Texas couple shares first Open Championships experience
By Matt Cannizzaro and David Ellis USBC Communications
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Richard Smith of Jones Creek, Texas, came to Corpus Christi for a four-day safety conference and got more than he bargained for this week at the American Bank Center.
Smith, 47, is a process technician in a chemical plant and made the trip as the first step toward a safety certification and the improvement of safety conditions at the plant where he works. When he first entered the convention center, he heard the familiar sound of pins crashing at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
"I'd heard there was a bowling tournament nearby from a co-worker, but I had no idea it was going to be in the same building," Smith said. "Of course I didn't miss any of the conference, but during every break I was watching through the windows that overlook the lanes."
Just three weeks ago Smith picked up a bowling ball for the first time in more than 20 years and he went bowling with his daughter. And last weekend, his wife Lee caught the bowling bug after watching him compete alongside Professional Bowlers Association standout Chris Barnes in the Pro-Am at the PBA Southwest Region Spare Time Recreation Angleton Open in Angleton, Texas.
Coincidentally, this week's conference also included a bowling event at nearby AMF Saratoga Lanes, and that was Lee's first chance to join her husband on the lanes. Despite spending time with her high school friends at a local bowling center, the only other time in her life she tried to bowl was 27 years ago when she was pregnant with their first daughter.
"I was watching him bowl at the pro-am and he was having the time of his life, so I wanted to be out there with him since we always do everything together," said Lee, who made the three-hour trip to Corpus Christi with Richard as a much needed break from her job as a registered nurse. "Richard always says that if you're going to do something, you might as well have all of the right tools. That is why we were in here looking for a bowling ball for me. I want to be able to bowl with him, but I don't want to bowl with the house balls."
Within an hour, Lee picked out a ball of her own, got professionally fitted and had it drilled. She also got a quick lesson in how to throw it properly from long-time pro Frankie May, and while she was taking it all in, she and Richard got talked into bowling as substitutes in the Open Championships.
"We just planned on picking out a ball, heading back to walk the dog and then watching ER on TV tonight," said Richard, who bowled 138, 115 and 128 for a 381 series in team Thursday night. "It took them almost 30 minutes to talk us into bowling, but once Lee was convinced, I was on board too. I had a great time and met some nice people, and now I'm thinking about going to next year's tournament in Reno, Nev."
Lee's first taste of competition was a positive one too. She only bowled 80, 82 and 94 for a 256 series in team Thursday, but she is looking forward to pursuing her new pastime.
"Everybody here is so nice, and they didn't even care that I'd never really bowled before," Lee said. "They were giving me pointers and were very supportive, and it really put me at ease when they reminded me that no matter what I did, it was better than the zeros they would've gotten without me."
Presenting sponsors for the 2006 USBC Open Championships are Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Hotel/Casinos in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Texas State Aquarium, Majestic Ventures Yacht Charters, Inc., USS Lexington Museum and Texas Treasure Casino Cruises.
For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCOpen.com.