Benninghoff secures singles lead at 2025 USBC Open Championships
May 02, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – The number in Regular Singles at the 2025 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships now is up to 793, courtesy of Richie Benninghoff of South Bend, Indiana.
The 32-year-old two-hander had games of 277, 259 and 257 to take over the top spot in exciting fashion Friday at the Raising Cane’s River Center. He edged the 789 posted Wednesday by Chris Karlin of Huntington, Indiana.
Benninghoff’s singles set started with nine strikes, before a 2-8 slowed him down on his first delivery in the 10th frame. He converted the spare and got nine on his fill ball to start his run toward the lead in Baton Rouge.
Making the turn at 536, Benninghoff kicked off Game 3 with seven strikes. A 7 pin halted that string in the eighth, but he stayed clean with a spare.
A 4-9 split briefly stood in the ninth before the 9 pin toppled over, allowing Benninghoff to convert another single pin and set the stage for the final frame.
He still had the chance at an 800 series with a double in the 10th, while a mark with good count would secure the lead. Benninghoff got to the pocket and left the 10 pin on his first delivery and covered the spare. Needing a seven count on his fill to take the outright lead, he rolled a strike to close the set.
Benninghoff nearly recorded a 300 at last year’s tournament in Las Vegas, posting 298 during his second game of doubles.
He made his fourth appearance at the USBC Open Championships this week and closed the 2025 event with an all-events score of 2,015. He had 617 in team and 605 in doubles.
Check out the video below to hear more from Benninghoff about his performance at the River Center.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 32-year-old two-hander had games of 277, 259 and 257 to take over the top spot in exciting fashion Friday at the Raising Cane’s River Center. He edged the 789 posted Wednesday by Chris Karlin of Huntington, Indiana.
Benninghoff’s singles set started with nine strikes, before a 2-8 slowed him down on his first delivery in the 10th frame. He converted the spare and got nine on his fill ball to start his run toward the lead in Baton Rouge.
Making the turn at 536, Benninghoff kicked off Game 3 with seven strikes. A 7 pin halted that string in the eighth, but he stayed clean with a spare.
A 4-9 split briefly stood in the ninth before the 9 pin toppled over, allowing Benninghoff to convert another single pin and set the stage for the final frame.
He still had the chance at an 800 series with a double in the 10th, while a mark with good count would secure the lead. Benninghoff got to the pocket and left the 10 pin on his first delivery and covered the spare. Needing a seven count on his fill to take the outright lead, he rolled a strike to close the set.
Benninghoff nearly recorded a 300 at last year’s tournament in Las Vegas, posting 298 during his second game of doubles.
He made his fourth appearance at the USBC Open Championships this week and closed the 2025 event with an all-events score of 2,015. He had 617 in team and 605 in doubles.
Check out the video below to hear more from Benninghoff about his performance at the River Center.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.