• Migente
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • MySpace
  • Facebook
  • USBC Open Championships
    About2010 USBC Open Championships
    Feb. 20 - July 10, 2010 (unless extended)
    Reno, NV    The USBC Open Championships (formerly the ABC Championships Tournament) is widely recognized as the largest participatory sporting event in the world. Consisting of team, doubles, singles and optional all-events competition, the USBC Open Championships is held in an arena or convention center setting in a different city each year.
    All you have to do to participate is become a USBC member. If you want to experience competition in a stadium-like atmosphere while combining your bowling experience with a vacation to the tournament city, this is the event for you.Would you believe that the Open Championships (formerly called the ABC Championships Tournament) has a long and storied tradition older than football’s Rose Bowl, baseball’s World Series and auto racing’s Indianapolis 500? It’s true. The ABC Championships Tournament was born in 1901 when six lanes were installed in the Welsbach Building in downtown Chicago. The tournament ran four days, hosting 41 teams from nine states and offering a $1,592 prize fund. Tournament organizers leased the second floor of the Welsbach Building in Chicago, a brick structure located behind the Marshall Field’s store on Wabash Avenue. The Brunswick Balke-Collender Corp. agreed to donate six lanes and all the necessary furnishings.Today, this four-and-a-half-month annual bowling celebration attracts between 60,000 and 90,000 participants from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Bowlers compete for a mammoth prize fund that tops $6 million.The tournament installation—usually 48 lanes—is so big that it must be conducted in convention centers or sports arenas. A typical Open Championships installation requires enough plywood to construct five three-bedroom homes and more than six miles of wiring is required to take care of the event’s electrical needs.More than 30 locally-hired carpenters, electricians and laborers help install the unique tournament venue which includes 48 lanes, temporary offices and exhibition space for vendors.The tournament format remains mostly the same as it was from the beginning. You must be a USBC adult member to compete in the tournament, which consists of team, doubles and singles events. You usually bowl the three-game team event the first day and six games of doubles and singles on the next. There are two divisions based on skill level: The Regular Division for those who average higher than 180 and the Classified Division for bowlers who average lower than 180. Classified doubles partners can’t have more than a 360 combined average while Classified team members can’t have a combined team average of more than 900.)Important DatesRosterlineup Deadline
    10/01/09    Last day to enter tournament
    12/11/09    Tournament start date
    02/20/10    Eagle's Nest Team Captains | Sub BoardRead More
  • USBC Open ChampionshipsRegister NowDon’t miss your chance to take part in this historic tournament. The USBC Open enjoys over 100 years of tradition and routinely attracts legions of bowlers from across the country each year. It is an experience that some bowlers return to for decades on end. Download our entry form to enter this stories event now.Ends 12/11/09
    Download Entry Form | Average Verification Form | Available Dates
  • Event DetailsLast day to register: December 11, 2009Roster and final payment deadline for teams with spots already reserved: October 1, 2009 *Doubles and singles times aren’t assigned until full payment is received.USBC Open Championships: February 20- July 10, 2010 (last day of team competition)Location: 300 N. Center St., Reno, Nev., 89501View 2010 Tournament Rules | View Tournament Preview
  • AttireMen and women participants must wear a shirt with a butterfly-type collar and casual slacks, trousers or jeans. (Women may wear Capri pants provided the length is below the knees).Mock collared or collarless dress shirts will be permitted provided they are worn with casual slacks or trousers. Bowlers may NOT wear jeans with either of these two shirt styles. Ordinary T-shirts will not be permitted.During participation in any event, bowlers are NOT permitted to wear: hats, sweats, shorts, skirts, skorts, culottes or zubas (pants with elastic cuffs).All clothing must be neat, clean and in good condition.The dress code will be enforced by designated tournament staff members. They will make judgment calls relative to dress code questions or concerns, while any questionable items or special circumstances will be addressed by the Manager on Duty.Read More
  • Division Breakdown and EligibilityThe USBC Open Championships consists of team, doubles, singles, optional all-events and a Team All-Events category. There are two divisions, and the division for which you are eligible is based on your average. To determine your division, see the following information:
    • Classified Team- Five USBC members whose combined average does not exceed 900.
    • Classified Doubles- Combined average does not exceed 360.
    • Classified Singles/All-Events- Average does not exceed 180.
    • Regular Team- Five USBC members whose combined average is above 900.
    • Regular Doubles- Combined average above 360.
    • Regular Singles/All-Events- Average above 180.
    Read More
  • FAQWhat is the USBC Open Championships?
    The USBC Open Championships (formerly the ABC Championships Tournament) is widely recognized as the world’s largest participatory sporting event. The event consists of team, doubles, singles and an optional all-events competition and is conducted in an arena or convention center setting in a different city each year.    The USBC Open Championships allows the grassroots USBC members to experience competition in a stadium-like atmosphere, while combining their bowling experience with a vacation to the tournament city.The tournament was held for the first time in 1901 when six lanes were installed in the Welsbach Building in downtown Chicago. The event ran for four days, hosting 41 teams from nine states, while offering a prize fund of $1,592.Today, it takes a team of more than 30 carpenters and laborers a month to transform a venue into a state of the art 48-lane bowling center (60 lanes in 2009) before the Open Championships begin its 140-day run (recent tournaments have run anywhere from 135-154 days). The event attracts 60,000 to 90,000 participants from all 50 states and several foreign countries and features a prize fund that exceeds $6 million. Every third year, the Open Championships is conducted at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.Open to all bowlers who hold a USBC adult membership (except bowlers who are exempt members of the PBA Tour), the Open Championships has two divisions - Classified for bowlers who average 180 or less (360 combined doubles average; 900 combined team average) and a Regular Division for those who average 181 and higher.Why should I enter the Open Championships?
