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Bowling News USA - June 14, 2009 O'Keefe Makes USBC Open Championships Debut

Storm staffer Shannon O'Keefe of Arlington, Texas, has found success at amateur and professional events in seven countries, but before Friday, she had never competed at the USBC Open Championships.

The 30-year-old right-hander made her tournament debut in good company, joined on the lanes at Cashman Center by some good friends and a few of her Team USA teammates, Stefanie Nation, Shannon Pluhowsky, Lynda Barnes and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard.

"I've bowled at the National Bowling Stadium before, but to see this place and all of the hard work that went into it was amazing," said O'Keefe, a five-time Team USA member, who bowls at Forum Bowl in Grand Prairie, Texas. "I was relaxed until the music came on, and when the march started, I got excited and the nerves kicked in."

O'Keefe shot 176 in her first tournament game, but bounced back with 229 and 248 for a 653 series to help Ballard's Bowling Solution 2 to a 2,991 team total. Nation added 641 and was followed by Andrea Fleming (607), April Ellis (569) and Heather Jones (521).

Ballard's Bowling Solution 1 also bowled well, posting games of 1,040, 1,057 and 1,002 for a 3,099 team effort. Tammy Boomershine led the way with 670 and was followed by Michael Flynn (659), Dorin-Ballard (625), Barnes (591) and Pluhowsky (554).

"It was helpful that we had almost all women because we all attacked the lanes the same way and were able to break them down perfectly," O'Keefe said. "We communicated very well, and it's nice to bowl with people you see often and really get along with. Chemistry is a big factor in team play."

Because of the limitations of her job at a bank in Rochester, N.Y., O'Keefe previously was limited to only a few key bowling events each year, and finding a team to compete with at the USBC Open Championships never was a priority. Thanks to her new job handling international relations for USBC, however, she is able to spend more time on the lanes competing.

"I am very lucky that I have bosses at multiple levels who are understanding and give me the opportunity to go out and compete," O'Keefe said. "If there's ever a time that a tournament conflicts with my job, I know that work comes first, which I'm used to, and I'm OK with that. I'm just really lucky to be in such a great situation now."

Although she has heard tales of the Open Championships and its traditions from her husband, Bryan, a 16-year tournament veteran currently in second place in Regular Doubles, O'Keefe had to experience the event to really understand it.

"You hear people talking about the tournament and winning an eagle, but you don't really think about what a big deal it is," O'Keefe said. "Bryan has been in the lead before, and I've seen him online checking scores, but I never really got it. Now that I bowled, I understand what it means to beat more than 80,000 people. Obviously, I've wanted him to win so badly, but now that I'm bowling here, too, the race is on."

O'Keefe rounded out her tournament debut with 664 in singles and 617 in doubles for a 1,934 all-events total. Bryan O'Keefe turned in a 1,956 all-events effort this year.

"For my first time out, I didn't know what to expect, so I'm happy with everything overall," Shannon O'Keefe said. "I am pleased with how I bowled, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year."

O'Keefe will be back at Cashman Center during the last week of July for the 2009 World Women's Championships (July 27-Aug. 2), and even though she won't be bowling, she will be there to see every shot.

Barnes, Dorin-Ballard and Nation will be on the lanes for the United States, along with Wendy Macpherson, Kim Terrell-Kearney and Liz Johnson as they attempt to claim the team gold medal for the first time in more than 20 years.

"I will be here because of my job, and even though I won't physically be throwing a bowling ball, I will be there to see every shot and cheer them on the whole way," said O'Keefe, who has earned 15 medals in international competition, including a singles gold at the World Championships in 2007. "I've experienced the World Championships twice, and I'm excited for the girls who have never had that chance. And to have the opportunity to bowl for the gold medal on our home turf is amazing."

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