Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling.Bowlers including, right to left, Stu Upson, executive director, U.S. Bowling Congress, Dallas; Ben Kieckhefer, Reno, Nev.; Andy Welper, Baton Rouge; and Butch Wilson, Gonzales, prepare to release during the traditional 'Mass Ball Shot' as the 2012 USBC Open Championships got under way Saturday at the Baton Rouge River Center.

Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling. Tournament Services Manager Kevin Olson, left, of Ft. Worth, presents a plaque for 30 years of tournament participation to bowler Mike Aulby of Indianapolis, Indiana, in the players squad room just before the opening of the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which began its 151-day run in Baton Rouge, La. inside the Baton Rouge River Center, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.

Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling. Maringouin's Floyd Patterson, a metals supervisor at ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, sits on his throne, surrounded by LSU cheerleaders, during opening ceremonies of the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which began its 151-day run in Baton Rouge, La. inside the Baton Rouge River Center, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Patterson was chosen by random drawing from all the players completing Saturday, then given crown, cape and scepter.

Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling. Representing event corporate sponsor Humana, Inc., Nancy Chaffee of Tampa wears high-heeled bowling style shoes, at the opening of the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which began its 151-day run in Baton Rouge, La. inside the Baton Rouge River Center, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. She's also a bowler, she said, but these were fashion, not function.

Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling. Toledo, Ohio bowler Thomas Dick uses a cane to throw a ball in competition Saturday, despite his ongoing treatment for bone cancer, at the opening of the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which began its 151-day run in Baton Rouge, La. inside the Baton Rouge River Center, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.

Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling. Cajun humorist Gary Dupuy jokes with the crowd at the opening of the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which began its 151-day run in Baton Rouge, La. inside the Baton Rouge River Center, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.

Advocate staff photo by Travis Spradling. Cajun humorist Gary Dupuy jokes around with 'Joe Bowler,' Maringouin, La.'s Floyd Patterson, seated on his throne flanked by LSU cheerleaders during opening ceremonies for the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships Saturday.