    As one of the most prestigious events in the sport, which was established in 1901, the USBC Open Championships is the national championships for grassroots USBC members. It is an opportunity for every USBC member to compete for a national title, bowl in a one-of-a-kind bowling stadium and possibly cash in on a huge prize fund.    Since the event is held in different cities each year, it also provides members with an opportunity to see the country. Most entrants enhance the experience in the event by also taking in all the attractions that the host cities have to offer. For the thousands of loyal Open Championships participants, the event is the highlight of the bowling season.How do I verify my average?
    There are three ways to verify your average. However only the bowlers who qualify for the Classified Division in any event have to verify.    *The easiest way to verify your average is to use the Find a Member search on bowl.com. You can search by name or member ID. Once you locate your record, you can pull up your averages from past seasons. Print out the page that lists your 2007-08 average, and either send it with your entry, or bring it with you to Las Vegas.*If you are unable to print out your record from bowl.com, you can also bring a copy of your local association yearbook that lists your highest average.*Have your local association manager verify it for you. If you don’t know already, you can ask your league secretary how to get in touch with your association manager.How much does it cost to enter the USBC Open Championships Championships?
    When you think about it, the cost to enter one of the world’s largest and most prestigious bowling tournaments is really quite inexpensive.    The entry fee is $45 per event, per bowler: (Breakdown per event: $25 for prizes and $20 for expenses); All-Events - optional $15. ($14 for prizes and $1 to Team USA). The total cost is $150 PER BOWLER, which allows them to compete in team, doubles, singles and all-events.What is the process for scheduling doubles/singles?
    Doubles and Singles are scheduled after full fees are received.    If I need to use a substitute bowler, who receives prize money, the original bowler or the sub?
    The prize money goes to the sub. The sub is the person who bowled the games therefore the sub gets the money.    What exactly is All-Events?
    All-events is a combination of team, doubles, and singles scores. It takes all nine games and combines then into a extra prize fund.    If I substitute for a bowler on the team, do I have to pay the entry fee?
    That is determined between the captain and the substitute bowler.
    Tournament operations questions for those already entered in the Open Championships.Can I bowl more than once in an event?
    You may only bowl in each event once.    Why is it so important for companion teams to have their paperwork returned together?
    Many teams travel to the Open Championships together. Turning in their paperwork at the same time allows them to be scheduled on the same squads for team and doubles/singles.    Can I bowl in only one of the events?
    You can bowl team without bowling doubles and singles or vice-versa, but doubles and singles is a package deal. You cannot sign up for just one or the other.    How soon do I need to arrive before my team squad?
    We recommend arriving two hours before your squad time in case of changes need to be made. For doubles and singles, we recommend one hour if there are no changes or need for a sub.    What is the dress code?
    It has often been said that looking your best helps instill a sense of pride that can assist you in competing at your very best.    Increasingly, Open Championships bowlers are showing their pride by participating in the Pride Award program, which recognizes teams that dress alike. All teams that dress in matching shirts and pants (no jeans) will receive a special lapel pin.But whether or not your team participates in the Pride program, the Open Championships requires that you abide by its dress code which is as follows:All participants must wear a shirt with a butterfly-type (polo shirt) or mock collar and casual slacks, trousers or jeans. Women may wear Capri pants provided the length is below the knees.*Please note that shirts with mock collars are now allowed by individual bowlers in any event, provided they are wearing casual slacks or trousers (no jeans allowed with “mock” collar shirts).During competition in any event, bowlers are not permitted to wear hats, sweats, shorts, skirts, skorts, culottes or zubas (pants with elastic cuffs). If you are wearing any of these items you will be asked to change into more appropriate attire.All apparel must be neat, clean and in good condition.Any questionable items or special circumstances will be addressed by the Manager on Duty.Bowlers will be asked to change their attire if deemed inappropriate by tournament management or designee. Tournament management or designee decision shall be final.Why do you collect Social Security Number?
    Since you have the opportunity to win prize money the social security number is needed for tax purposes.    What do I do if I do not want to provide my teammates with my SSN?
    The social security number is required before you begin competition.    Traveling with my bowling equipment can be a pain, especially when flying. How do you ship bowling balls? Will the hotels accept them? Where do you ship them to?
    Through a service provided called Bowling Ball Express (BBE), you can ship your bowling balls directly to the tournament site.    You can ship them to the hotel if they accept them, however, they may not be responsible for them. It saves you the hassle of carrying them from hotel to tournament venue. You can also ship the balls home when you are finished with your bowling.    Read More
  • USBC Open ChampionshipsTravelUSBC Travel offers our members great discounts on tournament participating hotels, airfare and car rental. Please enter your arrival and departure stay dates to find available rooms .Additional Discounts apply to group leaders holding 15 rooms or more!!! Contact USBC Travel to begin, then finish by making all reservations online directly!USBC's Headquarter Hotels are Circus Circus , Eldorado , and Silver Legacy . Each of the headquarter hotels offer a variety of unmatched amenities to Open Championship guests.HotelsCircus CircusCircus Circus Reno (Headquarter Hotel and Presenting Sponsor)Located in the heart of Downtown Reno and only 2 blocks from the National Bowling Stadium, Circus Circus Reno is your destination for fun! Circus Circus Reno will make you feel at home with 1,572 guest rooms and suites, six sensational restaurants, a unique Midway of Fun, and an expansive casino floor with all the latest gaming action. Amenities include free airport shuttle service, fitness center, complimentary valet and self- parking, and daily live entertainment.EldoradoEldorado Hotel Casino (Headquarter Hotel and Presenting Sponsor)The Eldorado Hotel Casino is a rare mix of upscale atmosphere with a relaxed vibe. Boasting nine award-winning restaurants, unlimited nightlife, a Broadway-style showroom, luxurious accommodations and dynamic casino action, the Eldorado is located in the heart of downtown Reno. The Eldorado provides personalized service, offering guests a richer overall experience in Reno. The hotel/casino is located just 1 block from the National Bowling Stadium and 4 miles from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport and offers airport shuttle service.Silver LegacySilver Legacy Resort Casino (Headquarter Hotel and Presenting Sponsor)Located 1 block from the National Bowling Stadium and 4 miles from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport (airport shuttle service available), Silver Legacy is a historically themed masterpiece with every amenity for a perfect getaway. There are 1,720 elegant guest rooms and suites, top-name entertainment, six fabulous restaurants and eateries, Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club and 85,000 square-feet of thrilling gaming space. Located within minutes of the Truckee River arts district, golfing, shopping and more, Silver Legacy is the perfect place for your next resort getaway.

