2012 Bowling's 69th U.S. Open Stepladder Finals - Who Do You Think You Are? I am!

the United States open it is the toughest test in professional bowling won by some of the sport's greatest names including the living legend Pete Weber in fact PDW has won the open four times and today in the 69th edition of this great tournament the 49 year old will try for a record number 5 standing in his way Ryan Shafer the perennial bridesmaid who has never won a major despite making 13 televised finals as well as the red-hot two-hander Jason Belmonte and number one seed Mike Fagan the Masters winner who is trying for back-to-back major titles Weber must get past them all to become the greatest US Open champion ever [Music] and welcome everybody the 69 us openly forensics on Carol air North Brunswick New Jersey is the site but Randy Peterson I'm Gary Thorne this is the compass stop for these boulders the US Open will talk about why as we go along we are ready to go 394 started the cut went down to 98 that went to 24 in those 24 well 24 games each in the round-robin Brown and that's part of what makes it so tough we will kick it off number four Pete Weber number three Ryan Shafer Ryan Shafer a five-time runner-up in majors Pete Weber looking for his fifth US Open crown and the winner of that will face number two jason bell body the hottest player on a planet eyeing his first major and waiting for that final is Mike Vegas Mike pagan looking to become the first back-to-back major winner since norm Duke didn't 2008 and they all wanted desperately to say they won the US Open we're ready to go let's meet the bowlers the number four seed owns 35 PBA Tour titles is a four-time US Open champion from Saint Anne Missouri PBA Hall of Famer PDW Pete Weber [Applause] all right Pete you know what to do just let the ball go you're listening to him live he is a number four seed we're underway for the US Open and he got it that's a bad man right there Gary he once killed two stones with one bird and Lady Luck they've all talked about late you see Lady Luck riding with them there's a little hint early check out the messenger the head pin goes to the sidewall kicks the 10 out and there's vintage PDW the number three qualifier is a four-time PBA Tour champion and former PBA Rookie of the Year making his 14th career major final appearance from Horseheads New York Ryan Shafer this is the bridesmaid we'll use that term over and over again regarding Ryan Shafer it's how good he is he has finished second in five majors and been in the top four in 13 majors but is looking for his first majors win and Schafer is underway now could kick it off with a couple of strikes Ryan Shafer we asked him why is this US Open so tough I mean you just beat yourself up every shot you throw I mean you just missed by a crack and I mean the ball just goes wherever it's just hard to believe that lanes can be that tough a we could bowl that good he's talking about the oil pattern of course here for the US Open which is different than in any other tournament that they Bolin and the most difficult pattern and there you see it second frame in I guess arduous is the word that I would use Gary but when asking Ryan last night he told us the lane conditions they're horrible they're impossible but that makes this tournament so great and you do have to make adjustments and you have to make them quickly it is a stepladder format so you've you've got to win to move on and you just don't have much time to think about what the strategy is going to be once you get started and a key at the US Open making spares avoiding open frames you've got to make your spares a tough one just like that I mean if you're gonna see the split the baby splits the one you want to shoot at but you're exactly right the key is to keep the ball in play keep your target in front of you avoid the big splits in the open frames and then hope that you're lucky enough to somehow string a couple strikes together you know four of the finalists when we talked with them a nice night said spares spares I mean general you hear them tell you about strike strikes all the time but here in the US Open it's about you've got to make your spares and can't leave it open Pete whoever started with a strike not the split you want to see the 410 this is what you see or what we're going to see all day long and as the lanes break down and transition the players need to stay on top of that it doesn't take much of an errant shot Pete's going to get his ball over in here and throw that 4 p.m. to the 7 Wow it doesn't take much it's you know an inch left or right of target with the wrong hand wrong release wrong speed and it's going to be an open Frank and and even here you can't afford many of those despite the fact it's tough talking about the oil pattern and why it's so tough here in 42 feet in length extremely flat we'll get into it a little bit more in a bit but it is by far the toughest oil pattern on tour just to give you a little nugget over 8,000 games bowled throughout this tournament only one 300 game by Jason couch think about that whoever needs to get back with the strike house [Applause] he's locked in it looks good on the left way you'll need to make an adjustment to figure out what to do on the right leg it's a nice comeback and you see signaling himself there but he was up against and trying to make that quick adjustment now Ryan Shafer Shafer trying to take advantage of that open frame now and just dig in to an early lead here nice ball you can see how deep Brian Schaeffer is already and we just started the players beat the old pattern up pretty good in practice Ryan Shafer is already playing in between third and fourth arrow he was the one who talked most of all making the spares he was joking he said you know you go to tournaments you wonder whether you're gonna bring your a B or C game with you he said I came here to the US Open and figured I got my a game with me he said that's how tough these lanes are now tough it is to stay focused on it clicking here on the strike and you'll leave one interesting Ryan going through the nose twice on the left lane Pete Weber's locked in on the left lane Pete goes through the nose on the right lane the difference in styles the difference in bowling ball rotation a nice break here though and tripping the split on again another key throughout the course of a US Open tournament is you're going to go through the nose it's how many times can you break up the big split and only leave yourself with a single spare the spare and already you have seen in our first match just how tough these lanes can be each with a couple of strikes Pete Weber Ryan Shafer Weber seeded number four and Schaffer number three here at the US Open the 69th US Open is brought to you by Budweiser great times are waiting grab some buds by alka-seltzer Plus alka-seltzer Plus liquid gels provide more complete gold relief than nyquil by dv8 tonight we bold and by the USBC and it's too big in members to find out more about us bc log on to Bolcom today you in 2007 people ever came here to the Brunswick zone Carol ears the owner of three US Open titles in the championship match Weber would take on West a lot but there