Friendships help Nebraska bowler to 50 consecutive trips to Open Championships
April 25, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Tyler Hamik, Bill Kirshenbaum and Bradley Kirshenbaum
RENO, Nev. – From jumping into a car at 9:30 p.m. to drive across the country to celebrating 50 consecutive years on the tournament lanes, the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships has been all about friendships for Bill Kirshenbaum of Omaha, Nebraska.
The 71-year-old right-hander made his memorable march down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday to join the 50-Year Club at the event, and he was joined by family and friends as he was presented with a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to recognize the achievement.
Kirshenbaum started his experience at the USBC Open Championships in 1973 with a road trip from Omaha’s West Lanes to Syracuse, New York, alongside some of his closest friends.
“I had just heard of it – I never even knew there was a national tournament to go to,” Kirshenbaum said. “A couple of friends said let’s go to that. We had been bowling together for probably five or six years by then. I thought it sounded like fun and asked where it was at – they said Syracuse, New York. The next question was how would we get there? One of the guys said we were going to drive. We left at 9:30 that night. We ended up making it to Syracuse and had a great time.
“Those guys still are my best friends. We still talk about that trip when we get together, and I bowl with a lot of the same guys at home. I started in junior leagues with a couple of them, so we’ve been bowling together for probably close to 60 years.”
The following year in Indianapolis, Kirshenbaum was able to cross with another group from Omaha – Olympia Beer – and have a front-row seat as they took the lead and eventually won the Regular Team title in 1974.
Olympia Beer had started slow in Indianapolis with 868 but turned things around with 1,147 and 1,171 to win the title with 3,186. The team featured Gary Wilson, Jim Rood, Bob Lane, Boyd Hayden and Tom Kelley Sr.
“When we were bowling, they had the stadium seats,” said Kirshenbaum, a member of the Greater Omaha Area USBC Hall of Fame. “Everybody was all spread out until it came down to the third game. Everyone had made their way behind our pair to watch. When they struck, everybody in the crowd would clap. That’s one of my best memories.”
Kirshenbaum has enjoyed the chance to travel and experience the host cities during his journey at the Open Championships, noting stops like Niagara Falls, New York, and Billings, Montana. Even a flat tire during his trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his son, Bradley, is something he looks back on while reflecting on his tournament career.
During his presentation Sunday, Kirshenbaum was elated to also share his moment alongside Bradley and his son-in-law, Tyler Hamik.
As much as his experience has been alongside friends at the Open Championships, the family support is equally important to him, and he’s also thankful to his wife, Linda, and daughter, Anna Hamik, for their continued encouragement.
When Kirshenbaum laced up his shoes to start Sunday for team competition, he showcased some of the skills that have helped him maintain a 192 career average at the tournament and win the 1989 Petersen Classic in Chicago.
After games of 216 and 161, he started his final game with seven strikes on the way to a 247 finish and 624 series.
“I had to make my adjustment because they broke down really bad after about the fifth frame,” Kirshenbaum said. “I just couldn’t get far enough left. All seven of them were really good strikes, and I really felt confident that I was going to go all the way. That’s the longest string I’ve ever had to start a game at nationals.”
Kirshenbaum added 511 in doubles and 495 in singles for a 1,630 all-events total to bring his career pinfall at the Open Championships to 86,719.
With his 50th appearance in the books, his next goal is to reach 60 years at the event and make a run at 100,000 pins.
One thing is for sure, though. He’ll continue his trek with family and friends by his side.
“It’s just unbelievable how fast 50 years can go,” Kirshenbaum said. “We look forward to it every year, and the friendships I’ve made over the years have just been wonderful.”
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
RENO, Nev. – From jumping into a car at 9:30 p.m. to drive across the country to celebrating 50 consecutive years on the tournament lanes, the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships has been all about friendships for Bill Kirshenbaum of Omaha, Nebraska.
The 71-year-old right-hander made his memorable march down Center Aisle at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday to join the 50-Year Club at the event, and he was joined by family and friends as he was presented with a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to recognize the achievement.
Kirshenbaum started his experience at the USBC Open Championships in 1973 with a road trip from Omaha’s West Lanes to Syracuse, New York, alongside some of his closest friends.
“I had just heard of it – I never even knew there was a national tournament to go to,” Kirshenbaum said. “A couple of friends said let’s go to that. We had been bowling together for probably five or six years by then. I thought it sounded like fun and asked where it was at – they said Syracuse, New York. The next question was how would we get there? One of the guys said we were going to drive. We left at 9:30 that night. We ended up making it to Syracuse and had a great time.
“Those guys still are my best friends. We still talk about that trip when we get together, and I bowl with a lot of the same guys at home. I started in junior leagues with a couple of them, so we’ve been bowling together for probably close to 60 years.”
The following year in Indianapolis, Kirshenbaum was able to cross with another group from Omaha – Olympia Beer – and have a front-row seat as they took the lead and eventually won the Regular Team title in 1974.
Olympia Beer had started slow in Indianapolis with 868 but turned things around with 1,147 and 1,171 to win the title with 3,186. The team featured Gary Wilson, Jim Rood, Bob Lane, Boyd Hayden and Tom Kelley Sr.
“When we were bowling, they had the stadium seats,” said Kirshenbaum, a member of the Greater Omaha Area USBC Hall of Fame. “Everybody was all spread out until it came down to the third game. Everyone had made their way behind our pair to watch. When they struck, everybody in the crowd would clap. That’s one of my best memories.”
Kirshenbaum has enjoyed the chance to travel and experience the host cities during his journey at the Open Championships, noting stops like Niagara Falls, New York, and Billings, Montana. Even a flat tire during his trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his son, Bradley, is something he looks back on while reflecting on his tournament career.
During his presentation Sunday, Kirshenbaum was elated to also share his moment alongside Bradley and his son-in-law, Tyler Hamik.
As much as his experience has been alongside friends at the Open Championships, the family support is equally important to him, and he’s also thankful to his wife, Linda, and daughter, Anna Hamik, for their continued encouragement.
When Kirshenbaum laced up his shoes to start Sunday for team competition, he showcased some of the skills that have helped him maintain a 192 career average at the tournament and win the 1989 Petersen Classic in Chicago.
After games of 216 and 161, he started his final game with seven strikes on the way to a 247 finish and 624 series.
“I had to make my adjustment because they broke down really bad after about the fifth frame,” Kirshenbaum said. “I just couldn’t get far enough left. All seven of them were really good strikes, and I really felt confident that I was going to go all the way. That’s the longest string I’ve ever had to start a game at nationals.”
Kirshenbaum added 511 in doubles and 495 in singles for a 1,630 all-events total to bring his career pinfall at the Open Championships to 86,719.
With his 50th appearance in the books, his next goal is to reach 60 years at the event and make a run at 100,000 pins.
One thing is for sure, though. He’ll continue his trek with family and friends by his side.
“It’s just unbelievable how fast 50 years can go,” Kirshenbaum said. “We look forward to it every year, and the friendships I’ve made over the years have just been wonderful.”
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.