    Terrible's Sands RegencyTerrible's Sands RegencyThe exclusive Bracket Pay-Out property of the USBC Open Championships offers you an exclusive experience in 2010. Terrible's Sands Regency has created a brand new private USBC Lounge, where you can enjoy a daily complimentary continental breakfast and happy hour with your stay at the Sands. With a convenient central downtown location within walking distance of the National Bowling Stadium, newly renovated guest rooms and the exclusive USBC Lounge, you are sure to help you stay on top of your game when you stay at Terrible's Sands Regency.AtlantisAtlantisSurround yourself in the Paradise that is Atlantis Casino Resort. Reno's most exciting destination, players voted Atlantis Reno's Best Place to gamble. Named one of the top 10 casinos in America "Where You're More Likely to Win!" its 1,000 spacious guestrooms and Jacuzzi suites offer you unsurpassed luxury and Reno's only hotel concierge tower with breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada mountains or the Reno cityscape. You'll experience excellence in cuisine at Atlantis' seven award-winning restaurants. Relax at the Health Spa at the Atlantis. Come and find out for yourself why Atlantis is Every Player's Paradise!Harrah'sHarrah's offers luxury, comfort and matchless service. Amenities include room service, Nintendo, coffee makers, blow dryers, irons and boards. Your choice of feather or foam pillows, safe deposit boxes and pet kennels. Full service health club, outdoor pool sauna, and massage packages. Six outstanding restaurants. Outdoor excitement. 65,000 square feet of casino, table games and slots. Airport shuttle, arcade, free parking, and bowling ball storage. Check In Time: 4:00pm Check Out Time: 11:00amPeppermillPeppermillThe Peppermill’s recent $400 Million expansion brings the warmth, beauty and classic lifestyle of Tuscany to northern Nevada. The resort offers 1,635 luxurious rooms and suites, 10 award-winning restaurants, 17 bars and lounges including EDGE Nightspot and casino cabaret offering free nightly entertainment, 24/7 gaming action, two wedding chapels, Arcade Xtreme, two resort pools and our 43,000 square foot Spa & Salon Toscana and Fitness Center.Book your travel now!Flight:To make flight reservations:
    Car Rental:To make car reservations:
    Extra Discounts:
    Avis http://www.avis.com/car-rental/avisHome/home.ac
    • Call Avis directly at 1-800-331-1600 to receive the best car rental rates available or view more information online at the Avis website.
    • Provide the Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) Number - T171499 when making reservations.
    Read More
  • USBC Open Championships Contact UsTournament Information
    usbcopenchampionships@bowl.com
    Phone: (800) 514-2695
    Fax: (817) 385-8269    Media Relations
    Matt Cannizzaro
    Phone: (414) 350-1226
    Email: matt.cannizzaro@bowl.com
 
 
FEATURES
  • USBC Open Championships Team Captain’s Eagle’s NestALL LANES LEAD TO RENOEXCLUSIVE BOWLING CLUB LAUNCHED
    In 2010 and 2011, bowlers from across the country will head to THE TAJ MAHAL OF TENPINS, the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. Holding the event in Reno in back-to-back years is unprecedented, so we've set unprecedented goals. USBC is challenging you to help us break the Reno record of 17,285 teams in both 2010 and 2011. To entice you, we've teamed with the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority to form an exclusive club, THE USBC EAGLE'S NEST, for team captains who field teams in the USBC Open Championships in 2010 & 2011.    UPON RESERVING TEAMS FOR BOTH 2010 & 2011, CAPTAINS WILL RECEIVE:
    * USBC 'E-Nest' Newsletter - a monthly e-newsletter, starting in October, featuring tournament tips, latest bowling trends and special offers from Reno sponsors, USBC Travel and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority.