would be no denying PDW his wife Tracy cheered him on beep defeated West 210 to 204 to capture the fourth open of his career tying his late great father Dick Weber as well as Don party as the men with the most open winners so obviously if he can take that trophy home again you will become the only bowler ever have won the US Open five times that's what's at stake for him today and he's made it very clear and talking with him this week that it is a monumentally wanted trophy he would love to be able to win that fifth second all-time the leader in career major titles Earl Anthony Anthony has 10 majors to his credit boy he had that one lined up si it's just too bad he's not a showman really how tough is it to win this even though he's won at four times Pete Weber said this the elements that make this tournament so tough is the lane conditions trying to stay away from the splits making your spares keeping your patience not blowing up at the pins not blowing up at yourself just just trying to keep yourself focused on you know when you make a bad shot forget the bad shot come back and make sure you throw a good one I know that's hard to do at this tournament but the more you keep yourself focused on what's at hand the easier this tournament is to Bowl but it's still a grind on your mental game your physical game and the ability to know how to bowl he has three strikes that messenger not quiet that's better than I thought anyway and that's again a lot of what you see throughout the course of this tournament a little bit of an errant shot not bad it comes in late leaves a blower 10 but you saw peach reaction to that it was like hey no problem ok it's a single pin spare should have no problem covering the 10th said one open frame with an 8 we'll get the spare heel five pin match through five frames Pete Weber's throwing a double Ryan Shafer has yet to throw two balls back-to-back in the pocket he looks good on this right lane left lane has been a struggle for him interesting that each of them has picked the other lane to be good on so far and he will be going for the spare well let's talk a little bit about the difference between a typical house shot and this BPA Oh or excuse me the US Open oil pattern typical house shot there's dry to the outside a boatload of oil in the middle part of the lane so what happens is when you mid when you miss outside the ball hits friction and it hooks back I'll get to the US open oil pattern here in a second there all right so let's talk to yourself an oil pattern USO open oil pattern dead flat you get the ball right in hangs you get the ball going up or inside target it's going to go through the nose and it's going to spell disaster why not play the outside part of the wing you ask well that's impossible on a u.s. open oil pattern that would be like putting braces on dentures it just doesn't make sense voices on dentures Lord Almighty render ooh Brian Schaeffer he's on for that one they follows it up with a strike that's a good sign if you're Ryan Shafer now you finally hit the left lane just a pinch high on the right lane avoided the 4/9 split he's he's managing things very nicely right now the two words we have heard from all of the bowlers with these four in particular regarding the US Open patience has been number one that's been repeated over and over again you must have patience you're looking at the other finishers the top 24 and the four who have made it here to this championship the son of Pete Weber that's the one that's standing up for him so far when he's run into problems today you're looking at two players that have a ton of major championship experience under the bright lights television experience in majors Ryan Shafer Pete Weber stay on and it went off he knew he knew before it got there that he had not gotten the break he wanted on that and he will leave that for any times I'd miss at 10 the last day boy this is something that you wouldn't expect from Pete Weber especially he's trailing in the match he's the tape ends you know couldn't happen at a worse time but getting back to the experience the aspect this is Pete's eighth US Open idiot telecast Ryan Shafer has made the top five in major 17 times so tons and tons of experience I'm a bit surprised at what Weber just did there in the sixth he talked about his experience being what he thinks brings him the calmness to be able to adjust here at the US Open he needs a strike here and he got it he needed that you're right Gary but now he's got to hook to Brian Schaeffer doesn't double up here I can spare Schaeffer has not had two strikes in a row strikes him one three six it almost seems like Webber Bulls better when he gets this attitude he's got now you know he's really ticked off about missing that spare when he's uh when he's a little more relaxed he seems to kind of you know get a little lapse of concentration Ryan Schafer's talked about getting the lead here at the US Open and then in the previous rounds hanging on to him that's what he's trying to do here you can see just how quickly things can change that looked like it was fast and wide of target out of Ryan's hand remember the last time on the right lane he went just a little bit high leaving the 4-pin and this ball goes right through the end of the pattern and never has a chance to hook back one two four ten coming off a strike he did make the baby split in the second frame he needs to make a washout here to stay clean no backup no so he'll take the aid and that's Randy that's just what you were talking about the Heat had to hope for that it's hopping exactly right now it's a two pin match we're working on a strike in the seventh whoever can strike out to shoot 223 the max score for Ryan Shafer 215 so again this is what makes the US Open so great you see just how quickly things can turn if whoever makes the 10 pin in the sixth frame Webber's got the outright lead so you know Shafer responds pretty damn well I would say see a lot of Brooklyn's at the US Open too but I'll tell you one guy that doesn't like to see a Brooklyn throwing at him that's that guy right there reracked please so easy to do here you get one shot a little bit widen it misses ahead two minute real easy to pinch it off and get it going a pinched left and when you do that on this oil pattern that's when you start hoping for a Brooklyn strike he's got four strikes two on the left two on the right you see what Ryan Shafer did in terms of averaging through qualifying to 23 you're exempt player zero in the middle the amateur players some forty four pins shy of Ryan Shafer and that's the difference between bowling on a house pattern and not seeing this typical US open oil he Weber now looking to catch up here and that's the way to do it yeah he's got the lead now [Applause] his wife Tracy on hand watching how many bowling matches has she set through in his Great Hall of Fame career the king you see that demeanor how it changed when he missed the Tenten you know he was like having a good time out there and well it's really fun to be out here and now he's pio to do it right do it right strikes and three and four strikes in seven and eight we're trying for the finish we get a lead but the