LAS VEGAS - Two hundred years of bowling and visits to 31 cities. Hundreds of hours of laughter and friendship. Thousands of memories. Four men.

Bowling is, indeed, a fraternity, but Ron Mansfield of Placerville, California, John Pocekay of Martinez, California, Larry Willems of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Michael Shenesky of Zelienople, Pennsylvania, officially became members of an even more exclusive group this week as they reached 50 years of participation at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships for the 50th time.

They are four of 31 bowlers scheduled to celebrate 50 years of participation this year at the South Point Bowling Plaza. There also will be three bowlers celebrating 60 years, one making his 65th appearance and one competing for the 70th time.

With their families, friends and fellow competitors looking on, the newest members of the tournament's 50-Year Club each were presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone.

Then, they proceeded to their respective lanes to do what they have loved to do for half a century.

This ceremony Saturday was extra special for Mansfield and Pocekay, who not only were reaching 50 consecutive years of participation at the same time, they also were sharing the lanes as teammates for the 50th time.

The duo met while they were students at the University of California, Davis. They both made the bowling team, and the rest, as they say, is history ... a long history of bowling and friendship.

"We were roommates as well as teammates at UC Davis, and we instantly hit it off," Pocekay said. "Back in 1972, we decided to try our talents at the USBC Open Championships in Long Beach, California, and we have never looked back."

Mansfield, a 74-year-old right-hander, studied renewable natural resources, and Pocekay, a 70-year-old right-hander, majored in zoology, but it's bowling that their friendship is built upon.

Their homes now are 104 miles apart, so they are not always physically together, but their union is strong.

"This is what makes events like the Open Championships so special," Mansfield said. "I get to bowl and be with my best friend."

Mansfield has been married to his wife, Carolyn, also a bowler at UC Davis, for 44 years. Doing the math, yes, the bowling partnership has been going on longer than Mansfield's marriage.

When he's not crushing pins on the lanes, Mansfield is smashing grapes as the owner of Goldbud Farms in Placerville, which produces seasonal fruits and wine. The family business includes 90 acres of apples, 60 acres of wine grapes and 20 acres each of cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines and pears.

Both men proudly wear the name of the business on their bowling shirts.

"Ron makes the wine, and I drink it," Pocekay said with a laugh.

Having a relationship that spans more than five decades, both men have wonderful things to say about each other.

"John is a good friend, and he always does what he says he'll do," Mansfield said.

"He's a great buddy," Pocekay added.

Willems, a 79-year-old right-hander, shared the spotlight with his wife of 32 years, Charlene, also a competitive bowler and fellow member of the Kenosha USBC Hall of Fame.

It has not been a pain-free journey for Willems, however.

He has endured hip and back surgery and a blown Achilles. Then, just two weeks prior to his 50th appearance at the Open Championships, while on the lanes, he heard his hamstring pop, and his trip to Las Vegas was in question.

"It was touch and go, actually, until earlier this week," Willems said. "If I could get back on the lanes just six weeks after hip surgery, I knew this was not going to stop me."

Willems praises his hometown for helping him continue his lifelong love of bowling.

"Kenosha is a great bowling town, and there is nothing better than bowling with my friends," Willems added. "Friendship is what bowling is all about."

As he celebrated his 50 years at the Open Championships, Willems clearly remembered his tournament debut in Rochester, New York, in 1966.

"I was so nervous, but the nerves helped me bowl well in team, doubles and singles," said Willems, who had a 1,630 all-events total that year. "Little did I know I would be talking about those games in 2022."

Even as he received congratulations from many of his fellow bowlers, he always seemed to give a quick, shy, loving smile to Charlene.

"She was not there at my first tournament in 1966, but she has been with me every step of the way for the last 30 years, going city to city, and doing what we both love," Willems said. "Election to the Kenosha USBC Hall of Fame is the highest honor for extraordinary contribution to the sport, on and off the lanes, and I am so thrilled to share this honor with Charlene."

On Sunday, the lanes belonged to Shenesky, who got to celebrate the number 50 twice.

Besides being honored for 50 years of participation the Open Championships, he and his lovely bride, Arby, were celebrating 50 years of marriage.

"We met at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, and since then, she has been at my side in 26 cities, sharing my love of bowling," Shenesky said. "We really love going all over the country, but especially to Albuquerque, where we saw the balloon festival, and Billings, where we turned the tournament into a three-and-a-half-week vacation."

Shenesky, a 75-year-old right-hander, remembers his first tournament in 1966 very well.

"It was in Rochester, New York, the lanes were made of wood and the scoreboard was run manually," Shenesky said. "So much different than the tournament today."

Shenesky admits he is a competitive person and has a routine prior to coming to the tournament.

"I practice a little bit more and get myself both physically and mentally ready by going to the gym," Shenesky said. "The Open Championships has always been a big deal to me, and I want to do my best."

Shenesky is a proud member of the Pennsylvania State USBC Hall of Fame Class of 1998 and is a 14-time Pennsylvania senior champion. He also was longtime member of the American Bowling Congress Board of Directors.

"I want to see bowling get stronger," Shenesky added. "League bowling is a little down, but open bowling is still a great family activity. Plus, seeing the talent on the (Professional Bowlers Association) Tour gives me a very positive feeling about the future of the sport."

Reaching 50 years of participation is quite the accomplishment, but there is a lot more to do for Shenesky.

"My goal is 100,000 pins, which God willing, is about 10 or 11 championships away," Shenesky said. "I just love coming each year, bowling and socializing with my friends, and doing what I enjoy. I can't wait to see everyone in Reno next year. We're going to make plans for 2023 before we leave Las Vegas."

On the lanes this year, Willems set the pace for the milestone quartet with a 1,670 all-events total. He had sets of 586 in singles, 577 in team and 507 in doubles. In 50 appearances, he has knocked down 84,489 pins for a career average of 187.7.

Pocekay's 2022 tournament campaign included sets of 570 in doubles, 554 in team and 527 in singles for a 1,651 total. His career pinfall total is 85,266, giving him an average of 189.48.

At the South Point Bowling Plaza this week, Shenesky had 567 in team, 537 in singles and 507 in doubles for a 1,611 all-events total, bringing his career pinfall to 85,460, a 189.9 average.

Mansfield only bowled in the team event and added 347 pins to his all-time total, which now sits at 73,986, a 172.4 average.

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