Cincinnati bowler hits jackpot in LV

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, July 5, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

For the past five years, Super Bowl Sunday has been a special occasion for Nick Vogelsang, because it marks the day the Cincinnati resident collected a $100,000 check at the 1996 High Roller Championship Bowling Tournament in Las Vegas.

In years to come, you can be sure the Vogelsang household will also celebrate Independence Day with a little more vigor than the average American family. On Wednesday, Vogelsang emerged victorious from a field of more than 1,200 amateur bowlers to take home another $100,000 prize at the Castaways Bowling Center.

"It's going to be a change of life for me, money-wise," the 34-year-old engaged father of five said. "I won it in '96 and the money went quick. I was on the wild side, gambling a lot, playing the horses. This time, I'll do it smart with my money."

Vogelsang, who quit his job as a car salesman last month to prepare for the event, took home the coveted check after winning 11 straight matches Tuesday and Wednesday. After surviving a close semifinal match with New York's Dave Piroozshad 215-191, Vogelsang found himself facing tournament favorite Jason Williams of Washington in the championship.

Williams, winner of January's "Superbowl" version of the twice-annual event, entered the finals with a 21-match Castaways Center win streak under his belt.

With a $50,000 difference between first and second place on the line, both bowlers appeared to bow to the pressure. Williams failed to convert a spare in the first frame and Vogelsang followed by doing the same, setting the tone for a match the victor termed as "ugly."

"We had pressure on both of us," Vogelsang said. "You know you have $50,000 locked away, but the other $50,000 is a chance of a lifetime."

Vogelsang eventually found his stride, posting four strikes and four spares to best Williams 174-162.

Vogelsang said he had considered turning professional before winning the tournament, and would make his decision in the weeks to come.

"I'll have to take a couple of days off to sort it out," Vogelsang said. "I'll discuss it with my fiance, Heather McDaniel, and we'll make a decision."

In consolation action, Piroozshad edged Californian Terry Leong, 197-190, to pick up the $25,000 third place prize. Leong left with $12,500.

Las Vegans John Cocchi and Lance Satcher, the last two remaining local participants, fell in Wednesday's eighth and seventh rounds, respectively.