pressure on he does there you go that's the Pete Weber that you like to see that's what you expect to watch during a us on can finals keep in mind Weber is the number four seed Schafer's number three you got a win to move on here and Schafer who had the early lead halfway through this match now falling behind working on a strike it's another two who are not going to go away two of the veterans on the tour matched up against one another again there is Michele that's right Schafer's wife on hand here who do you think looks more nervous the wives of the bowlers oh definitely the wives the bullet the bowlers are numb at this point Ryan Shafer strikes in 8 & 9 got to do it again Ryan Shafer taking a rear rack on this left wing he wants to make sure that everything is perfect for this next shot 10th frame all-important who performs in the 10th frame will win this match and move on right down to the final frame Pete Weber watching intently on the other side Shaffer not going to get it he's going to have the spear well he went Brooklyn the last time on the left lane trip to 6 out he goes through the nose this time leaving the three pin he as soon as he gets halfway down the lane he knows it's not going to push far enough right now to have any chance he has to convert here strike on the fill Pete Weber is going at a 2:03 pace right now it would force whoever to mark in the 10th frame Heyford that I have it got it so just decent count here he will force Weber to mark remember getting a marketing US Open when you need it not so easy not so easy as we've seen in this match early on Ryan Shafer looking to finish it out leaves three never figured out that left lane right no no well it's dead wrestle with the ball so now it's up to Pete Weber stay aggressive any mark you mr. Terry said be aggressive be whoever looking to advance its in its hands got it that was for you Rob stone Pete Weber hambone at the US Open so he has defeated Ryan Shafer he's going to advance Jason Belmonte will be up next against him and for Ryan Shafer another tough us finishes it off of the strike so the bridesmaid Ryan Shafer will have to play that role yet one more time and Pete Weber trying to become the first bowler ever to win five US Opens video games he's right amelong hall-of-famer has won his first match at the 69th US Open you well the crowd got themselves a great first match as the Hall of Famer big Weber has beaten Brian Schaeffer and will move on to the second round it is going to triangle from four to one the Big East in the big 12 take center stage for ESPN's big Monday night doubleheader first 7:00 Eastern two teams chasing Syracuse it will be Notre Dame Georgetown 9:00 Eastern Thomas Robinson Kansas they're looking for a top spot in the big bulb they take on oklahoma state big monday presented by Bud Light ESPN ESPN three streaming on ESPN watch espn.com well we couldn't have asked for a much better match than that one I mean that one right down to the final frame that's what you expect to get here and what we were talking about the difficulty Randy of the US Open because of the way these lanes are oiled it showed up right away it really did it was the seventh frame which really turned the match around Pete Weber misses the tenth pin and then just kind of kicks himself in the rear end gets the opening from Ryan Shafer then P throws the last six to close out the match what will be interesting as can Pete keep that same intensity for two more games and win his fifth US Open title how about the fact that at his young age he still physically never mind mentally but physically is able to come out and take a week like this and make it now to the final three I think that's the most amazing part is obviously this is a grueling grind mentally but also physically and it's not a spring chicken anymore let's face it the guy's 49 years old and to compete at this level at age 49 is really a testament to his great physical ability and it's great mental ability alright let's take a look at what we are looking at here in the bowlers let's talk about modern hey Pete Weber was really the innovator of the new modern game you'd see how his shoulders are completely open left hand out in front of him Jason Belmonte the two-hander it's the same kind of thing yeah the style looks completely different throwing it with two hands but you notice how the shoulders are wide open it's almost impossible for Jason Belmonte to pull the bowling ball up and here's my vagin it looks like a carbon copy of what Pete Weber is doing the real high back swing the left arm out in front the shoulders wide open three totally different styles when you look at them at full speed but when you really break it down lots of similarities with these three players this is a real interesting match coming up here with a hero going against the man who really loved it take a look at what's been going on a 14 year old first time made it to the money and making it am one of eight women here also made it into the money but did not make it here take a look at the headlines from this week 14 year old Cameron Doyle has got a bowling lane in his cellar finished 61st the youngest 14 years old over to do it Missy Parkin finished 21st first woman to make match play and the 2012 Hall of Fame inductee Jason couch finished 15th but he did at the only 300 game and Pete Weber is going after his fifth US Open title that would be a new record that's all gone on this week and Pete Weber is ready to go they will take their warm-ups here as as we get set Belmonte waiting this is an interesting one it's the veteran hall-of-famer going against one of the younger stars of the game up and coming see whether or not that shakes this young star having to look at his hero on the other side you Brunswick song Carol ear has hosted the US Open seven times more than any other venue its first year was 2005 where Chris Barnes met up with a lefty Patrick Allen in the title match and a real nail-biter Barnes would go strike nine spare in the 10th frame to defeat Allen by one pin and claim the first major of his career now the question is who's going to take home that trophy in the 69th US Open so Pete Weber the number four seed coming into suite number three Ryan Shafer now Jason Belmonte who is a red-hot I mean he's really bowling about as well he thinks as he can will go up against the player he watched growing up and Pete Weber is going to go first and it's got to be you gotta have a little butterfly if you're looking at your hero on the other side don't you Jason Belmont he's getting exactly what he wanted to get rematch against Pete Weber whoever's got a game under his belt the nerves are gone Belmonte's coming in fresh whoever's got a nice blueprint of what the old patterns doing even though they did get practice during the break so what Jason Belmont he's got to shake the butterflies quick get off to a quick start against Weber Pete Weber and our second match getting ready to go you don't want to get on his bad side no this guy used to he used to burn paper with a magnifying glass at night why yeah well because he's that bad he can't you don't want to get on his bad side I think you ought to be quiet like for