USBC Communications
Sam
Lantto of Eden Prairie, Minn., has maintained his grasp on the top spot on the
lifetime average list in the United States Bowling Congress Open
Championships, formerly the American Bowling Congress Championships
Tournament.Lantto has averaged 214.43 over 198 career games in the Open Championships and leads teammate Todd Savoy of Superior, Wis., who is in second at 213.56 for 207 games.
The lifetime average list consists of active bowlers who have competed in the Open Championships for 20 or more years.
In Baton Rouge, La., this year, Lantto rolled a 1,919 all-events total and has shot better than 1,800 every year with the exception of 1987 in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
In 2004 in Reno, Nev., he shot a 300 game in doubles and was a member of the 2002 Team All-Events champions. He is also a three-time Team USA member and is currently vice president of the USBC.
Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., leads the 20-year and 10-year lists, Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, is on top in the five-year and four-year lists and Jim Pencak of Parma, Ohio, is the leader on the three-year and two-year lists.
USBC Open Championships Average Lists (* indicates pinfall predominantly in Masters competition)
LIFETIME (20 or more years)
1, Sam Lantto, Eden Prairie, Minn., 214.43. 2, Todd Savoy, Superior, Wis., 213.56. 3, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 213.11. 4, Jim Pencak, Parma, Ohio, 212.21. 5, Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 211.42. 6, Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, Kan., 211.05*. 7, Jeff Richgels, Oregon, Wis., 210.90. 8, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 210.84*. 9, Ted Bertrand, Billings, Mont., 210.83. 10, Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio, 210.72*.
Sam Lantto and Todd Savoy are both members of the Minnesota Bowling Hall of Fame.