Another Stellar Showing for Linds Lakers at USBC Championships

For the second consecutive year, Linds Lakers 1 of Minneapolis walked out of the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, NV, with the lead in Team All-Events at the USBC Open Championships.

Last year, the team finished in second place, 97 pins short of a third Team All-Events title since 2002. The group also came up short in Regular Team with another runner-up finish.

Luke Voaklander, the only team member not on the roster during the 2002 and 2006 title runs, led the way this year with a 2093 all-events total, which included a 300 game. The 31-year-old right-hander helped the group to a 10,076 total, marking the 27th time in 108 years of USBC Open Championships history that a team has eclipsed the 10,000 mark.

Linds Lakers 1 also accomplished the feat in 2002 (10,339) and 2010 (10,187).

Linds Cedarvale 2 of Eagan, Minn., led by 2010 Regular All-Events champion Matt McNiel, previously held the lead this year with 10,027. Voaklander was followed by Gary Green (2032), John Eiss (2015), Sam Lantto (2000) and Charles Vashaw (1936).

The original fifth member of the title-winning team is USBC Hall of Famer Todd Savoy, who chose to bowl with his family this year instead.

“Each time is different,” said Eiss, who made his 38th Open Championships appearance. “Each time has its own special things. My daughter bowled with us this year on the other team, and we bowled Doubles together, so she got to experience things on a personal level, and that was really neat.

“We also aren’t getting any younger. Every time we bowl, we think this might be our last chance, and we thought that last year. We just missed out on the Team event, and that one hurt the most.”

George Rowan and Rod Singer of Columbus, Ohio, were in perfect harmony as they moved into the Regular Doubles lead with a 1494 total. Erik Hohlbein of Renton, Wash., and Shawn Copeland of Milwaukie, Ore., previously held the lead with 1466.

Singer put together games of 278, 242 and 289 for an 809 series, while Rowan added 205, 257 and 223 for 685. Singer’s 800 series was the 10th of this year’s tournament and the third in two days.

“I had the right ball in my hand and was very comfortable,” said Singer. “It’s all about getting comfortable. It’s nice to know when you let it go that it’s going to make the right move.”