the rest of the show No he got his silence after that one I'll tell you D Weber's got us right see that's when and he looked right oh yeah he's got to look right over to the fan or whoever it was but that's why people love to hate him right then he's just Pete the number two player is a two-time PBA Tour champion in 2009 PBA Rookie of the Year from Orange New South Wales Australia Bell mo Jayson Belmonte third year on the tour 28 years old comes in with the a wife back home expecting their second child next month and when he left home she said you're gonna win the US Open and he got a bit emotional about that last night talking about him let's see how it goes he's on what it would mean to win Jason Belmonte said this when he would mean everything this is for you to say that you've won the hardest tournament in the world against the best Bowl was in the world you know there aren't many people in the world who have won this tournament and it's been going for a very long time how Peter Webber won it four times I don't know I mean the guy I don't know if he's really human because I've bowled this tournament a few times and to be able to win it four times it's just he's up to a mighty good start here yeah not a bad start swishes the rack the first frame and the trips for second frame for a double nice way to start but what's amazing is the two completely different lines these two are playing Pete Weber is playing in and hooking it Jason Belmont did the man with all the revolutions in power is fright of Pete throwing it really hard and really straight whoever after bowling strike first time around hey that's not good I throw it good and get nine yeah this was a great shot here's again the profile to keep that big high back swing and then what he can do at the bottom of the swing with that rotation not a lot of players have been able to do throughout the history of this sport and that's why peak can get in and really open up the lane on any oil pattern but I think that's why also he's been so good at the United States Open he will take more time between balls and any of the other bowlers we see likes to be patient quiet gotta remember he missed in that first batch of 10 when he put one in the gutter and not this time yeah taped that thumb hole out in his spare ball and a little bit better result this time I think about the only thing that's gonna stop these two players in this match though is gonna be Kerry I don't think they're gonna have too hard of a time getting to the pocket I could be wrong it is the US Open you're never wrong right I never huh doesn't happen all right well let's see if he hits the pocket on this ball then you know the crystal ball is working patience patience patience he's not affluent over there please please stop moving while I'm on my approach all I ask it's much more fun listening to Pete than it is to us I so will lay out here often no need for me to say a thing I said would you please stop moving in my approach not good when you have the well no what's hard about that to understand I don't know who he's looking at he's got the rabbit ears going now not good fits kill somebody in the stands is what he's tied into somebody moving is now well you know the gain I want to move unfortunately it's the nature of the beast in this setting you know you've got fans sitting down Lane and hard to sit still especially when you're trying to you know get a good look at one of your favorite bowlers maybe not their favorite after today but Belmonte's got two strikes how much of what flubber does is about Belmonte any or is it real no it's real I don't think it has anything to do with Jason Belmonte Pete the thing about Pete is he's brutally honest he wears his emotions on his sleeve obviously but Pete's honest I mean he's Pete's going to tell it like it is this is not this is not a show or this isn't anything to try to to get Velma out of his game plan he's not that kind of player watches as intently as he bowls so Belmonte coming away with a spare jason Belmonte has not won a major his best finish in a major fourth in the World Cup this year and again this is what makes Jason Belmonte so scary he's using the most aggressive ball in his arsenal throwing it 100 miles an hour really straight with a Rev rate over 600 did not have as Randy's pointed out more opposite styles than what we were seeing in this match and they couldn't be playing two more completely different lines yeah and you would think it would be the exact opposite because Belmonte possesses all of the power and revs you would think he would be in trying to hook it an open lane up not the case at all he's bringing it I mean he's coming with a high hard one a lot of speed a lot of bad intentions on Jason Belmonte side now weber looking to get back in this trailing by 11 and looking for a second strike of a match you think I'm gonna talk when he's getting ready of crocin and he got us right they'd Weber won the US Open four times if you could win it a fifth time he'd be the first to do it what does he think about that this is the tournament I think everybody wants to win and to win it a fifth time I mean that would just be like wow man I did something the dick lever and Don Carter didn't do but you know it I could never say that I'm better than those two because those two paved the way for everybody to Bowl so you know it's a it would be an honor to win and go ahead of Don and dad in that category but then again it would mean more to me than anything in the whole world there is third strike yep but Don Cotter and Dick Weber won the BPA all-stars a record four times and then the first US Open was contested in 71 and that's when it went from the BPA all-star to the US Open you could see that the this pretty elite company right there three the greatest the game has ever known but yeah to win this event four times in Jason Belmonte said it in a soundbite it so it's mind boggling such a brutal tough tournament to win money trying to maintain his lead [Applause] and this is something you don't see very often from Belmonte because of the style and the shoulders being white up and is a shot that's pulled so Belmonte the three strikes after the spare he's got it when he watched the two-handed styles of Jason Dahl Macchio Schuylkill irma I think the most interesting facet of what they do is their ability to throw the ball at the velocity that they throw it at it's not hard to throw with two hands it's not hard to create revolutions obviously when you use that style what's hard is to do it and throw it 20 miles an hour and then to be as precise as these guys are especially Jason Belmont is you see only bold one game under 200 in match play which is absolutely mind-boggling the efficiency the the accuracy of a Jason Belmonte going at that speed with that much power is really really a unique and an amazing thing to watch very consistent he has been very consistent here got to get the pin out of that left gutter before the player can Bowl there we go Del Monte's was talking about what we've mentioned all saying you've got to have patience here in the US Open he says I am NOT a patient person he said to work on that this week to keep himself under