After a few close calls, everything finally fell into place for Dan Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, and his teammates, and they headline the list of champions at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which finished its 129-day run Monday at the National Bowling Stadium. Higgins helped Higgy's Aquarium to the Team All-Events title with a 10,041 total, marking only the 59th time in 113 years of tournament history the 10,000-pinfall mark has been surpassed.
The United States Bowling Congress has disqualified several bowlers from the 2016 USBC Open Championships for bowling in the Classified Division using Sport averages reported as Standard averages. "Average integrity continues to be a serious issue for our sport and USBC is committed to aggressively enforcing our rules in this area," USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy (pictured) said. "The Open Championships will not tolerate bowlers competing in a lower division due to an unreported Sport-league average or any average manipulation tactic."
The 2016 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships has entered its final week at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. The 113th edition of the event kicked off its 129-day run March 5 and will welcome 8,063 teams to The Biggest Little City in the World. The last team squad of this year's tournament is scheduled for July 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern, while the last doubles and singles squad is set to hit the lanes July 11 at 4 p.m. EDT.
Jim Hosier of Wayne, New Jersey, made a run at the lead in Regular All-Events this week at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but he finished one pin shy, moving into second place with a 2,132 total June 25. Hosier needed nine pins on his final shot to secure the lead at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, but left the 3-9-10 combination. He had sets of 725 in singles, 713 in doubles and 694 in team. Brandon Novak (pictured) of Chillicothe, Ohio, leads with 2,133.
Brandon Novak secures all-events lead; Jesse Buss rolls seventh perfect game of the 113th Championships
For the last few years, Dan Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, and his teammates have been on the cusp of a breakout performance at the USBC Open Championships, and everything fell into place for the five competitors June 17 as they cruised into the top spot in Team All-Events by more than 300 pins. Higgy's Aquarium turned in a consistent performance - 3,329 in team, 3,364 in doubles and 3,348 in singles - for a 10,041 total, a 223.13 average for 45 games.
Matt Gilman rolls second 800 series of the Championships; two more bowlers celebrate 50 years at 2016 USBC Open Championships
The members of BowersBowlingTour.com of Bel Aire, Kansas, had a memorable trip to the 2016 USBC Open Championships, which included taking the lead in Regular Team and Team All-Events. The group started its team event June 10 with a 1,004 game and rallied with two of the four highest team games of the year at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada (1,178 and 1,195), to land at the top of the team standings with a 3,377 total.
John Sroka of Lancaster, Ohio, reached a special milestone June 6 at the 2016 USBC Open Championships as he made his 50th appearance on the tournament lanes. His journey to five decades of participation began in 1960, just after his return home from serving in the United States Marines. He attended his first USBC Open Championships in Toledo, Ohio. To commemorate the event at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, Sroka received a plaque, chevron and special lapel pin.
Open Championships active participation leader Sylvester Thiel dies; Iowa's Andy Shutt becomes the fifth bowler this year to roll a perfect game
USBC Hall of Famer Bob Hart of Suwanee, Georgia, stole the show at the USBC Open Championships on May 24 as he added another milestone to his impressive tournament resume. The three-time titlist became the 22nd bowler in 113 years of tournament history to reach 60 years of participation. The milestone march this year marked the second celebration for Hart at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, where he joined the elite 100,000-Pin Club during the 2014 event.
Another three bowlers celebrate 50 years; Bermuda's Alfred Jones becomes the first international competitor to reach the milestone; new leaders emerge in Regular All-Events, Regular Doubles; Illinois ladies lead Classified Team
United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Glenn Allison of Anaheim, California, became the 10th bowler in 113 years of USBC Open Championships history to reach 65 years of participation.
The 85-year-old right-hander made his milestone march down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, on May 17 and received a plaque, chevron and custom ring to commemorate the achievement. Allison made his Open Championships debut at the 1947 event in Los Angeles.
