Placer County bowler leads in two events at 2022 USBC Open Championships

Sam Cantrell of Roseville is comfortable on challenging oil patterns and on the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The 26-year-old right-hander used his experience to his advantage on the way to the lead in two events at the 2022 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. Cantrell averaged 256.5 over six games a week ago 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. Robby Callan of Vacaville 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. "It's pretty surreal," said Cantrell, who made his fifth appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. "I haven't had a lot of success at this tournament but I kept fighting and fighting. I got a good pair today and didn't have to move or ball change. It was an awesome day." After a disappointing finish to his team event a week ago Tuesday, Cantrell returned to the Bowling Plaza motivated and ready to show what he learned during the first three games of his 2022 tournament campaign. "I was pretty mad last night," Cantrell said. "I could've bowled 260 the last game and I left the Big 4 (4-6-7-10) in the 10th frame. I ball changed after the first game of team, and looking back, I probably shouldn't have done that. I ended up throwing that original ball all day today and it gave me the look I needed." The final-frame split ultimately cost Cantrell 46 pins and left him with a 620 series. An 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. Cantrell's strategy yielded immediate success, as he started the day with seven consecutive strikes. 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. Unfortunately for Cantrell, he missed two single-pin spares in the first five frames of the last game. He finished with a 205 game and 762 series, while Adams also struggled. The two finished with a 1,321 total, which is 11th in Regular Doubles. Eric Nelson of Minot, North Dakota, and Daniel Kimmer of Monticello, Minnesota, lead with 1,399. "I missed two makeable spares and that can't happen," Cantrell said. "Then I had two nine pins late in the game and only got to 205. It was pretty quick and simple, and I needed to do better." Cantrell was playing in the right place with the right ball and simply needed to minimize careless mistakes, along with hoping the pins continued to fall. He heeded his own advice and managed to do better in singles. Cantrell rolled clean games of 245, 277 and 255 to sneak past Schlotfeld. Even as the frames wound down, Cantrell and his teammates had no idea what the leading numbers were. "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. "I was able to stay in the same spot and give it a chance and it kept striking. We had no idea what the singles lead was, not a clue. We just bowled and did our best, and I was pretty stoked to find out." Cantrell 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. 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. "College bowling helped a ton because the lane conditions were so tough and they're definitely not easy here," Cantrell said. "They seemed to get flatter and flatter every week in college, and that really helps prepare you for something like this. That experience is a key to adjusting and making moves here. Now I have a good relationship with the mechanic at our center, so I'm able to practice on different patterns to stay sharp." A recent visit to the South Point Bowling Plaza for the True Amateur Tournaments 2022 TAT Amateur National in February gave Cantrell some insight about the venue that also was a key to his success last week at the Open Championships. "From bowling on the same pair of lanes during the TAT event, I knew the right hooked more, so I was ready for that," Cantrell said. "Equipment-wise, I know urethane looks good here, so that was a huge part of my plan. I was glad to have that past experience here and it paid off." The 2022 Open Championships kicked off March 12 and will run for 129 consecutive days, concluding July 18. For more information on the Open Championships, visit BOWL.com/OpenChamp and visit Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page. United States Bowling Congress The United States Bowling Congress is the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. It conducts championship events nationwide. Founded in 1895, the United States Bowling Congress and its 1,519 state and local associations serve more than a million members. The organization is headquartered in Arlington, Texas and its website is BOWL.com.