control to be patient and not to rev things up his balls revved up but he doesn't want to be revved up he waited and will leave - yeah you're right Gary he said that patient is a tough patients as a tough thing for him to come by the tournament was only half over and Jason Belmonte was like what am i doing i I'm only halfway through this event that's when he kind of got a hold of himself I had to settle himself down now he's going after the spare he has three strikes so far oh yeah - eight not the easiest here to shoot out on the soil pattern now let's take a look at the fast safe pain relief replay brought to you by the makers of Bayer Advanced aspirin got to have that one cannot leave the open frame another great match here in the 69th US Open is Pete Weber the number four seed to advance taking on Jason Belmonte the number two seed and day as was true in the first match arm an arm down the lanes [Music] and we come back with some hall-of-famers currents Alvino on the left in the middle Johnny Pattaya and Mark Roth on the right three Hall of Famers in a row and they all have US Open titles to their credit and a reminder coming up it's uber a Tuesday college basketball doubleheader 7 o'clock it'll be Michigan State trying to stop the big ten against Indiana and number 9 Eastern it'll be Florida against Vanderbilt Super Tuesday presented by KFC ESPN ESPN 3 streaming live on watch ESPN dot-com Randy how about we talked about the differentials bring these two bowlers about the speed speeding line both completely different you see Pete Weber starting a lot further left Jason bomani farther right and look at the speed differential there how much faster Jason Bowman's ball gets the depends before Pete Weber so it's really a unique two different ways to play the oil pattern here at the u.s. open but that's what makes this tournaments so great in sports does somebody called the Red Hat extends up on the field or whatever it may be and says okay play now after the commercial we have one of those people working here he just got the stare down from Pete and everybody's getting the stare down from peace it's good it's the USF and he's got it wound up for this one doesn't he whoever coming off a couple of strikes [Applause] tough lanes coming out of break not a bad shot avoids the split only leaves the war Kendall deeper on a plane if he converts commercial breaks all even through six entered the Hall of Fame in 1998 Rookie of the Year in 1980 bowling in a hurry right here for the sparrow you gotta head to TV a.com to find out you can join the growing number of fans following the PDA on Twitter get tweets featuring a PBA Tour news and tournament update find information about linking to the tweeter accounts of your favorite PBA stars simply click the Twitter link on the PBA comm home page to get started pede weber after his ninth major as we've talked about jason Belmonte after his first matched up here trying to move to the championship round and again he started we're a long way off from him so I don't think he heard me talking I'm taking cover and he's got glass in front of me so I'm ducking I'm hiding behind you listen this is the time where you need to keep your composure put the distractions behind you and get up and just take a deep breath and start over a lot on the line US Open title this guys been here before [Music] that is the one at 10:00 that's okay again nine spares are good here unless your opponents threw out a lot of strikes and it usually doesn't happen see Pete Weber is now playing in between the fourth and fifth era right around the 22nd 23rd board at the arrows I think honoree is the word that I would use now he and heats honoree he's really honoree and he's really irritated with somebody over there to the right side I don't know how he can see anybody moving over there because everyone's so afraid right now they're absolutely in stiff jackets refusing to move through all of this Jason Belmont he's going hey I want to win and right now three strikes they each have 30 and he comes back and gets his fourth I mean that could have been a big for this ball just punishes the pins and just kind of pushes everything down if this ball is gonna go high you're gonna watch the four seven ten go out late speed and power he is strong there you see just a plus one right now for Belmonte and to pick up his first win in a major in the back-to-back strikes well that was the big shot of the match for me Gary because that was his first opportunity to put a lot of pressure on Pete Weber look how big Pete's eyes just got there he could have really put some pressure on he double he could have doubled up taking an eleven pin lead and instead he looks at possibly an open frame down and he does so an open frame for Jason Belmonte now he's 11 down he could have been 11 up working on a double and in one shot goes from leading to trailing by 11 Pete Weber talked about that with us last night there you see how it's gone here I mean both are done that's on and off with the strikes whoever said in this in this tournament in particular you never know so that changes in a heartbeat and that's exactly what happened Weber with the lead trying to extend it out his wife not too many players in the history of the store that have more maple moxie in major championship competition than this guy so whoever's got four strikes now mati with four he wants a rewrite now let's see if he can double up and really take advantage of the open frame Belmonte's max score to 15 if Pete strikes here that'll put him in the two teams but no matter what Belmonte does if Pete strikes here in the ninth frame Pete Weber cannot be shut out after this right not to be shut out yeah Gary you know some people where Superman pajamas well it never keep Weber pajamas Superman would wear those he just wouldn't be as loud that is seriously taking advantage of a hole at an open frame at a major championship Pete where Berg so much experience steps up and just goes bang bang take that after that trophy for the fifth time Jason Belmonte got it domani strikes out he'll see to 15 if Pete Weber goes nine spare strike Pete Weber will shoot to 15 will youth be served or experience take its place the only double four Belmonte came early in the first and second frame remember the last time on this Lane he went light and left the 210 Oh Monty keeping his hopes alive yes he does all right that puts him in the 200s if he strikes out he'll force Weber to throw the first strike in the 10th so Belmonte continues to be as we talked about in this entire US Open amazingly consistent reaching that 200 mark and going over again Belmonte got it take shot hey mr. big shot nice nice 18 wherever I'm not going anywhere yet I know you're that superstar hall-of-famer and all that but hey I'm still here and I want to let you know that I'm not going anywhere just yet that's ten back he said that it was a kid's dream matchup if he could face Pete Weber he is and now he's trying to do one better beat him Jason Belmonte to finish it up oh that's big he just lost twisted just he just lost two pins in count Weber can now go nine spare nine and win by one pin nine spare nine is all Weber needs eight