Arizona bowler joins Craig Szplett as the only bowlers in tournament history with three 300s in USBC Open Championships competition
For David Cirigliano of Phoenix, team is extremely important, and nowhere was this more evident than at the 2016 USBC Open Championships as he helped Bowling Dynamics.com to the top of the standings May 13.
The 31-time tournament participant logged two strikes and a nine-count in his final frame at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, to solidify Bowling Dynamics.com's place at the top of the Regular Team standings on games of 1,041, 1,154 and 1,105 for a 3,300 total.
73-year-old becomes the 21st bowler in 113 years of USBC Open Championships history to reach 60 years of tournament participation and becomes the 19th member of the event's 100,000-Pin Club
Robert Teeters of Lapel, Indiana, found himself in the spotlight two different times this week at the USBC Open Championships. The 73-year-old started his trip to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, with a memorable march down Center Aisle on May 7 as he became the 21st bowler in 113 years of USBC Open Championships history to reach 60 years of tournament participation. He returned to the lanes May 8 to add his name to another elite list as the 19th member of the event's 100,000-Pin Club.
Frank Clay joins 100,000-Pin Club at 113th USBC Open Championships; Canadian Matt Dammann rolls second 300 game
Defending champions Ronnie Sparks Jr. of Redford, Michigan, and Matt McNiel of Minneapolis, returned to the USBC Open Championships to put their respective titles on the line this week at the National Bowling Stadium. Sparks (pictured), the 2015 Regular Singles winner (793), made his title defense April 29. After a 243 start, he had games of 217 and 204 for a 664 series, short
of last year's winning mark and this year's leader, Robert J. Bures of
Painesville, Ohio (815).
Jules Falcone of Media, Pennsylvania, Richard Ried (pictured) of Mason, Michigan, and Bud Howell of Idaho Falls, Idaho, became the latest members of the 50-Year Club at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. To commemorate their milestones, each received an escorted march down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, before being presented with the traditional chevron, plaque and special lapel pin.
Tim Janz of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and his teammates didn't quite get out to the start they were hoping for at the 2016 USBC Open Championships, but things got progressively better and ended on a high note as Janz rolled the first perfect game of this year's event. The 36-year-old right-hander (pictured) also made a run at the top spot in Regular Singles on April 15, before settling into fourth place with a 770 series on games of 253, 300 and 217.
Two bowlers celebrate 50 years at National Bowling Stadium; defending Regular Team champion puts the team title on the line April 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern live on BowlTV
Andy Mills and Nick Heilman of La Crosse, Wisconsin, both 2012 Regular Team champions, once again got comfortable on the lanes at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships and found their way to the top of the standings. Mills (r.), a 26-year-old right-hander, converted the 1-2-6-10 washout to secure a tie for the lead in Regular Doubles with a 1,341 total April 11 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. He had no idea they'd tied for the lead.
New team leader emerges at National Bowling Stadium; Ed Gagnon celebrates 50 years of participation
The members of the defending Team All-Events champion, Junior Team USA Support 1 of Eagan, Minnesota, averaged more than 231 in singles April 3 to regain their spot atop the standings at the USBC Open Championships. The group won Team All-Events at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, in 2013 and again last year in El Paso, Texas, and is looking to become the first team since 1998 to successfully defend the title.
Past champions make run at National Bowling Stadium
David Hjelm (l.) of Wheaton, Minnesota, had a memorable debut at the USBC Open Championships, and he left the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, as the leader in Classified Doubles (with Gary Sundby, right) and Classified All-Events. The 42-year-old right-hander rolled sets of 587 in singles, 586 in doubles and 540 in team to finish his first USBC Open Championships with a 1,713 all-events total.
Classified Division gets new leaders at National Bowling Stadium
When Jack Glick of Findlay, Ohio, made his USBC Open Championships debut at the 1966 event in Rochester, New York, he thought it would be a one-time experience he and his friends could cross off their bucket lists. Glick enjoyed the tournament atmosphere and tradition so much, he made it a point to return the next year and all but one year since. On March 21, the 72-year-old right-hander made his 50th march down Center Aisle.