    * VIP Treatment - for team captains who bring FOUR OR MORE teams in both years, the Reno Hotel partners have agreed to upgrade your stay in 2011! Partner hotels will have special benefits for you to choose when you book your teams' rooms through USBC Travel. Benefits may include: upgraded suite accommodations, dinner vouchers, show tickets and/or transportation.    USBC EAGLE'S NEST MEMBERS ARE ENTERED TO WIN: * A brand new car or truck (One every five weeks of competition in 2011)
    * Round-trip airfare and accommodations to the 2011 USBC Open Championships (eight prizes awarded by USBC Travel at the completion of the 2010 Open Championships)
    * One high-performance bowling ball each day of the 2011 Open Championships    TO BE ELIGIBLE: * Team captains must register teams for both the 2010 and 2011 tournaments
    * 2011 reservation and deposit must be received by May 31, 2010
    * Team captains who register teams but do not bowl are not eligible for prizes    To become a USBC Eagle's Nest member and get registered to bowl the 2010 and 2011 USBC Open Championships, register now .Don't miss your chance to bowl.LAST DAY TO RESERVE FOR 2010 TOURNAMENT - December 11, 2009LAST DAY TO RESERVE & BECOME AN EAGLE'S NEST MEMBER - May 31, 2010BOOK YOUR TRIP & SAVE - We have agents standing by to book your travel. Contact USBC Travel at 800-269-5885, register online or e-mail usbctravel@bowl.comCheck out the brochure!    Read More
  • Past ChampionsAlphabetical List of Champions and Record Holders.
  • RecordsOver the years, the USBC Open Championships has been witness to several historic performances by its member bowlers. Select from the menu below to view all champions and record-breaking performances, and take a step back in time.
  • Tournament Facts
    • The first USBC Open Championships (formerly the American Bowling Congress Championships Tournament) was conducted in Chicago's Welsbach Building in 1901. The entry fee was $5 per event and 41 teams competed for a $1,592 prize fund. There was no all-events entry fee because that category was not yet recognized.
    • The tournament received 100 team entries for the first time in 1904.
    • In 1908, ABC declared that the all-events winner will be crowned the "best bowler of the tournament."
    • Also in 1908, Bill Doehrman of Fort Wayne, Ind., bowled in the first of a record 71 consecutive tournaments.
    • In 1910, Tom Haley of Detroit rolled the first 700 series in tournament history with a 705 in singles.
    • The first 300 game in tournament history was rolled by William Knox of Philadelphia at the 1913 event in Toledo, Ohio.
    • Canadian Sam Schliman of Toronto became the first foreign champion, winning the singles crown with a 685 series in 1916.
    • The Saunders team of Toronto, Ontario become the tournament's first foreign team champion in 1921 with a score of 3,066.
    • The tournament passed the 1,000-team entry mark for the first time in 1922 with 1,126 teams entering the competition. The tournament lasted a then-record 30 days.
    • Also in 1922, Herb Lange, a University of Wisconsin student, became the first bowler to roll nine games of 200 or better for a winning 1,943 all-events total.
    • Philadelphia’s Billy Knox became the first bowler to break the 2,000 mark in all-events with a record-setting 2,019 in 1923.
    • The tournament celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1925 with 2,200 teams competing on 28 lanes.
    • The prize fund topped the $100,000 mark for the first time in 1929, reaching $107,790.
    • In 1933, Milwaukee's Gil Zunker (750) and Frank Benkovic (665) became the first doubles pair to break the 1,400 mark with a 1,415 winning total.
    • Also in 1933, Gil Zunker of Milwaukee became the first to roll two 700 series in one tournament with a 712 effort in singles competition.
    • Joe Norris' Stroh's Bohemian Beer team won the team event with only three open frames in 1934.
    • Also in 1934, Milwaukee’s Fred Weber shot 768 in the team event, a record that stood for 43 years.
    • In 1936, the first Hawaiian team traveled 4,400 miles to join a record 2,853 teams entered in Indianapolis.
    • In 1938, Chicago's Birk Bros. team, which also won in 1917, became the first team sponsor to win two titles.
    • Also in 1938, a record 4,957 teams competed on the tournament's first 40-lane installation.
    • In 1940, the tournament topped the 6,000-team entry mark and the prize fund broke the $200,000 barrier for the first time reaching $240,827.
    • Also in 1940, Monarch Beer teammates Matt Faetz Jr. and brother Leo Faetz join father Matt Sr. (1915 team) as the first of six father/son combination to win tournament titles.
    • The tournament headed west for the first time in 1947, visiting Los Angeles.
    • Also in 1947, Team All-Events was introduced. Despite the fact it offered no cash prize, it would eventually become one of tournament's most prized titles.
    • Electronic foul lights were used for the first time in 1949 in Atlantic City, replacing human foul judges.
    • Also in 1949, Detroit’s Fred Bujack and the E&B Beer team won the Team All-Events title, the first of eight titles he would win as an E&B and Pfeiffer Beer team member.
    • In 1950, the Indiana State Fair Board refused to honor its commitment to ABC to make the Coliseum available, the first and only time a host city failed to fulfill its obligations to ABC. The tournament was moved to Columbus, Ohio.
    • After ABC delegates dropped the "Caucasian only" clause from the membership eligibility rule at the 1950 Convention, Allen Supermarket of Detroit became the first all-black team to compete in the ABC Tournament in St. Paul, Minn in 1951.
    • Also in 1951, Dean Larsen of St. Paul was selected as the tournament's first "Joe Bowler," representing all tournament players to follow. The tradition of randomly selecting a bowler on the opening squad to roll the ceremonial first ball while dressed in crown and cape has endured ever since.
    • In 1953, the tournament topped 8,000 teams for the first time. The record stood for 31 years. The prize fund topped $500,000 for the first time.
    • In 1954, the first center aisle was constructed for the 32-lane installation in Seattle.
    • In 1956, Bill Lillard of Houston, became the first bowler to win four titles in one tournament, winning team, doubles, all-events and Team All-Events. Lillard, Ed Lubanski of Detroit (1958) and Mike Neuman of Buffalo (1990) now share the record for titles in one tournament.
    • Scores posted by Mike Neuman of Buffalo, N.Y., on the first two days of the 1990 tournament in Reno held up for 123 days as he won team, Team All-Events, doubles and all-events titles.