spare strike gets it done nine spare nine a strike on the first ball Weber advanced oh this is my second oh I was like all right Luce hey I don't remember taking two yet I don't like him like that remember when he gets loose remedy was loose in the first match halfway through that first match it was trailing haiku not and remember the last time on this right lane he went trip for he went a little high and went trip for come on buddy right here this is it we're trying to advance or strike here with setting lop he got it so feed Weber [Applause] best Jason Belmonte they're gonna be plenty mark 9 Flores I don't know he's angry at somebody over there in the left side of the stadium cuz he just went her there and gave him the business he's got to stay behind the foul line you know whoever's going to pull for the title the Pete Weber has advanced to face the number one seed where we're going after an historic fifth US Open Championship something nobody else has done and he has won the first two trying to do it coming put in the number four seed better and he said the youngsters want me to retire and I keep saying I'm still around [Music] you the 2011 US Open is without a doubt the most unforgettable finish in this majors history Mika coy bunyoni going up against hall-of-famer norm Duke in the 10th frame by boom yummy needed to convert a tenpin spare in order to claim the title he missed handing Duke his second US Open Championship and there's going to be another champion shortly there you see our title match number four seed Pete Weber and the number one seed Mike Fagan will now whoever's averaging 224 for the day that's usually good enough to win a US Open and let's look at our keys the victory brought to you by the makers of alka-seltzer plus liquid gels Mike Fagin's got a draw-off of his masters win his loan major victory he feels he's bowling as well as he ever has coming into the US Open he thinks that victory that he got at the Masters gave him great confidence through Pete Weber can Pete Weber keep the intensity at the same level at spin at all afternoon we are about to find out notice how quiet we are you're on the 18th green be he's earned that and we're underway easy easy there you don't want to start the championship match of the US Open with a big four split Pete's got that access rotation working you can see that ball feeds out to about the 10th 11th board then it starts to bite a little bit too soon but only leaving the 4-pin again that's key we're after the spare he will get it and now we will get to see for the first time today the number one seed the tournament leader is a three-time PBA Tour champion including the 2012 Masters from Dallas Texas the King of Swing Mike Fagan Regan's family is on hand to watch ralph and kathy his parents Emily Maher his girlfriend I tell you talk about two players who Bowl with an immense amount of intensity you've got two of them here in Fagan and Weber but to completely tights you know Weber is all out there he puts it right out there in front of your face Fagan more MORE he's he possesses more of that like that silent lucid lucidity you know what I'm saying he just kind of keeps it in inside you don't really know it's out there and then all of a sudden it might appear Weber not so much all in your face all the time we're gonna keep an eye out for that silent lucidity I can tell you that so that's gonna go as a spare he had a chance to jump early so the first chance to do something with it not quite the last time we saw Mike Fagan was at the USBC masters taking on Chris Barnes bacon throws a four-bagger to pull evil at Barnes Barnes goes through the nose Fagan seals the deal right there with that hit and wins his first major he waited for you to complete silent lucidity silent lucidity there he is and there it is right there you don't see you don't see that you know the big whooping it up and running it out and only when it matters after he wins and he'll come in to get the strike I'll tell you what this guy Mike Fagan is really impressed me this season he's really come of age and he's starting to boom he really started to believe in himself and in his game and when that happened he went a major now he's pulling for a second major back-to-back major victories are certainly very possible in hittin the near future for Mike Hagen be Webber's after that fifth US Open title something nobody else even his dad did not do interesting ball change on the right lane for Weber that pin has stood up all day that really do that again he is still talking to somebody over there I mean are we watching a bowling match or a boxing match know what that is another cult sportsmanship pal god I wish it I wish we knew who he was talking to we've been watching over there trying to figure out who it is but he can't I can't I don't know who it is he's talking to somebody's routing against Pete over there on that side and they just said something when Pete left the ringing tent and Pete doesn't like and gave it right back to him at some point you just got to say hey you know what just leave it alone continue on put the you know just ignore it you know let's go let's move on let's bowl this is the championship match for the 69th US Open [Applause] the other side Wow whoever goes high the first frame on that lane comes back and leaves a ring intent on the right lane comes back on the left lane only to leave a forfeit both players playing similar lines now it's not like we saw in the last match where Belmont he was a good tenor 15 boards right of where Weber is playing these guys are right on top of each other playing the same zone playing the same part of the lane and will get his spare so Pete Weber gets the spare and gives the stare you know the thing about it is that Mike Mike Fagan is from New York we're in New Jersey I'm gonna have to say that whoever is probably not the favorite in this match based on the applies we heard we were in commercial break Fagan actually outdrew him and applause a little bit not by much but he's got a lot of fans on hand here vintage Weber all day long yeah great television Mike Fagan number one seed please rolling fresh off his last win what would it mean to win here everything absolutely everything he said this is the biggest title in bowling as far as he's concerned couple of strikes he's already faced Pete Weber once this week in match play one you can do it again championship is his and he'll leave the 10 nope tennis had a mind of its own over on that lane he bowled Jason Belmonte and position around last night the winner of the match would claim the number one seed Mike fell behind early in the match made a ball change and I mean just ran all over Jason Belmonte stringing strikes Jason struggled with some really bad pin carry but again it's it's all about the maturation process that Mike Fagan has gone through in the last year this is a different guy now you know physically we all knew that he had some really unique tools but mentally he's really got it now and he believes in himself and you can see it his performance this season has been has been living up to the hype if you will you know the physical ability being there all the talent being there