Sylvester Thiel of Lake City, Minnesota, may not own a coveted eagle trophy from the USBC Open Championships, but he's still one of the most celebrated and decorated bowlers who has marched down the famed Center Aisle. The 93-year-old's time on the tournament lanes has yielded him two priceless rewards - love and longevity - and he was recognized for the latter Wednesday as he made his record-tying 71st appearance.
Connecticut's John Kamenitsky reaches 50 years at 2016 USBC Open Championships
Robert J. Bures of Painesville, Ohio, and his Wickliffe Lanes teammates worked together and communicated well at the 2016 USBC Championships, and they're now leading every Regular Division event, along with Team All-Events. Bures set the pace and was able to close his fifth USBC Open Championships appearance with games of 279, 278 and 258 for an 815 series, taking the lead in Regular Singles at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
After a few close calls, everything finally fell into place for Dan Higgins of Westerville, Ohio, and his teammates, and they headline the list of champions at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, which finished its 129-day run Monday at the National Bowling Stadium. Higgins helped Higgy's Aquarium to the Team All-Events title with a 10,041 total, marking only the 59th time in 113 years of tournament history the 10,000-pinfall mark has been surpassed.
The United States Bowling Congress has disqualified several bowlers from the 2016 USBC Open Championships for bowling in the Classified Division using Sport averages reported as Standard averages. "Average integrity continues to be a serious issue for our sport and USBC is committed to aggressively enforcing our rules in this area," USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy (pictured) said. "The Open Championships will not tolerate bowlers competing in a lower division due to an unreported Sport-league average or any average manipulation tactic."
The 2016 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships has entered its final week at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. The 113th edition of the event kicked off its 129-day run March 5 and will welcome 8,063 teams to The Biggest Little City in the World. The last team squad of this year's tournament is scheduled for July 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern, while the last doubles and singles squad is set to hit the lanes July 11 at 4 p.m. EDT.
Jim Hosier of Wayne, New Jersey, made a run at the lead in Regular All-Events this week at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but he finished one pin shy, moving into second place with a 2,132 total June 25. Hosier needed nine pins on his final shot to secure the lead at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, but left the 3-9-10 combination. He had sets of 725 in singles, 713 in doubles and 694 in team. Brandon Novak (pictured) of Chillicothe, Ohio, leads with 2,133.
The members of BowersBowlingTour.com of Bel Aire, Kansas, had a memorable trip to the 2016 USBC Open Championships, which included taking the lead in Regular Team and Team All-Events. The group started its team event June 10 with a 1,004 game and rallied with two of the four highest team games of the year at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada (1,178 and 1,195), to land at the top of the team standings with a 3,377 total.
John Sroka of Lancaster, Ohio, reached a special milestone June 6 at the 2016 USBC Open Championships as he made his 50th appearance on the tournament lanes. His journey to five decades of participation began in 1960, just after his return home from serving in the United States Marines. He attended his first USBC Open Championships in Toledo, Ohio. To commemorate the event at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, Sroka received a plaque, chevron and special lapel pin.
USBC Hall of Famer Bob Hart of Suwanee, Georgia, stole the show at the USBC Open Championships on May 24 as he added another milestone to his impressive tournament resume. The three-time titlist became the 22nd bowler in 113 years of tournament history to reach 60 years of participation. The milestone march this year marked the second celebration for Hart at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, where he joined the elite 100,000-Pin Club during the 2014 event.
United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Glenn Allison of Anaheim, California, became the 10th bowler in 113 years of USBC Open Championships history to reach 65 years of participation.
The 85-year-old right-hander made his milestone march down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, on May 17 and received a plaque, chevron and custom ring to commemorate the achievement. Allison made his Open Championships debut at the 1947 event in Los Angeles.
For David Cirigliano of Phoenix, team is extremely important, and nowhere was this more evident than at the 2016 USBC Open Championships as he helped Bowling Dynamics.com to the top of the standings May 13.
