Florida bowler celebrates 50th consecutive USBC Open Championships appearance
May 02, 2017
LAS VEGAS - Sometimes, waiting can be the hardest part, but for Larry Evans Sr. of Orlando, Florida, the party is just getting started.
The 91-year-old right-hander celebrated his 50th consecutive United States Bowling Congress Open Championships appearance Monday, and he was accompanied by dozens of family members and friends who cheered him on at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Evans did not make his first tournament appearance until the 1968 event in Cincinnati when he was 42 years old, but he has enjoyed every opportunity to attend the world's largest participatory sporting event each year since his debut.
"The job I had was in textiles, and I traveled a lot," said Evans, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. "I lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and covered 16 states, so I didn't have the time to take off for bowling. I had people ask me to bowl earlier, but work comes first when you're younger and raising a family. Ever since then, it's been something I wanted to do, but I had no idea I'd make 50 consecutive years. It's unbelievable to me."
Evans began asking family and friends to join him for the celebration more than a year ago, and he was excited to have his son, Larry Evans Jr., standing by his side as he was introduced as the latest member of the tournament's 50-Year Club.
"We started spreading the word, and nobody refused me," Evans said. "It was just like a family reunion. It was amazing to have all of my relatives here from about six different states, and it was wonderful to have Larry Jr. bowl with me again. At the 1971 tournament in Detroit, I got to bowl with my father, brother and son, and that was Larry's first event. He bowled his 12th this year."
Evans has enjoyed the chance to see the country throughout his tournament career, and his trip to Oklahoma City in 1976 served as a memorable tale on and off the lanes.
"Four of us got in the car and drove all night from Tennessee to Oklahoma City," Evans said. "I was fortunate enough to have my best series (628) and all-events total of my career with 1,821."
With his milestone visit now in the books, Evans has no plans of slowing down on the championship lanes.
"I'm going to continue as long as my health will let me," Evans said. "If that's good, then I'll be ready to bowl."
In his 50th appearance, Evans rolled sets of 485 in doubles, 407 in singles and 397 in team for a 1,289 all-events total. He has knocked down 74,480 pins in his Open Championships career for a lifetime average of 168.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
The 91-year-old right-hander celebrated his 50th consecutive United States Bowling Congress Open Championships appearance Monday, and he was accompanied by dozens of family members and friends who cheered him on at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Evans did not make his first tournament appearance until the 1968 event in Cincinnati when he was 42 years old, but he has enjoyed every opportunity to attend the world's largest participatory sporting event each year since his debut.
"The job I had was in textiles, and I traveled a lot," said Evans, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. "I lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and covered 16 states, so I didn't have the time to take off for bowling. I had people ask me to bowl earlier, but work comes first when you're younger and raising a family. Ever since then, it's been something I wanted to do, but I had no idea I'd make 50 consecutive years. It's unbelievable to me."
Evans began asking family and friends to join him for the celebration more than a year ago, and he was excited to have his son, Larry Evans Jr., standing by his side as he was introduced as the latest member of the tournament's 50-Year Club.
"We started spreading the word, and nobody refused me," Evans said. "It was just like a family reunion. It was amazing to have all of my relatives here from about six different states, and it was wonderful to have Larry Jr. bowl with me again. At the 1971 tournament in Detroit, I got to bowl with my father, brother and son, and that was Larry's first event. He bowled his 12th this year."
Evans has enjoyed the chance to see the country throughout his tournament career, and his trip to Oklahoma City in 1976 served as a memorable tale on and off the lanes.
"Four of us got in the car and drove all night from Tennessee to Oklahoma City," Evans said. "I was fortunate enough to have my best series (628) and all-events total of my career with 1,821."
With his milestone visit now in the books, Evans has no plans of slowing down on the championship lanes.
"I'm going to continue as long as my health will let me," Evans said. "If that's good, then I'll be ready to bowl."
In his 50th appearance, Evans rolled sets of 485 in doubles, 407 in singles and 397 in team for a 1,289 all-events total. He has knocked down 74,480 pins in his Open Championships career for a lifetime average of 168.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.