    • In Fort Worth, Texas in 1957, Dick Hoover of Akron, Ohio, defended his title to become the first two-time Masters champion.
    • Also in 1957, underground ball returns and automatic pinsetters were used for the first time.
    • In 1959, the Association of College Unions-International (ACUI) conducted its first championships on the tournament lanes.
    • In 1960, participation plaques were awarded for the first time to bowlers who competed in 30 ABC Tournaments, and every five years thereafter.
    • In 1961, the Classic Division was introduced to separate the professional and non-professional entrants, only to be eliminated in 1979 due to lack of entries.
    • Also in 1961, Bud Horn of Los Angeles recorded the first 300 in Masters competition.
    • In 1962, Philadelphia's Jack Winters rolled a record-shattering 30 strikes for a 792 series in doubles on his way to a victory in the Classic All-Events title with a 2,147 total. Glenn Allison matched Winters' 30-strike total as he and partner Dick Hoover won Classic Doubles.
    • In 1965, Tom Hennessey of St. Louis earned a record $4,000 as Classic All-Events champ with a 2,549 total for 12 games.
    • In 1966, Les Schissler became the first bowler to roll a 300 game in Classic Team play. Schissler also rolled a Classic Singles record 760, while Ace Mitchell Shur-Hooks set the Classic Team series record with 3,357.
    • Also in 1966, Norm Meyers of St. Louis bowled a record fifth consecutive 1,900-plus in all-events.
    • Pinkys Bowl of Milwaukee won the 1967 team title with a Regular Division record 3,327.
    • In 1970, the Classic Division changed to a team qualifying and six-team roll-off format. The Merchant Enterprises team of New York (Ernie Schlegel and lefties Johnny Petraglia, Larry Lichstein, Butch Gearhart and Mike McGrath) won the title.
    • Also in 1970, Bill Doehrman of Fort Wayne, Ind., bowled in his 60th consecutive ABC Tournament.
    • In 1974, Detroit's Ray Williams became the first non-pro to roll a 300 in team play.
    • Also in 1974, Jim Godman became the first to record three 700's in one year, winning Classic All-Events with a record 2,184.
    • In 1975, following his previous nine straight 200-plus games in 1974, Bill Hohensee of Buffalo started with eight more for a Tournament record 17 consecutive games of 200 or higher. Bob Goike of Belleville, Mich., now holds the tournament record for most consecutive 200 games with 27.
    • The prize fund topped the million dollar mark for the first time in Reno in 1977, reaching $1,045,065.
    • Also in Walt and Rob Roy of Glenwood Springs, Colo., became the first father-son combination to win doubles, while Lou Veit of Milwaukee became the first bowler to roll an 800 series in tournament history, rolling an 804 in team.
    • In 1978, Jim Godman rolled a record-tying 11th straight 1,800 plus all-events total.
    • Computer scoring was used for the first time in 1979 in Tampa, Fla.
    • Nelson Burton Jr. of St. Louis won Classic Doubles and Classic All-Events in 1979, the division’s final year, setting a record with nine career tournament titles. Burton Jr. and his brother Burton hold the record for most championships won by brothers with 11.
    • Randy Lightfoot of St. Louis won the first televised Masters, which aired on CBS-TV in 1981.
    • The 1982 ABC Tournament in Baltimore was the first to last 100 days.
    • School teacher and part-time pro Mike Lastowski of Baltimore upset Earl Anthony and 19-year-old Pete Weber to win the 1983 Masters.
    • In 1984, team entries broke a 31-year old record with 8,380 entering the competition.
    • The tournament broke the 10,000 team mark for the first time in Las Vegas in 1986, while the prize fund topped $2 million for the first time.
    • In 1989, a deluge of honor scores was shot: a then record 44 perfect games, 18 299s and 10 298s. The previous record for 300 games was four (1974 and 1986).
    • In 1991, Jimmy Johnson of Columbus, Ohio, and Dan Nadeau of Las Vegas topped the 1,500 mark in doubles, winning with 1,505.
    • Joe Norris broke Bill Doehrman’s tournament career pinfall record of 109,398 in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1992. Norris improved his record to 123,770 in his final tournament in Albuquerque in 2000.
    • In 1994, Tony Lindemann of Detroit became the oldest person, at age 74, to roll a tournament 300. He rolled the perfect game in doubles.
    • Also in 1994, the ABC opened its membership to women and several of them used the opportunity to become the first of their gender to compete in the tournament in Mobile, Ala. Rayetta Dominquez of Grove, Okla., helped Canterbury Lanes 1 win the Booster Team title and became the tournament's first woman champion.
    • In 1995, ABC christened Reno's 78-lane, $53 million National Bowling Stadium, the first public facility ever constructed strictly for bowling. All ABC participation records were shattered as 92,432 individuals and 17,285 teams competed in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ABC.
    • In 1998 in Reno, Mike Aulby of Indianapolis became the first and only three-time USBC Masters champion.
    • In 1999, the Classified Division expanded upon the old Booster Team concept, allowing those who average 180 and under to compete in their own doubles, singles and all-events categories.
    • Also in 1999, Hall of Famer Dick Weber of St. Louis became the fifth member of the 100,000 Pinfall Club.
    • In 2000, Hall of Famer Joe Norris of San Diego tied Bill Doehrman's participation record of 71 ABC Tournaments.
    • The 2001 event in Reno was the first to use the Twister synthetic pin made by Artemis Rubber Technologies of Hanover, Germany. Kristine Kropf of Antioch, Calif., became the first woman to bowl a 300 in tournament competition.
    • In 2002, the tournament in Billings, Mont., saw a record 64 perfect games and 29 299 games bowled. Kyle McCrackin of Wichita, Kan., became the first bowler to roll two 300 games in one year.
