Missouri bowler adds to family legacy at USBC Open Championships
July 16, 2025
Randy Wiemer at the 2025 USBC Open Championships
BATON ROUGE, La. – Participation milestones are certainly one of the most important things to celebrate at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. Getting to reach the next level at the tournament is a big accomplishment for all.
Randy Wiemer of Columbia, Missouri, recently celebrated 50 consecutive years of participation at the tournament, joining his father, Roger Wiemer, and brother, Steve Wiemer, in the elite club.
He was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin at the Raising Cane’s River Center to recognize his milestone appearance.
“Just have to keep showing up,” is what Wiemer said when he discussed what it meant to get to this milestone.
Wiemer started his journey at the tournament in 1975 at the age of 16, when the event was being held in Dayton, Ohio.
“I had to wait until I was 16 to bowl the tournament,” Wiemer said. “Our dad wanted us to wait until we were 16, so I followed my brother by two years.”
Wiemer’s milestone was special for the family, as he followed behind his father, who reached 50 years in 2009, and brother, who reached 50 consecutive years in 2023.
Roger, who passed away in 2010, started his journey at the Open Championships at the 1949 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and made 51 tournament appearances. Steve, the owner of a 300 game in doubles during the 2022 event, made his tournament debut at the 1973 event in Syracuse, New York, and now has 52 consecutive appearances after bowling this year in Baton Rouge.
Roger Wiemer at the 2009 USBC Open Championships
It was a memorable trip for Wiemer because his family was able to join him for his 50th appearance, including his wife, son and daughter, along with their spouses, as well as Steve and his spouse. Wiemer said, “It felt really good to have everyone here.”
When Wiemer talked about his most memorable appearances over the 50 years, his trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1993 stands out. He had his best all-events score that year – 2,120. After starting his team event with a 604 series, he followed with sets of 762 in doubles and 754 in singles.
He also noted visits to Niagara Falls, New York, and Tampa, Florida, that stood out during his road to 50 years.
Wiemer may have No. 50 in the books, but he is far from being done.
“I am one of the younger gentlemen to hit 50 years for being 66 years old,” Wiemer said.
For his next goal he’d like to hit 60 years, but in the meantime, participation and pinfall has become a friendly family competition between Randy and Steve.
“Now it’s just a contest on who can last the longest in competition, and who can get the closest to 100,000 pins,” Wiemer said.
With their 2025 appearances complete, Steve currently holds the edge with 90,071 pins (192.4 average). Randy sits at a pinfall of 89,036, putting him at a 197.8 career average.
Roger had 87,606 pins across his 51 appearances for a 195.9 career average.
Steve Wiemer at the 2023 USBC Open Championships
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.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Participation milestones are certainly one of the most important things to celebrate at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships. Getting to reach the next level at the tournament is a big accomplishment for all.
Randy Wiemer of Columbia, Missouri, recently celebrated 50 consecutive years of participation at the tournament, joining his father, Roger Wiemer, and brother, Steve Wiemer, in the elite club.
He was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin at the Raising Cane’s River Center to recognize his milestone appearance.
“Just have to keep showing up,” is what Wiemer said when he discussed what it meant to get to this milestone.
Wiemer started his journey at the tournament in 1975 at the age of 16, when the event was being held in Dayton, Ohio.
“I had to wait until I was 16 to bowl the tournament,” Wiemer said. “Our dad wanted us to wait until we were 16, so I followed my brother by two years.”
Wiemer’s milestone was special for the family, as he followed behind his father, who reached 50 years in 2009, and brother, who reached 50 consecutive years in 2023.
Roger, who passed away in 2010, started his journey at the Open Championships at the 1949 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and made 51 tournament appearances. Steve, the owner of a 300 game in doubles during the 2022 event, made his tournament debut at the 1973 event in Syracuse, New York, and now has 52 consecutive appearances after bowling this year in Baton Rouge.
Roger Wiemer at the 2009 USBC Open Championships
It was a memorable trip for Wiemer because his family was able to join him for his 50th appearance, including his wife, son and daughter, along with their spouses, as well as Steve and his spouse. Wiemer said, “It felt really good to have everyone here.”
When Wiemer talked about his most memorable appearances over the 50 years, his trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1993 stands out. He had his best all-events score that year – 2,120. After starting his team event with a 604 series, he followed with sets of 762 in doubles and 754 in singles.
He also noted visits to Niagara Falls, New York, and Tampa, Florida, that stood out during his road to 50 years.
Wiemer may have No. 50 in the books, but he is far from being done.
“I am one of the younger gentlemen to hit 50 years for being 66 years old,” Wiemer said.
For his next goal he’d like to hit 60 years, but in the meantime, participation and pinfall has become a friendly family competition between Randy and Steve.
“Now it’s just a contest on who can last the longest in competition, and who can get the closest to 100,000 pins,” Wiemer said.
With their 2025 appearances complete, Steve currently holds the edge with 90,071 pins (192.4 average). Randy sits at a pinfall of 89,036, putting him at a 197.8 career average.
Roger had 87,606 pins across his 51 appearances for a 195.9 career average.
Steve Wiemer at the 2023 USBC Open Championships
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.