Illinois bowler reaches major milestone at 2019 USBC Open Championships
May 05, 2019
By Matt Cannizzaro and David McCord
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Frank Clay of Crystal Lake, Illinois, made his United States Bowling Congress Open Championships debut at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he has competed in every tournament since.
This week, he added his name to the short list of bowlers who have made 65 appearances on the championship lanes. He was the 13th bowler in history to reach the milestone and fifth to do it consecutively.
Clay made his memorable march to the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Saturday and received a chevron, plaque and custom ring to commemorate the achievement.
William Doehrman (71), Bill Lillard Sr. (68), Jimmy Schroeder (68) and Judd Hall (65) are the other bowlers who competed 65 consecutive times.
"I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd get this far," said Clay, an 88-year-old right-hander. "I was happy when I got to 25 years, and then I got to 50, and I was like, 'wow!' To get to 65 years is simply amazing."
Making the night even more incredible was that Clay got to share the moment with his wife of 62 years, Janet, who escorted him to the lanes.
"She enjoys coming to the tournament, and we always have a lot of fun," Clay said.
Clay also is one of 22 members of the tournament's elite 100,000-Pin Club.
He entered the 2019 USBC Open Championships 16th on the all-time pinfall list and added sets of 454 in doubles, 418 in team and 392 in singles Saturday and Sunday for a 1,264 all-events total.
In 65 years on the biggest stage in bowling, Clay has knocked down 103,864 pins for a career average of 179.
His next goal is to reach 71 years of participation, a record shared by Doehrman, Joe Norris and Sylvester Thiel.
Doehrman, Norris, Lillard and Schroeder all are USBC Hall of Famers. Lillard, who made his final tournament appearance in 2015, owns the career pinfall record at the Open Championships with 124,087.
Clay is one of two bowlers scheduled to reach the 65-year plateau in Las Vegas in 2019. Clinton Zavakos of nearby Henderson, Nevada, will reach the milestone May 9.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - Frank Clay of Crystal Lake, Illinois, made his United States Bowling Congress Open Championships debut at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he has competed in every tournament since.
This week, he added his name to the short list of bowlers who have made 65 appearances on the championship lanes. He was the 13th bowler in history to reach the milestone and fifth to do it consecutively.
Clay made his memorable march to the lanes at the South Point Bowling Plaza on Saturday and received a chevron, plaque and custom ring to commemorate the achievement.
William Doehrman (71), Bill Lillard Sr. (68), Jimmy Schroeder (68) and Judd Hall (65) are the other bowlers who competed 65 consecutive times.
"I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd get this far," said Clay, an 88-year-old right-hander. "I was happy when I got to 25 years, and then I got to 50, and I was like, 'wow!' To get to 65 years is simply amazing."
Making the night even more incredible was that Clay got to share the moment with his wife of 62 years, Janet, who escorted him to the lanes.
"She enjoys coming to the tournament, and we always have a lot of fun," Clay said.
Clay also is one of 22 members of the tournament's elite 100,000-Pin Club.
He entered the 2019 USBC Open Championships 16th on the all-time pinfall list and added sets of 454 in doubles, 418 in team and 392 in singles Saturday and Sunday for a 1,264 all-events total.
In 65 years on the biggest stage in bowling, Clay has knocked down 103,864 pins for a career average of 179.
His next goal is to reach 71 years of participation, a record shared by Doehrman, Joe Norris and Sylvester Thiel.
Doehrman, Norris, Lillard and Schroeder all are USBC Hall of Famers. Lillard, who made his final tournament appearance in 2015, owns the career pinfall record at the Open Championships with 124,087.
Clay is one of two bowlers scheduled to reach the 65-year plateau in Las Vegas in 2019. Clinton Zavakos of nearby Henderson, Nevada, will reach the milestone May 9.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.