Busy two days rewrites the standings at 2026 USBC Open Championships
March 21, 2026
Pictured above (from left): AJ Wolstenholme, Jeffrey Suma Sr., Bill Orlikowski, Justin O'Hara, Tim Gillick
RENO, Nev. – The strong showings have continued through the opening week of the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships at the National Bowling Stadium.
A mix of experience and youth helped S & B Pro Shop #1 surge into the Regular Team lead Thursday evening with a 3,250 total, which was just the start of an exciting two-day stretch in Reno.
After struggling to find consistency in recent outings, the group, led by three-time Eagle winner Bill Orlikowski, turned to its younger members for a new plan, where it paid immediate dividends.
The lineup featured AJ Wolstenholme (657), Jeffrey Suma Sr. (629), Orlikowski (667), Justin O’Hara (681) and Tim Gillick (616). The team recorded games of 1,088, 1,088 and 1,074 to surpass the 3,184 posted by Ottawa Highland 1 on March 15.
During practice, Gillick and Wolstenholme helped map out an adjustment that featured starting farther outside with urethane equipment to control the transition.
“We hadn’t been bowling pretty well as a team recently, so we decided to use a little bit of a different strategy, and it looks like it paid off pretty well,” Orlikowski said.
For Orlikowski, the moment carries added significance as he eyes another milestone in his career as a fourth Eagle would make him eligible for the USBC Hall of Fame under the Outstanding USBC Performance category.
“You can’t win unless you leave in the lead, right? It’d be very exciting for me, because that’s my main goal, I’d love to get into the hall of fame,” he said.
The team’s blend of seasoned leadership and emerging talent has been central to its success, following a long-standing Michigan tradition of mentoring younger bowlers at the Open Championships.
“We bring younger bowlers into the group and try to teach them what it takes to win Eagles out here,” Orlikowski said.
Wolstenholme has made an immediate impact and is no stranger to winning in his career, earning the Intercollegiate Singles Championships title in 2023 before winning the Intercollegiate Team Championships with Webber International the following year.
On Friday, S & B Pro Shop 1 returned for doubles and singles and posted the early number to beat in Team All-Events with 9,398. Wolstenholme led with 2,003 and was followed by O’Hara (1,949), Orlikowski (1,898), Gillick (1,807) and Suma Sr. (1,741).
Part of the group that traveled with S & B Pro Shop 1 to Reno included Bob DeCheney Jr. of Grand Haven, Michigan, who took the lead in Regular Singles on Friday. He fired off games of 257, 258 and 269 for a 784 series. Chris Morgan of Marshall, Michigan, previously held the lead with 756.
Combined with his team (619) and doubles (613) sets, DeCheney briefly took the lead in Regular All-Events with 2,016.
“I was just thinking about shooting 800 (at the end of Game 3),” said DeCheney, who had a chance to shoot 290 until a nine count and spare in the eighth frame. “At the end it was about getting as much as I could to hopefully win this sucker. This is my 26th year. I’ve had a couple 700s here, but nothing like this.”
DeCheney stayed composed and continued to take advantage of the look his pair provided, crediting both the environment and group he traveled with for helping him stay loose throughout the set.
“Everybody just bowls well together,” he said. “We broke it down like we needed to, and it just opened up.”
The right-hander took the time to appreciate both the performance and the people who helped him get there. He also expressed gratitude for his support system, including his family and those who introduced him to the sport.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t even be here,” DeCheney said. “She’s everything in my life right now.
“My dad’s gone now, but he’s the one who got me into bowling. My life’s so good right now, I couldn’t even say more.”
Competing on the same pair as DeCheney in minors, Tim Tuttle Sr. of Muskegon, Michigan, took the lead in Standard Singles with games of 244, 259 and 191 for a 694 series. The top spot previously was held by Carson Mulroy of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, with 668.
With 503 heading into the final game of singles, Tuttle made a humorous remark to DeCheney.
“I told Bob, ‘503 at the turn? That’s usually what I end up with for a set.’ It’s crazy for me. I’m usually a 160-170 average bowler. I’ve never had a 600 series at nationals, and then I almost shoot 700.”
Despite a few missed opportunities in the final game, Tuttle remained upbeat about the performance and what it meant for him on one of bowling’s biggest stages.
“I missed a couple of spares there at the end, but it’s still a great set,” Tuttle said.
He credited the group he traveled with – led by John Prokopec – for helping him stay comfortable and confident throughout the block. After an early adjustment to move farther outside, he was able to stay in the same zone as his teammates and take advantage of the developing lane conditions.
“He told me to move outside and play with those guys, and we all stayed in the same line, and it worked out really well,” Tuttle said. “One move, and that was enough.”
