell, who made his fifth appearance at the USBC Open Championships. Robby Callan of Vacaville, California, previously held the lead in Regular All-Events with 2,139, and the top rung in Regular Singles was occupied by Ryan Schlotfeld of Lincoln, Nebraska, with 772. With those two things coming together at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, the 26-year-old right-hander was able to use his experience to his advantage on the way to the lead in two events.Ĭantrell averaged 256.5 over six games Wednesday to catapult himself to the top of the Regular All-Events standings with a 2,159 total, and his final three games also made him the man to beat in Regular Singles with 777. LAS VEGAS - Sam Cantrell of Roseville, California, is comfortable on challenging oil patterns and on the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
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