    • In 2003 at the 100th ABC Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn., Ron Bahr of Topeka, Kan., became the first person in tournament history to bowl back-to-back 300 games, shooting 237-300-300 to win the singles competition.
    • Also in 2003, Derek Sapp or Keokuk, Iowa, and Sean Rash or Anchorage, Alaska, broke the Regular Doubles record with a 1,540 score. Sapp also shot the then-highest tournament series in non-Masters play with an 857.
    • In Reno in 2004, John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., shot 858 to win Regular Singles. It is the highest individual series in tournament history (excluding the Masters) and also helped Janawicz to the Regular All-Events title.
    • The 2005 ABC Tournament in Baton Rouge, La., was the largest ever held outside of the National Bowling Stadium in Reno and the fifth largest overall with 13,222 teams.
    • Formerly the ABC Tournament, the event unveiled its new name, the USBC Open Championships, for the 2006 event as the result of the merger of ABC, WIBC and YABA into the USBC on Jan. 1, 2005.
    • At the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., became the first woman to win a Regular Division title when she shot 812 on the second-to-last day of the tournament to win Regular Singles.
    • Also in 2006, Kristal Scott of Wichita, Kan., became the first woman ever to roll an 800 series at the Open Championships when she posted an 816 during her team event.
    • The 2007 Open Championships in Reno marks the 104th running of the event, and the record eighth time Reno has hosted the event, breaking a tie with Buffalo, N.Y., and Toledo, Ohio.
    • In 2007, the tournament prize fund will reach $7 million for the first time.
    • If you put all the lanes used since the first tournament end to end, the distance would stretch more than 50 miles.
    • The Open Championships has been held in 48 different cities in 26 states.
    • The state of Ohio has hosted the Open Championships 17 times - the most of any state.
    • More than $90 million in total Open Championships prize money has been awarded.
    • More than 2 million singles entries have competed in the history of the Tournament.
    • ABC's oldest member at the time, 103-year-old Art Shaver, and Atlanta friend William Hargove, 100, are the tournament's oldest doubles team at the combined age of 203 years.
    Read More
  • Host CitiesUSBC Open Championships Tournament Host Cities
    The USBC Open Championships (formerly the ABC Championships Tournament) is one of the most historic sporting events in the world, running longer, and visiting more venues, than most others.    In its history, the tournament has traveled all over the United States, from north to south, from coast to coast. Its historic, annual run interrupted only once - a three year period during World War II. The following is a list of the cities that have hosted the tournament.2014 - Orlando, Fla.
    2013 - Reno, Nev.
    2012 - Baton Rouge, La.
    2011 - Reno, NV
    2010 - Reno, NV
    2009 - Las Vegas, NV
    2008 - Albuquerque, NM
    2007 - Reno, NV
    2006 - Corpus Christi, TX
    2005 - Baton Rouge, LA
    2004 - Reno, Nevada
    2003 - Knoxville, Tennessee
    2002 - Billings, Montana
    2001 - Reno, Nevada
    2000 - Albuquerque, New Mexico
    1999 - Syracuse, New York
    1998 - Reno, Nevada
    1997 - Huntsville, Alabama
    1996 - Salt Lake City, Utah
    1995 - Reno, Nevada
    1994 - Mobile, Alabama
    1993 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
    1992 - Corpus Christi, Texas
    1991 - Toledo, Ohio
    1990 - Reno, Nevada
    1989 - Wichita, Kansas
    1988 - Jacksonville, Florida
    1987 - Niagara Falls, New York
    1986 - Las Vegas, Nevada
    1985 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
    1984 - Reno, Nevada
    1983 - Niagara Falls, New York
    1982 - Baltimore, Maryland
    1981 - Memphis, Tennessee
    1980 - Louisville, Kentucky
    1979 - Tampa, Florida
    1978 - St. Louis, Missouri
    1977 - Reno, Nevada
    1976 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    1975 - Dayton, Ohio
    1974 - Indianapolis, Indiana
    1973 - Syracuse, New York
    1972 - Long Beach, California
    1971 - Detroit, Michigan
    1970 - Knoxville, Tennessee
    1969 - Madison, Wisconsin
    1968 - Cincinnati, Ohio
    1967 - Miami Beach, Florida
    1966 - Rochester, New York
    1965 - St. Paul, Minnesota
    1964 - Oakland, California
    1963 - Buffalo, New York
    1962 - Des Moines, Iowa
    1961 - Detroit, Michigan
    1960 - Toledo, Ohio
    1959 - St. Louis, Missouri
    1958 - Syracuse, New York
    1957 - Fort Worth, Texas
    1956 - Rochester, New York
    1955 - Fort Wayne, Indiana
