BOWL.com | Vermont husband and wife take doubles lead at 2022 Open Championships

By Sam Neves
USBC Communications

LAS VEGAS

– For Melissa and Dennis Burnham of White River Junction, Vermont, pairing up for the third time on the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships proved to be the allure as they’re heading dwelling with the lead in Labeled Doubles on the 2022 occasion.

Dennis led the way in which for the husband-and-wife group with video games of 197, 229 and 265 on Tuesday on the South Level Bowling Plaza for a 691 collection, whereas Melissa adopted with video games of 156, 152 and 189 for a 497 collection and 1,188 mixed complete.

Ronald Jackson of Stone Ridge, New York, and Terri Donahue of Ulster Park, New York, beforehand led with 1,165.

“We’re by no means certain how we will do once we come out to bowl the occasion,” mentioned Dennis, a 46-year-old right-hander. “However the plan is to at all times have enjoyable, and this 12 months, we did simply that.”

Making his eighth event look, Dennis bowled his highest-three sport set to this point on the Open Championships, besting his earlier excessive of 651 throughout singles on the 2015 occasion in El Paso, Texas. He added 533 within the group occasion and adopted up his collection in doubles with 511 in singles for a 1,735 all-events complete within the Normal Division.

For Melissa, a 42-year-old right-hander bowling in her third Open Championships, this expertise was additional particular.

“I really feel extraordinarily overwhelmed,” she mentioned.

Dennis added, “She’s battling most cancers, which solely permits her the stamina to bowl three video games. I am simply grateful she chooses to bowl them with me.”

Melissa and Dennis have been married for 22 years. The pair met in a bowling heart and now bowl collectively at Meyer Maple Lanes in Claremont, New Hampshire, the place they’re wanting ahead to returning to and counting down the times till the tip of the 2022 event, once they hope to be topped the Labeled Doubles champions.

The 2022 Open Championships kicked off March 12, and the 129-day occasion concludes July 18.

Labeled Doubles is for bowlers with mixed getting into averages of 310 and under.

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