and now all of a sudden he's got it mentally scary combination and Pete Weber finds himself behind early which has happened in the first two matches [Applause] even early on here in this patch each of these players has a Dan opportunity try and jump out a limb but neither has been able to do it yet Steve Johnson is their executive director PBA a keep in mind that the BPA a still holds qualifying in their centers throughout the country for the US Open each and every year so special thanks to Steve and the BPA a even he's being quiet here's the ball change now on the left lane remember the last two shots on the left lane we're both high where we're using the same ball on both lanes now after his first back-to-back strikes and the ball change still can't get the 10 god that was a good shot okay so now he's going to have to do it with hand he's got it he's got kind of the look that he's looking for something a little cleaner through the front part of the lane but now he's got to give it some more hand maybe a little bit more access rotation to get the ball to face the pins properly the only one strike in this tournament that is often decided by spares whoever's able to get it but he again has opened the door for Fagin has got a couple of strikes and here's another chance or one of these bowlers to try and jump a little bit if he can avoid a strike average to 17 and a half for his qualifying to 17 formats play not sure if 217 will be enough to win the US Open title but right now it's looking like it's not a bad number Fagin leading the season in earnings and average I'm back wow this ball actually was fed a little farther right in over hooked going through the nose leaving the 4/9 split watch this it looks like it's right of target and actually over Huck's terrible break leaving both the 4 and the 9 see if Mike Fagan can slide the 4 pin into the 9 pin and stay clean penalty 3 strikes between the 2 Fagin with 2 and Weber with 1 here in the final these are the strikes we've talked about throughout the day you've got to make these spares leaves it open what separates great champions from champions is how he recovers from that shot this the biggest stage of his career his young career how does he rebound from a bad break of a 4 9 split I mean he's done it all week long he's performed flawlessly this is your number 1 seed your tournament leader fresh off of his first major victory just a few weeks ago at the Masters now how does Mike Fagan rebound from the 4/9 split in the fifth fret they again trying to win the back-to-back majors norm Duke the last one to do that was in O eight fact he ran off three wins in majors that year see how he reacts to that last one gets back and gets the strike who's the answer Randi and that's a good sign he comes right back he trusts into the right gives it a great touch comes in a little bit like carrying the wall-e that's good to see though that that's the sign of of a guy that's able to rebound from adversity right here we let it go he's a good shot whoever being his own best counsel leading by two halfway through the office fair came back again high 6:10 the spare we're all tied up bagans working on a strike down with he stayed down with the bomb it looked like he tried to help that one and when he did the ball checked early and went through the nose not only one strike in this match and we'll get another spare you could see a little thankful that that one came through remember how dialed in he was the first two matches using the same bowling ball for both matches well now he's changed to a different piece of equipment and the reason is because the oil pattern has changed enough to where he had to make an adjustment he wasn't able to stay in that comfy zone for more than two games he had to go to something a little less aggressive as he continued to migrate towards the center part and left part of the lane yes so he gets his first strike on that Lane and just his second of this match he keeps the pressure on Gary I told you it's going to be all about touch now for Pete to get his ball to face the one three pocket the right way and get all ten to go down it's all going to be touch and feel at the bottom of the swing whoever will watch now as Mike Fagan will come back has three strikes including one in the sixth even last time on this Lane for nine split big band and got him whoa thank you let me gently walk away well the last time on this way memory lives up for nine split this time almost the pocket seven ten lights wish zone ball goes in scatters a seven and then the ten goes out a little redemption for Mike Fagan on the right lane and he takes a tenpin lead that's his fourth strike two in a row here's a another really big they're all big balls here but this is a real chance now if he can throw another strike here making the number one seed trying to beat Pete Weber where is that ten each time so far in this match where either bowler has had the opportunity to really jump a little bit in that lead not been able to do it not easy to strike on a US Open oil pattern you see that the last two strikes we saw both players came in a little light Mike Fagan trips out the 7:10 Weber just that little swish zone Fagan comes back throws a good shot leaving the soft ten they get after the spare still a 9-pin advantage Weber working on a strike but whoever has yet to throw two strikes in a row he's going to rewrite here coming up next week coverage of the World Series of bowling continues the Geico shark open mike cool eme Chris Barnes Jason del Monte and Sean rash they square off and eliminate a competition that's going to be next Sunday at 3:00 Eastern well we have had great matches here and this one the final for the championship of the 69th open following right in line with the others whoever the number four seed trying to win it having to climb the entire ladder to get there and Fagen waiting watching the number one seed bowling for the first and most important time today [Applause] with that shot there he takes a one pin lead whoever's got to somehow summon his greatest shots in the next three frames got a hook and when I say three frames I mean ninth tenth and eleventh if Pete Weber strikes out oh shoot 236 the best Mike Fagan can shoot is 225 if Pete strikes here in the ninth nothing Mike Fagan can do can shutout Pete Weber and his quest 1st 5th United States Open victory after three consecutive strikes got it that's a bad man I don't know what else to say that that's just what a great touch that Webber put on this this shot here along with the last two for a three bagger there's that sick rotation and there's the Pete Weber vintage reaction now it's up to Mike Fagan they're trying to keep himself alive here coming off a spare both have had four strikes in the match focus focus that's pretty good right there yeah that was very good right there given the circumstances that was just a great shot and the last thing Mike Fagan needed to see was an ugly vicious ringing tenpin taking after that spare and he's got it but that's not what he wanted there after that strike and couldn't get it alright if Mike Fagan strikes out he shoots to 14 right now Weber is going in to 16 we've seen it