    1954 - Seattle, Washington
    1953 - Chicago, Illinois
    1952 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    1951 - St. Paul, Minnesota
    1950 - Columbus, Ohio
    1949 - Atlantic City, New Jersey
    1948 - Detroit, Michigan
    1947 - Los Angeles, California
    1946 - Buffalo, New York
    1943-45 - No Tournaments (World War II)
    1942 - Columbus, Ohio
    1941 - St. Paul, Minnesota
    1940 - Detroit, Michigan
    1939 - Cleveland, Ohio
    1938 - Chicago, Illinois
    1937 - New York, New York
    1936 - Indianapolis, Indiana
    1935 - Syracuse, New York
    1934 - Peoria, Illinois
    1933 - Columbus, Ohio
    1932 - Detroit, Michigan
    1931 - Buffalo, New York
    1930 - Cleveland, Ohio
    1929 - Chicago, Illinois
    1928 - Kansas City, Missouri
    1927 - Peoria, Illinois
    1926 - Toledo, Ohio
    1925 - Buffalo, New York
    1924 - Chicago, Illinois
    1923 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    1922 - Toledo, Ohio
    1921 - Buffalo, New York
    1920 - Peoria, Illinois
    1919 - Toledo, Ohio
    1918 - Cincinnati, Ohio
    1917 - Grand Rapids, Michigan
    1916 - Toledo, Ohio
    1915 - Peoria, Illinois
    1914 - Buffalo, New York
    1913 - Toledo, Ohio
    1912 - Chicago, Illinois
    1911 - St. Louis, Missouri
    1910 - Detroit, Michigan
    1909 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    1908 - Cincinnati, Ohio
    1907 - St. Louis, Missouri
    1906 - Louisville, Kentucky
    1905 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    1904 - Cleveland, Ohio
    1903 - Indianapolis, Indiana
    1902 - Buffalo, New York
    1901 - Chicago, Illinois    Read More
  • USBC Open Championships 2009 ResultsThe Open Championships are hardly the only game in town. Every year, a host of side events and participation prizes accompanies the tournament, including standings for the Bowlers Journal Championships, winners of sidepots and brackets, prizes for those who are bowling the tournament for over 25 years, and much more. Even if you’re just looking to see standings for the 3-6-10 jackpot or the Super Solo Brackets—you can find it all here.Leaderboard  |  Individual Results  |  Low to Cash
  • Other Results 2009Tic Tac Toe
    Solo Super Brackets
    Senior Super Brackets
    Century Doubles Ranking
    Team USA QualifyingSuper Sidepots
    USBC/Storm Bowlers Journal Championships Final ResultsOpen Singles
    Senior Singles
    Classic Singles
    205 & Under Singles
    180 & Under Singles
    Open Doubles
    Senior Doubles
    Mixed Doubles
    Dual Entry
    Side Pots
    Official Tournament Participation Prizes
    Read More
  • Other Results 2008 1:10 earned berths to the 2009 Team USA TrialsSuper Sidepots
    Official Tournament Participation Prizes
    Prize Fund
    Read More
  • Women's Championship Women’s ChampionshipsThe USBC Women’s Championships (formerly the Women’s International Bowling Congress Championship Tournament) has long been the world’s largest participatory sporting event for women. The event generally runs between 80 and 100 days to accommodate 40,000 to 70,000 competitors annually.Bowlers of all ages and skill levels are seeded into one of five divisions: Classic for bowlers with averages of 190 and above; Division 1 for averages of 170-189; Division 2 for averages of 150-169; Division 3 for averages of 131-149 and Division 4 for averages of 130 and below. The bowlers compete in team, doubles, singles and an optional all-events competition with a total prize fund ranging from $1.5 million to $3 million.Read More
  • More TournamentsWhether you’re a highly competitive bowler carrying a 200 average in a sport league or a bowler who wonders if there is a tournament in which you can compete and have a chance to win, the USBC offers such a wide variety of tournaments that you are bound to find one perfect for you.Are you a women’s bowler who thinks she can cut it against PBA Women’s Series bowlers? Try the USBC Queens event. Are you a youth bowler looking to put your skills to use by earning some scholarship money? Learn more about how to qualify for the Jr. Gold Championships. Are you a bowler looking for a chance to compete on a level playing field against bowlers in your average range? Look into the USBC’s longest-standing event, the 108-year-old USBC Open Championships. USBC tournaments offer opportunities for all bowlers regardless of age or skill level. You never know, you could be one of the next bowlers to compete on live TV at the next USBC Bowling’s Clash of Champions.Read More
 
 
FEATURED BOWLERS
  • Bo Goergen Bo GoergenStats:
    • Missed becoming an exempt player on the 2009-2010 Lumber Liquidator’s PBA Tour by just 43 pins when he finished 9th at the 2009 PBA Tour Trials.