The 31-time tournament participant logged two strikes and a nine-count in his final frame at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, to solidify Bowling Dynamics.com's place at the top of the Regular Team standings on games of 1,041, 1,154 and 1,105 for a 3,300 total.
Robert Teeters of Lapel, Indiana, found himself in the spotlight two different times this week at the USBC Open Championships. The 73-year-old started his trip to the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, with a memorable march down Center Aisle on May 7 as he became the 21st bowler in 113 years of USBC Open Championships history to reach 60 years of tournament participation. He returned to the lanes May 8 to add his name to another elite list as the 19th member of the event's 100,000-Pin Club.
Defending champions Ronnie Sparks Jr. of Redford, Michigan, and Matt McNiel of Minneapolis, returned to the USBC Open Championships to put their respective titles on the line this week at the National Bowling Stadium. Sparks (pictured), the 2015 Regular Singles winner (793), made his title defense April 29. After a 243 start, he had games of 217 and 204 for a 664 series, short
of last year's winning mark and this year's leader, Robert J. Bures of
Painesville, Ohio (815).
Jules Falcone of Media, Pennsylvania, Richard Ried (pictured) of Mason, Michigan, and Bud Howell of Idaho Falls, Idaho, became the latest members of the 50-Year Club at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. To commemorate their milestones, each received an escorted march down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, before being presented with the traditional chevron, plaque and special lapel pin.
Tim Janz of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and his teammates didn't quite get out to the start they were hoping for at the 2016 USBC Open Championships, but things got progressively better and ended on a high note as Janz rolled the first perfect game of this year's event. The 36-year-old right-hander (pictured) also made a run at the top spot in Regular Singles on April 15, before settling into fourth place with a 770 series on games of 253, 300 and 217.
Andy Mills and Nick Heilman of La Crosse, Wisconsin, both 2012 Regular Team champions, once again got comfortable on the lanes at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships and found their way to the top of the standings. Mills (r.), a 26-year-old right-hander, converted the 1-2-6-10 washout to secure a tie for the lead in Regular Doubles with a 1,341 total April 11 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. He had no idea they'd tied for the lead.
The members of the defending Team All-Events champion, Junior Team USA Support 1 of Eagan, Minnesota, averaged more than 231 in singles April 3 to regain their spot atop the standings at the USBC Open Championships. The group won Team All-Events at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, in 2013 and again last year in El Paso, Texas, and is looking to become the first team since 1998 to successfully defend the title.
David Hjelm (l.) of Wheaton, Minnesota, had a memorable debut at the USBC Open Championships, and he left the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, as the leader in Classified Doubles (with Gary Sundby, right) and Classified All-Events. The 42-year-old right-hander rolled sets of 587 in singles, 586 in doubles and 540 in team to finish his first USBC Open Championships with a 1,713 all-events total.
When Jack Glick of Findlay, Ohio, made his USBC Open Championships debut at the 1966 event in Rochester, New York, he thought it would be a one-time experience he and his friends could cross off their bucket lists. Glick enjoyed the tournament atmosphere and tradition so much, he made it a point to return the next year and all but one year since. On March 21, the 72-year-old right-hander made his 50th march down Center Aisle.
Sylvester Thiel of Lake City, Minnesota, may not own a coveted eagle trophy from the USBC Open Championships, but he's still one of the most celebrated and decorated bowlers who has marched down the famed Center Aisle. The 93-year-old's time on the tournament lanes has yielded him two priceless rewards - love and longevity - and he was recognized for the latter Wednesday as he made his record-tying 71st appearance.
Robert J. Bures of Painesville, Ohio, and his Wickliffe Lanes teammates worked together and communicated well at the 2016 USBC Championships, and they're now leading every Regular Division event, along with Team All-Events. Bures set the pace and was able to close his fifth USBC Open Championships appearance with games of 279, 278 and 258 for an 815 series, taking the lead in Regular Singles at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.