RENO, Nev. – Tom Schwartz of Bunnell, Florida, recently reached an important milestone as he made his 50th consecutive appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, a testament to five decades of dedication to one of bowling’s most prestigious events.

Schwartz was joined by his wife and teammates for a ceremonial walk down the center aisle at the National Bowling Stadium, marking the occasion in front of fellow competitors and spectators. He was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.

“I had goosebumps,” Schwartz said of the moment.

His Open Championships journey began in 1976 in Oklahoma City, and he has not missed a tournament since.

Over the course of his remarkable career at the Open Championships, Schwartz has toppled 77,649 pins while maintaining a 172.5 average.

Schwartz spent many years working for the American Bowling Congress, where he assisted local bowling associations in preparing bids to host tournaments, including the Open Championships.

“I would work with associations to put their bids together to host nationals,” Schwartz said.

Among the many cities that have hosted the event during his 50-year run, the trip to Billings, Montana, in 2002 remains especially memorable to Schwartz. He said he continues to admire the dedication and hard work it took for the community to bring the tournament to the city.

Schwartz’s milestone appearance highlights not only his enduring passion for the sport, but also his lasting contributions to bowling both on and off the lanes.

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.

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