    • Broke John Janawicz’s USBC Open record 858 series when he shot an 862 at the 2009 USBC Open on June 4th, 2009
    Perseverance paid off for Bo Goergen of Midland, Mich., as he rolled the highest three-game series in the history of the 2009 USBC Open Championships. The 48-year-old right-hander, who made his 31st consecutive tournament appearance, struck 32 times on the way to games of 299, 299 and 264 for an 862 series. He topped the previous mark of 858, rolled by John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., on the way to the 2004 Regular Singles and Regular All-Events titles. Goergen's record-setting performance also moved him into the top spot in Regular Singles at the 2009 Open Championships. Ron Vokes of Racine, Wis., previously held the lead with 857, which he shot en route to a tournament-record 2,321 all-events total."It's absolutely incredible, and I couldn't believe it was happening," said Goergen, who left the 7 pin standing in both 299 games. "In anybody's wildest dreams, to shoot back-to-back 299s at the national tournament is unbelievable."Goergen added 700 in doubles and 628 in team for a 2,190 all-events total, which is good for third place overall. His efforts also helped Northern Lanes Pro Shop into third place in Team All-Events with 10,116, the eighth-highest total in tournament history. Linds Limited of Milwaukee leads this year with 10,372."I got into a groove, the ball was coming off my hand clean and I was reading the lanes properly," Goergen said. "I don't look at the scoreboard, and even when I know I have a good game going, I treat each frame like the first frame of a game. That's what helps me relax. For me it's joking with the guys and loosening up. The guys were back there keeping me calm. That's what helped."Read More
  • Frankie Colon Frankie ColonStats:
    • Rolled the 33rd perfect game of the 2009 USBC Open on the way to a 777 singles series, with games of 255, 300 and 222
    Frankie Colon of San Juan, Puerto Rico may have been the quietest member of his energetic and talented team at the 2009 USBC Open Championships, but his performance on the lanes spoke volumes.The 35-year-old right-hander rolled the 33rd perfect game of this year's event on the way to a 777 singles effort at Cashman Center and now will be recognized in the squad room along with his teammates each year he returns to the Open Championships. His 300 came between games of 255 and 222."The first game today was not too good, but I moved inside and played a lot deeper, and the strikes started coming," said Colon, who has been a member of Puerto Rico's national team since 1994."For every 300, you get a little bit nervous, and to shoot one here is great." Colon, who became the second bowler from Puerto Rico (Sammy Monge, 1998 singles) to roll a perfect game at the Open Championships, was joined on the lanes this weekend by 1992 U.S. Amateur champion Anthony Chapman of Bowie, Md., William Ripley of Lumberton, N.J., who rolled a 300 game at the 2006 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, Team USA member Kim Terrell-Kearney and her husband, Eric Kearney of Grand Prairie, Texas. The team shot 2,948 on Saturday, and Colon and Terrell-Kearney teamed up for doubles Sunday."Bowling with Kim has been a terrific experience," said Colon, who was introduced to Terrell-Kearney and her husband by Chapman and his wife. "She is a great bowler and a lot of fun to be around. This is my second year with this team, and I really enjoyed it. I am already looking forward to next year."Read More
  • Brenda Edwards Brenda EdwardsBrenda Edwards was ready to quit bowling for good—her father, whom she identifies as her only reason for bowling—had recently lost his battle with pulmonary fibrosis, leaving her unsure of where she was in her life and how bowling fit in. But the former Team USA member comes from a family in which bowling is just what you do—sister Jeri Edwards coaches Team USA, her other sister Kathy Zeilke won PWBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1993, and her brother designs bowling balls for Brunswick.Brenda herself already had learned how to operate a ball spinner at 11 years old in the makeshift pro shop of her father’s basement. So when boyfriend and USBC Silver Coach Stephen Padilla asked her what her father would want her to do, an answer was easy to come by.“He said ‘If you give up on this, you’re not honoring your Dad, because he started you on this path and you’re going to stop walking before this path is done,’”Edwards recalls of the conversation with Padilla that inspired her to bowl the 2009 USBC Queens. “And I decided to bowl.” She also, it turned out, decided to bowl extremely well—finishing 5th in the event when, just weeks prior, she was not even sure if she wanted to bowl league anymore. But the many realizations that Brenda Edwards has come to since losing her father have a lot more to do with life than with bowling. The gift her father gave her in death was an appreciation for the fragility and fleetingness of life.“Tomorrow isn’t promised to anybody,” Edwards asserts. “We’re not even promised the next moment in time. You have to live in the present.”Read More
  • Liz Johnson Liz JohnsonLiz Johnson’s success over the past few years has made her such a transcendent figure in the sport that all Kelly Kulick could say after losing to her in the championship round of the 2009 USBC Queens was that she could not think of anyone better to lose to.“If there is any bowler I want to finish second to, it's Liz,” Kulick said. “She's having a great career. She just keeps fighting and seems to overcome everything." “Liz is unbelievable,” says former Queens champion and two-time Women’s U.S. Open winner Kim Terrell-Kearney. “She can be the best player man or woman when she sees what she likes.”Liz Johnson is seeing what she likes with increasingly frequency these days, following up her historic appearance as the first woman to make the televised finals of a Men’s PBA Tour event in 2005, when she defeated Wes Malott in the semifinal match before losing to Tommy Jones in the championship round, by clinching a Team USA Trials title and adding the 2009 USBC Queens crown to a spoil of championships that includes two titles at the Women’s U.S. Open.“I'm a fighter,” Johnson said after winning the 2009 Queens event. “When it comes to anything, especially bowling, I'm going to fight my way through."Read More
  • Kelly Kulick Kelly KulickIf you doubted for a second that Kelly Kulick would win the 2007 USBC Queens event when the news broke that she had made the telecast, you might not have known that she had a force on her side far more powerful than any mere mortal—that force, of course, was Spider Man.When Kulick discovered that a Long Island fan of hers happened to have a father who wrote the Spider Man series, it wasn’t long before professional bowling made an appearance in #20 of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider Man comic book series which, incidentally, just happened to be released on the very day Kulick won the Queens.“I never thought that something like that would happen to me,” Kulick told the New York Times. But no one will fault her for coming just short of a second Queens victory this year when she ran into one of the hottest bowlers in the world—Team USA member Liz Johnson who, to this day, remains the only woman ever to compete on a men’s professional bowling telecast.Kulick finished a mere second at the 2009 Queens tournament—a loss which, given the caliber of bowler it took to best her that day, Kulick can live with."If there is any bowler I want to finish second to, it's Liz,” Kulick said. “She's having a great careerRead More
  • Submit a BowlerTo submit a bowler, send us the following:
    (Note: Parental consent is required for nominees under the age of 18)    The name of the bowler you would like to nominate:
    Bowler's Phone Number:
    Bowler's Email Address:
    Bowler's Age:
    Bowler's Gender:
    Bowler's Ethnicity:

    Tell us why you think this person should be a featured bowler on bowl.com:

    email to OpenChampionshipsSubmit@bowl.comThank you for your nomination! While we are unable to respond to each individual submission due to the volume of submissions we receive, we will be contacting you if your nominee is chosen to be featured on bowl.com.    Read More
 
 
 
 
ON THE LANES
  • Loading