Making his 10th appearance at the Open Championships, Tuttle noted that this performance stands as his best showing in Reno.
“This is the best I’ve ever done here, by far,” said Tuttle, who also added sets of 560 in doubles and 533 in team for an all-events total of 1,787.
After bowling, Tuttle reflected on the support system that helped make the trip possible.
“My girlfriend, Erica, she gets me out here every year,” he said. “And John, for putting all this together with so many teams – you really appreciate everything he does.”
At the end of Friday and into the early hours of Saturday, Brandon Drummond of Loganville, Georgia, took the lead in a pair of events.
After starting his team set Thursday with 177, Drummond fired 235 and 258 for a 670 series. That momentum continued into doubles and singles Friday, where he shot 691 in doubles and 717 in singles to take over the top spot in Regular All-Events with 2,078.
Drummond and his doubles partner, Lane Moore of Loganville, also took the lead in Regular Doubles with a 1,298 combined score. Moore posted a 607 series.
The game plan Drummond set for himself and his group paid off early.
“I work in a pro shop, so I kind of set up a game plan,” Drummond said. “We adjusted surface, stayed right early and tried to break them down to where we had some hold area, and it worked out really well.
“For the team pattern, we just wanted to throw urethane to start and control the front part of the lane with the carry down. Then, I went to a bigger ball to open them up a little bit once they started to transition. For doubles and singles, I pretty much hit everything with 500 grit, tried to create some free hook to the right, and then just moved left and followed it in.”
As the lanes began to transition deeper into singles, Drummond made key ball changes to stay ahead of the motion and maintain carry.
“Once it started hooking early, I went to something a little cleaner but still with a strong core,” he said. “Then, I went to something smoother off the backend so it wouldn’t overreact.”
Despite it being early in the 2026 tournament, Drummond understands the significance of seeing his name atop the leaderboard.
“Unbelievable,” he said of a potential Eagle. “I’ve got no words for that.”
The performance marks a breakthrough moment for Drummond, who noted that his best finish at the Open Championships prior to 2026 was placing in the top 100 for team.
“We’ve cracked the top 100 before, that’s the closest we’ve ever been,” he said.
Friday’s excitement at the NBS also included new leaders in Standard Team (Stone Brewing Company of Tarrytown, New York, with 2,890), Standard All-Events (Brent DeCheney of Muskegon, Michigan, with 1,834) and Classified Singles and All-Events (Naomi Reece of Glen Burnie, Maryland, with 609 and 1,654).
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
RENO, Nev. – The strong showings have continued through the opening week of the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships at the National Bowling Stadium.
A mix of experience and youth helped S & B Pro Shop #1 surge into the Regular Team lead Thursday evening with a 3,250 total, which was just the start of an exciting two-day stretch in Reno.
After struggling to find consistency in recent outings, the group, led by three-time Eagle winner Bill Orlikowski, turned to its younger members for a new plan, where it paid immediate dividends.
The lineup featured AJ Wolstenholme (657), Jeffrey Suma Sr. (629), Orlikowski (667), Justin O’Hara (681) and Tim Gillick (616). The team recorded games of 1,088, 1,088 and 1,074 to surpass the 3,184 posted by Ottawa Highland 1 on March 15.
During practice, Gillick and Wolstenholme helped map out an adjustment that featured starting farther outside with urethane equipment to control the transition.
“We hadn’t been bowling pretty well as a team recently, so we decided to use a little bit of a different strategy, and it looks like it paid off pretty well,” Orlikowski said.
For Orlikowski, the moment carries added significance as he eyes another milestone in his career as a fourth Eagle would make him eligible for the USBC Hall of Fame under the Outstanding USBC Performance category.
“You can’t win unless you leave in the lead, right? It’d be very exciting for me, because that’s my main goal, I’d love to get into the hall of fame,” he said.
The team’s blend of seasoned leadership and emerging talent has been central to its success, following a long-standing Michigan tradition of mentoring younger bowlers at the Open Championships.
“We bring younger bowlers into the group and try to teach them what it takes to win Eagles out here,” Orlikowski said.
Wolstenholme has made an immediate impact and is no stranger to winning in his career, earning the Intercollegiate Singles Championships title in 2023 before winning the Intercollegiate Team Championships with Webber International the following year.
On Friday, S & B Pro Shop 1 returned for doubles and singles and posted the early number to beat in Team All-Events with 9,398. Wolstenholme led with 2,003 and was followed by O’Hara (1,949), Orlikowski (1,898), Gillick (1,807) and Suma Sr. (1,741).
Part of the group that traveled with S & B Pro Shop 1 to Reno included Bob DeCheney Jr. of Grand Haven, Michigan, who took the lead in Regular Singles on Friday. He fired off games of 257, 258 and 269 for a 784 series. Chris Morgan of Marshall, Michigan, previously held the lead with 756.
