Fisher makes run in return to USBC Open Championships
April 20, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – At just 19 years old, Nicholas Fisher of Palm Bay, Florida, proved he wasn’t going to shy away from a big moment during his debut at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships last year in Las Vegas.
The young right-hander needed a big number as he headed into the final game of doubles with Shawn Evans of Titusville, Florida, for a chance at the lead in the Regular Division at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Fisher delivered, firing 268 to help the pair close the event at the top of the standings with a 1,531 combined score. Their number remained at the top throughout the remainder of the 2024 event, giving both Fisher and Evans their first Eagles.
After taking the lead, Evans talked about Fisher’s performance down the stretch last April.
“He threw it better than I did for the wheat. I have to give it up for the youngster. He’s a young superstar coming up.”
Nick Fisher and Shawn Evans at the 2024 USBC Open Championships
The final tally of 1,531 registered as the sixth-highest doubles total in tournament history, with Evans rolling games of 299, 259 and 246 for an 804 series. Fisher recorded games of 260 and 199 before the strong finish in Game 3 for a 727 series.
Fisher returned to the championship lanes this week at the Raising Cane’s River Center, and although he and Evans were unable to bowl together this year at the tournament – Fisher now is a member of the Professional Bowlers Association and Evans is a former member of Team USA – he was able to reminisce about the performance and put together a run in Regular Singles, taking over fourth place at the 2025 event with a 769 series (269, 266 and 234).
Jeffrey Grego of Fort Wayne, Indiana, leads Regular Singles with 786.
Fisher, now 20, took in the experience of seeing his championship banner and being recognized during an on-lane presentation at the River Center alongside his parents, Liz and John. He was presented with his championship watch prior to his team event.
He was able to settle into competition quickly, though.
“I was a little emotional after the pictures and watch ceremony,” said Fisher, who had 646 in team and 538 in doubles this year for an all-events total of 1,953. “I had some nerves last year for the start since it was my first year and didn’t know what to expect. This year, I started about 100 pins better in team, so there was definitely a boost in my confidence.”
Last year’s performance by Fisher and Evans took place in early April, so they had to wait for over three months to see whether their score would hold at the top of the leaderboard.
Only one pair posted a score over 1,500 for the remainder of the 2024 event, as Adam Jozwiak of Akron, New York, and Derek Graves of Spring Grove, Virginia, finished three pins shy of the number at 1,528.
“Nothing’s over until it’s over,” Fisher said. “I didn’t think anyone was going to get higher than our number, but there was a doubles pair that finished three pins behind us toward the end. Once the tournament was over, it definitely settled in. I got the trophy presented during league, which was a great experience.”
Although Fisher and Evans were unable to defend their title at the Open Championships together in 2025, they are planning to team up again in July at a member/non-member event on the PBA regional circuit.
Fisher’s first year as a regional player has featured some strong performances along the way, including a third-place finish last December at the PBA Fort Meade Challenge.
Although the talent is easy to see with each strike delivered, Fisher is staying focused on enjoying each experience he has on the lanes as he looks ahead to a bright future.
“Right now, I just want to enjoy it,” Fisher said. “The goal for me is to bowl well, no matter what day or tournament it is.”
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 young right-hander needed a big number as he headed into the final game of doubles with Shawn Evans of Titusville, Florida, for a chance at the lead in the Regular Division at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Fisher delivered, firing 268 to help the pair close the event at the top of the standings with a 1,531 combined score. Their number remained at the top throughout the remainder of the 2024 event, giving both Fisher and Evans their first Eagles.
After taking the lead, Evans talked about Fisher’s performance down the stretch last April.
“He threw it better than I did for the wheat. I have to give it up for the youngster. He’s a young superstar coming up.”
Nick Fisher and Shawn Evans at the 2024 USBC Open Championships
The final tally of 1,531 registered as the sixth-highest doubles total in tournament history, with Evans rolling games of 299, 259 and 246 for an 804 series. Fisher recorded games of 260 and 199 before the strong finish in Game 3 for a 727 series.
Fisher returned to the championship lanes this week at the Raising Cane’s River Center, and although he and Evans were unable to bowl together this year at the tournament – Fisher now is a member of the Professional Bowlers Association and Evans is a former member of Team USA – he was able to reminisce about the performance and put together a run in Regular Singles, taking over fourth place at the 2025 event with a 769 series (269, 266 and 234).
Jeffrey Grego of Fort Wayne, Indiana, leads Regular Singles with 786.
Fisher, now 20, took in the experience of seeing his championship banner and being recognized during an on-lane presentation at the River Center alongside his parents, Liz and John. He was presented with his championship watch prior to his team event.
He was able to settle into competition quickly, though.
“I was a little emotional after the pictures and watch ceremony,” said Fisher, who had 646 in team and 538 in doubles this year for an all-events total of 1,953. “I had some nerves last year for the start since it was my first year and didn’t know what to expect. This year, I started about 100 pins better in team, so there was definitely a boost in my confidence.”
Last year’s performance by Fisher and Evans took place in early April, so they had to wait for over three months to see whether their score would hold at the top of the leaderboard.
Only one pair posted a score over 1,500 for the remainder of the 2024 event, as Adam Jozwiak of Akron, New York, and Derek Graves of Spring Grove, Virginia, finished three pins shy of the number at 1,528.
“Nothing’s over until it’s over,” Fisher said. “I didn’t think anyone was going to get higher than our number, but there was a doubles pair that finished three pins behind us toward the end. Once the tournament was over, it definitely settled in. I got the trophy presented during league, which was a great experience.”
Although Fisher and Evans were unable to defend their title at the Open Championships together in 2025, they are planning to team up again in July at a member/non-member event on the PBA regional circuit.
Fisher’s first year as a regional player has featured some strong performances along the way, including a third-place finish last December at the PBA Fort Meade Challenge.
Although the talent is easy to see with each strike delivered, Fisher is staying focused on enjoying each experience he has on the lanes as he looks ahead to a bright future.
“Right now, I just want to enjoy it,” Fisher said. “The goal for me is to bowl well, no matter what day or tournament it is.”
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.