happen before we saw it happen last year at last last year's US Open when norm Duke got up and threw the last four in a row to force Mika Koivu Niemi to mark Mika gets up and leaves the ringing 10 and misses it to give norm Duke the US Open title now Mike Fagan needs all three in the 10th frame to make Pete Weber show up in the 10th whoever finally looks up watching Fagin can he do it yes he can keep the thumb on some very pressured bowling going on here in this final now he wants to do it again remember the last three strikes that Webber's thrown have not been picture-perfect in fact I believe all three have been in the light swish zone area it's not like it's 10:00 in the pit two more strikes here for Fagin anything can happen whoever's been sitting on the bench now for a while he watched the ninth frame Fagin has to finish the 10th frame whoever sitting Webber's 49 years old body stiffens up a little yeah yeah you never know Wow why are you talk about getting them when you needed them number one seed Mike pagan coming through with the strikes that he had to have and now down to so Fagan will finish it up that'll give Weber time to sit and think Fagin's had no heard he finishes no you notice how much time so I mean he's not doing anything wrong he I mean as long as he throws it throws this shot within the 25 second shot clock he but he's using all of it right now making Weber think about this next shot he has to throw they again finishing it up Willis strike three in a row for Mike Fagan alright it's simple for Pete Weber nine spare strike whoever wins by one I strike here in the first ball whoever wins the strip United States Open Championship if Weber gets eight on this first ball we have my family's next hi if Weber gets anything less than 8 on this first ball Fagan wins whoever taking a rear-engine about the second fine even more time in between this shot here and the strike he threw in the ninth frame I don't think his wife Tracy is going to be able to watch as loose as we've seen him all day with a smile feed weber after the fifth US Open Championship Fagan will watch no one's ever won five hands up nuttin not yet my goodness what a great shot whoever just threw right there he needs to convert the tenpin here and he needs to strike on his fill this was about as good as you could possibly throw a 15 pound round bowling ball and Weber can't believe the temptin standing he's got it he's got to make it you thought he had that got to make it with a spare this one but not that one he's got to have a strike if he gets 9 we have a time we'll go to sudden death if he gets anything less than 8 Fagin wins sitting on the bench excuse me anything less than 9 Fagin wins sitting on the bench strike two claim it a strike to claim it [Applause] [Music] you are right Bowling history the only player ever to win five US Open [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] this might be the best title of my life I love it mom what do you think dad I know you're watching too he said this would be the highlight of my career he got it [Applause] the 69th US Open is brought to you by Geico saving people money on more than just car insurance by hammer bowling nothing hits like a hammer by Barbasol start your day cool with new Arctic chill shaving cream from barber song better by virus all and by roto grip the fastest-growing bowling ball brand in the world roto grip is king of them all speaking of king of the ball here's the shot that want it to feed lever [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Ewok Pete Weber came in as the number four seed he is number one when the day is done there you see the final one pin 215 to 214 over Michael Fagan and makes bowling history and with it here's Randy thanks Gary I'm here with the Weber's heat one of the most exciting US Opens that I can remember take us through the 10th frame specifically the fill shot what went through your mind I guess I kind of like Norma I really don't know what to say you know I knew I needed a strike to win or nine spare strike to win I got up and I I threw the first one just as good as I threw the second one I'm really shocked that the first one didn't strike but you know you can still in this game you still throw out the best you can still get nine but then again I came back and I threw it just as good as the first shot and all ten went down and I'm a static I I'm just um I don't know what to do what do you think your dad would say if he was still here way to go Pete that you you threw the ball like you should have you hit the pocket you struck you won you can't do much more than that and it's just wow I know it was up there watching thanks dad sorry I had to pass you but that's all right I know he's there right with me so everything's great everything's great Tracey's holding the hardware Tracey what was it like for you sitting back there watching this all unfold I told you don't ask me any question too late it's never easy it never gets any easier and I I'm speechless he's amazing he's just he's simply amazing it really was an amazing amazing 10th frame amazing tournament pete is does this go down as the all-time best performance in the history of Pete Weber well I said after I threw the last strike and I picked up the trophy it was like this might be the greatest victory of my career right here I this is just too much for me right now like I say I'm speechless but number five US Open is the best title of my career thanks B congratulations enjoy guys he said last night I am still young at heart well there is the age of 49 a very young at heart performance in this one as he passes his dad with his fifth win his ninth majors title but no one's ever won this u.s. opened five times until today Wow coming up next week coverage of the World Series of bowling it will continue with the Geico shark open mic Viviani Chris Barnes Jason Belmonte Sean rush they have such a square off in the eliminated competition and that's next Sunday at 3 o'clock Eastern the time now that's going to do it we hope you enjoyed it it was a tremendous 69 US Open here in New Jersey for Randy Peterson I'm Gary Thorne on behalf of all of our group this has been a presentation of ESPN the worldwide leader in sports I do [Music]

Channel: PBABowling

Views: 754,528

Rating: 4.7911649 out of 5

Keywords: Pete Weber (Award Winner), Ten-pin Bowling (Sport), a strike to claim it, who do you think you are i am, Jason Belmonte (Award Winner), ryan shafer, Mike Fagan (Athlete), U.S. Open

Id: iJ6a1hPz-K0

Length: 83min 5sec (4985 seconds)

Published: Fri May 22 2015

Reddit Comments

[u/[deleted]]

Was that really the most memorable moment in bowling of the past decade?

Yep, definitely was.

[u/Gatekeeper31]

This is the kind of mood we need going into 2020

[u/sreyaNotfilc]

This is my favorite match of all time! Just what PDW had to go through just to win is amazing.

[u/vepearson]

The US Open is simply HIS tournament! Plain and simple!

[u/BlastCKXX]

Well then, guess what I’m doing at 10:42:22 PM?

[u/Actuarial]

2020 = XX XX = Year of the Hambone

[u/AirAddict]

most clutch shot in bowling history in my opinion

[u/SweatyBooch]

Can confirm that this worked. Thanks!