Combined with his team (619) and doubles (613) sets, DeCheney briefly took the lead in Regular All-Events with 2,016.
“I was just thinking about shooting 800 (at the end of Game 3),” said DeCheney, who had a chance to shoot 290 until a nine count and spare in the eighth frame. “At the end it was about getting as much as I could to hopefully win this sucker. This is my 26th year. I’ve had a couple 700s here, but nothing like this.”
DeCheney stayed composed and continued to take advantage of the look his pair provided, crediting both the environment and group he traveled with for helping him stay loose throughout the set.
“Everybody just bowls well together,” he said. “We broke it down like we needed to, and it just opened up.”
The right-hander took the time to appreciate both the performance and the people who helped him get there. He also expressed gratitude for his support system, including his family and those who introduced him to the sport.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t even be here,” DeCheney said. “She’s everything in my life right now.
“My dad’s gone now, but he’s the one who got me into bowling. My life’s so good right now, I couldn’t even say more.”
Competing on the same pair as DeCheney in minors, Tim Tuttle Sr. of Muskegon, Michigan, took the lead in Standard Singles with games of 244, 259 and 191 for a 694 series. The top spot previously was held by Carson Mulroy of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, with 668.
With 503 heading into the final game of singles, Tuttle made a humorous remark to DeCheney.
“I told Bob, ‘503 at the turn? That’s usually what I end up with for a set.’ It’s crazy for me. I’m usually a 160-170 average bowler. I’ve never had a 600 series at nationals, and then I almost shoot 700.”
Despite a few missed opportunities in the final game, Tuttle remained upbeat about the performance and what it meant for him on one of bowling’s biggest stages.
“I missed a couple of spares there at the end, but it’s still a great set,” Tuttle said.
He credited the group he traveled with – led by John Prokopec – for helping him stay comfortable and confident throughout the block. After an early adjustment to move farther outside, he was able to stay in the same zone as his teammates and take advantage of the developing lane conditions.
“He told me to move outside and play with those guys, and we all stayed in the same line, and it worked out really well,” Tuttle said. “One move, and that was enough.”
Making his 10th appearance at the Open Championships, Tuttle noted that this performance stands as his best showing in Reno.
“This is the best I’ve ever done here, by far,” said Tuttle, who also added sets of 560 in doubles and 533 in team for an all-events total of 1,787.
After bowling, Tuttle reflected on the support system that helped make the trip possible.
“My girlfriend, Erica, she gets me out here every year,” he said. “And John, for putting all this together with so many teams – you really appreciate everything he does.”
At the end of Friday and into the early hours of Saturday, Brandon Drummond of Loganville, Georgia, took the lead in a pair of events.
After starting his team set Thursday with 177, Drummond fired 235 and 258 for a 670 series. That momentum continued into doubles and singles Friday, where he shot 691 in doubles and 717 in singles to take over the top spot in Regular All-Events with 2,078.
Drummond and his doubles partner, Lane Moore of Loganville, also took the lead in Regular Doubles with a 1,298 combined score. Moore posted a 607 series.
The game plan Drummond set for himself and his group paid off early.
“I work in a pro shop, so I kind of set up a game plan,” Drummond said. “We adjusted surface, stayed right early and tried to break them down to where we had some hold area, and it worked out really well.
“For the team pattern, we just wanted to throw urethane to start and control the front part of the lane with the carry down. Then, I went to a bigger ball to open them up a little bit once they started to transition. For doubles and singles, I pretty much hit everything with 500 grit, tried to create some free hook to the right, and then just moved left and followed it in.”
As the lanes began to transition deeper into singles, Drummond made key ball changes to stay ahead of the motion and maintain carry.
“Once it started hooking early, I went to something a little cleaner but still with a strong core,” he said. “Then, I went to something smoother off the backend so it wouldn’t overreact.”
Despite it being early in the 2026 tournament, Drummond understands the significance of seeing his name atop the leaderboard.
“Unbelievable,” he said of a potential Eagle. “I’ve got no words for that.”
The performance marks a breakthrough moment for Drummond, who noted that his best finish at the Open Championships prior to 2026 was placing in the top 100 for team.
“We’ve cracked the top 100 before, that’s the closest we’ve ever been,” he said.
Friday’s excitement at the NBS also included new leaders in Standard Team (Stone Brewing Company of Tarrytown, New York, with 2,890), Standard All-Events (Brent DeCheney of Muskegon, Michigan, with 1,834) and Classified Singles and All-Events (Naomi Reece of Glen Burnie, Maryland, with 609 and 1,654).
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.