Excitement continues with three honor scores at 2026 Open Championships
June 06, 2026
Pictured above: Gregory Thompson Jr.
RENO, Nev. – Three bowlers connected for honor scores in less than 24 hours at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, including a pair of 800s in singles competition and a 300 in team at the National Bowling Stadium.
Gregory Thompson Jr. of Gilbert, Arizona, became just the fourth bowler in tournament history to record multiple 800s at the USBC Open Championships after his performance Saturday morning, rolling games of 279, 246 and 279 for an 804 series.
The 42-year-old right-hander’s showing helped him move into fifth place in Regular Singles. Three-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Michigan, leads at the 2026 event with 836.
The set featured strikes on 29 of 34 deliveries for Thompson, and he started the final game with nine strikes before leaving a 10 pin to start his final frame. He converted the single pin and connected for one more strike on his fill ball to secure the honor score.
Thompson now has posted an 800 series in back-to-back editions of the Open Championships. At the 2025 event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he recorded games of 300, 264 and 246 in doubles for an 810 series.
He joins five-time Eagle winner Matt McNiel (2010 - singles, 2011 - doubles, 2012 - doubles), two-time champion Matt Weggen (2011 - doubles and singles) and three-time titlist John Socha (1997 - singles, 2002 - singles) with multiple 800s at the tournament.
Watch the video below to hear more from Thompson.
Thompson had sets of 562 in doubles and 546 in team to close his 18th tournament appearance with 1,912 for all-events.
On Friday, Todd Jones of Christiansburg, Virginia, moved into second place in Regular Singles with an 817 series. The 26-year-old right-hander had games of 290, 259 and 268 at the NBS.
While the big number was posted in singles, Jones had built momentum in doubles. After a 193 start, he rolled scores of 257 and 249 to finish with a 699 series. In his final five games at the 2026 Open Championships, Jones averaged more than 264.
Jones needed a mark in his final frame of singles for the opportunity at 800, and he posted a strike on his first delivery. He left a 10 pin on the next shot and covered the spare to close his set. In singles, he recorded strikes on 30 of his 35 deliveries.
He added 555 in team to finish with his highest all-events total (2,071) across six appearances at the Open Championships.
With the 800s from Jones and Thompson, there now have been nine bowlers at the 2026 event to achieve the feat. Six competitors have reached 800 in singles, two in doubles and one in team.
Justin Burchell
On the next squad, Justin Burchell of Freeport, Illinois, tossed the first 300 game of his bowling career during the team event.
The 41-year-old right-hander had started the day with 136 but found his rhythm in Game 2, going 12 for 12 at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins. He finished with 173 for a 609 series. He recorded the 28th perfect game of the 2026 event.
Check out the video below to hear more from Burchell on his big day in Reno.
Burchell, competing in the Classified Division, also put together a strong showing Saturday in singles. He moved into the top 50 after rolling games of 178, 209 and 211 for a 598 series. Kevin Taylor of Aberdeen, Maryland, leads Classified Singles in 2026 with 675.
He added 436 in doubles to finish his eighth appearance at the Open Championships with a 1,643 total for all-events.
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. – Three bowlers connected for honor scores in less than 24 hours at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, including a pair of 800s in singles competition and a 300 in team at the National Bowling Stadium.
Gregory Thompson Jr. of Gilbert, Arizona, became just the fourth bowler in tournament history to record multiple 800s at the USBC Open Championships after his performance Saturday morning, rolling games of 279, 246 and 279 for an 804 series.
The 42-year-old right-hander’s showing helped him move into fifth place in Regular Singles. Three-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Michigan, leads at the 2026 event with 836.
The set featured strikes on 29 of 34 deliveries for Thompson, and he started the final game with nine strikes before leaving a 10 pin to start his final frame. He converted the single pin and connected for one more strike on his fill ball to secure the honor score.
Thompson now has posted an 800 series in back-to-back editions of the Open Championships. At the 2025 event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he recorded games of 300, 264 and 246 in doubles for an 810 series.
He joins five-time Eagle winner Matt McNiel (2010 - singles, 2011 - doubles, 2012 - doubles), two-time champion Matt Weggen (2011 - doubles and singles) and three-time titlist John Socha (1997 - singles, 2002 - singles) with multiple 800s at the tournament.
Watch the video below to hear more from Thompson.
Thompson had sets of 562 in doubles and 546 in team to close his 18th tournament appearance with 1,912 for all-events.
On Friday, Todd Jones of Christiansburg, Virginia, moved into second place in Regular Singles with an 817 series. The 26-year-old right-hander had games of 290, 259 and 268 at the NBS.
While the big number was posted in singles, Jones had built momentum in doubles. After a 193 start, he rolled scores of 257 and 249 to finish with a 699 series. In his final five games at the 2026 Open Championships, Jones averaged more than 264.
Jones needed a mark in his final frame of singles for the opportunity at 800, and he posted a strike on his first delivery. He left a 10 pin on the next shot and covered the spare to close his set. In singles, he recorded strikes on 30 of his 35 deliveries.
He added 555 in team to finish with his highest all-events total (2,071) across six appearances at the Open Championships.
With the 800s from Jones and Thompson, there now have been nine bowlers at the 2026 event to achieve the feat. Six competitors have reached 800 in singles, two in doubles and one in team.
Justin Burchell
On the next squad, Justin Burchell of Freeport, Illinois, tossed the first 300 game of his bowling career during the team event.
The 41-year-old right-hander had started the day with 136 but found his rhythm in Game 2, going 12 for 12 at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins. He finished with 173 for a 609 series. He recorded the 28th perfect game of the 2026 event.
Check out the video below to hear more from Burchell on his big day in Reno.
Burchell, competing in the Classified Division, also put together a strong showing Saturday in singles. He moved into the top 50 after rolling games of 178, 209 and 211 for a 598 series. Kevin Taylor of Aberdeen, Maryland, leads Classified Singles in 2026 with 675.
He added 436 in doubles to finish his eighth appearance at the Open Championships with a 1,643 total for all-events.
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.