Brissette reaches 100,000 pins at USBC Open Championships
May 13, 2023
RENO, Nev. – Robert Brissette of Petersburg, Michigan, became the 27th bowler in the 119-year history of the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to join the 100,000-Pin Club during his team competition Thursday at the National Bowling Stadium.
The 86-year-old right-hander was working on a pair of strikes as he stepped up in the ninth frame of Game 2, and an eight count and spare conversion officially helped Brissette reach one of bowling’s most prestigious milestones.
He entered the 2023 event needing 291 pins to earn the coveted crystal pin presented to those who achieve the feat, and after adding 1,291 pins to his career total, he now has knocked over 101,000 pins for a lifetime average of 190.2 over 59 appearances.
“There was a little bit of relief getting there, but I was very happy,” Brissette said. “I was ecstatic with the response from the crowd and everything else. Bowlers are some of the greatest people in the world. I have never bowled with anyone I didn’t like, and I’ve been around so many thousands of bowlers. When you get something you enjoy, and have good friends and family, you can’t beat that.”
Family has been a big part of Brissette’s journey on the lanes, and he had his son, Todd, and three daughters – Cynthia, Annette and Lisa – in attendance at the National Bowling Stadium for the moment.
He thanked his wife, Janet, for always being his biggest supporter through 57 years of marriage and countless bowling trips. She passed away in October of 2022.
“The only unfortunate part of this was I lost my wife about six months ago,” Brissette said. “She went with me everywhere. I bowled on the senior tour for about 20 years, and she traveled with me all the time.
“I had nine people come here to watch me make this, and it meant everything. My family has always been great in supporting my bowling, especially my wife. It’s really hard to explain how great it is to have a family like that. I got to bowl today with my son, and my three daughters were all here. My brother and two of my sisters were here, my son’s wife – we had a good group.”
Brissette started his career at the Open Championships during the 1961 event in Detroit, and he’s made his annual appearance each year since 1967.
His top performance took place during the 1993 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he rolled sets of 706 in singles, 702 in team and 646 in doubles for a 2,054 all-events total.
Brissette was able to bowl with and against many of the individuals who have reached 100,000 pins at the Open Championships during his time on the Professional Bowlers Association 50 Tour, and he enjoyed the camaraderie just as much as the competition.
He looks forward to continuing his run at the Open Championships, with his 60th appearance coming up next year in Las Vegas.
“I’m just going to be ready to go if the Lord is willing,” said Brissette, a member of the Greater Toledo USBC Hall of Fame. “I always look forward to it. As long as I have people that want me on a team, and I’m able to throw the ball, I’m going to keep doing it.”
Brissette was the second bowler to reach the milestone at the 2023 event. USBC Hall of Famer and 1980 Regular Team champion Bob Chamberlain Sr. of The Villages, Florida, became the 26th member of the 100,000-Pin Club on March 15.
Two more competitors are expected to reach 100,000 pins in May at the 2023 Open Championships.
Dennis Lane of Kingsport, Tennessee, is 680 pins shy of 100,000 and will be bowling May 18 and 19 in Reno. Lane has knocked over 99,320 pins through his first 54 appearances for a career average of 203.9.
USBC Hall of Famer Bill Spigner of Vernon Hills, Illinois, will be in position to join the 100,000-Pin Club during his doubles and singles set May 21. Spigner, a member of the 1996 Team All-Events champion at the Open Championships, will enter his 55th tournament appearance with 98,885 pins (201.3 average) and need 1,115 pins to reach the milestone.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 86-year-old right-hander was working on a pair of strikes as he stepped up in the ninth frame of Game 2, and an eight count and spare conversion officially helped Brissette reach one of bowling’s most prestigious milestones.
He entered the 2023 event needing 291 pins to earn the coveted crystal pin presented to those who achieve the feat, and after adding 1,291 pins to his career total, he now has knocked over 101,000 pins for a lifetime average of 190.2 over 59 appearances.
“There was a little bit of relief getting there, but I was very happy,” Brissette said. “I was ecstatic with the response from the crowd and everything else. Bowlers are some of the greatest people in the world. I have never bowled with anyone I didn’t like, and I’ve been around so many thousands of bowlers. When you get something you enjoy, and have good friends and family, you can’t beat that.”
Family has been a big part of Brissette’s journey on the lanes, and he had his son, Todd, and three daughters – Cynthia, Annette and Lisa – in attendance at the National Bowling Stadium for the moment.
He thanked his wife, Janet, for always being his biggest supporter through 57 years of marriage and countless bowling trips. She passed away in October of 2022.
“The only unfortunate part of this was I lost my wife about six months ago,” Brissette said. “She went with me everywhere. I bowled on the senior tour for about 20 years, and she traveled with me all the time.
“I had nine people come here to watch me make this, and it meant everything. My family has always been great in supporting my bowling, especially my wife. It’s really hard to explain how great it is to have a family like that. I got to bowl today with my son, and my three daughters were all here. My brother and two of my sisters were here, my son’s wife – we had a good group.”
Brissette started his career at the Open Championships during the 1961 event in Detroit, and he’s made his annual appearance each year since 1967.
His top performance took place during the 1993 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he rolled sets of 706 in singles, 702 in team and 646 in doubles for a 2,054 all-events total.
Brissette was able to bowl with and against many of the individuals who have reached 100,000 pins at the Open Championships during his time on the Professional Bowlers Association 50 Tour, and he enjoyed the camaraderie just as much as the competition.
He looks forward to continuing his run at the Open Championships, with his 60th appearance coming up next year in Las Vegas.
“I’m just going to be ready to go if the Lord is willing,” said Brissette, a member of the Greater Toledo USBC Hall of Fame. “I always look forward to it. As long as I have people that want me on a team, and I’m able to throw the ball, I’m going to keep doing it.”
Brissette was the second bowler to reach the milestone at the 2023 event. USBC Hall of Famer and 1980 Regular Team champion Bob Chamberlain Sr. of The Villages, Florida, became the 26th member of the 100,000-Pin Club on March 15.
Two more competitors are expected to reach 100,000 pins in May at the 2023 Open Championships.
Dennis Lane of Kingsport, Tennessee, is 680 pins shy of 100,000 and will be bowling May 18 and 19 in Reno. Lane has knocked over 99,320 pins through his first 54 appearances for a career average of 203.9.
USBC Hall of Famer Bill Spigner of Vernon Hills, Illinois, will be in position to join the 100,000-Pin Club during his doubles and singles set May 21. Spigner, a member of the 1996 Team All-Events champion at the Open Championships, will enter his 55th tournament appearance with 98,885 pins (201.3 average) and need 1,115 pins to reach the milestone.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.