Missouri bowler leads Classified Singles at 2026 Open Championships
June 10, 2026
RENO, Nev. – Robert “P-Wee” Henry of Rolla, Missouri, put together a memorable two-day stretch during his time competing at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in 2026 by securing the lead in Classified Singles and helping his team to third place in the Classified Division.
The 49-year-old right-hander took over the top spot in singles Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium, delivering games of 235, 212 and 235 for a 682 series. Kevin Taylor of Aberdeen, Maryland, had held the lead since April 15 with 675.
On Monday, Henry and his Striking Moments #6 teammates – Matthew Massa, Logan Brown, Tim Abotobik and Michael Brown Jr. – recorded games of 887, 915 and 844 for a 2,646 total at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins. League of Underperforming Bowlers 3 of Marlow, Oklahoma, lead Classified Team with 2,690.
Henry also moved into 16th place in Classified All-Events with a 1,710 total. He added sets of 546 in team and 482 in doubles to his leading singles score.
The team’s performance on Monday added some confidence for Henry heading into Tuesday’s session, but he admits it quickly wavered after a rough start in doubles. He credits his teammates for helping him get back on track.
“In all honesty, I’ve never been able to put games together here,” said Henry, who made his sixth appearance at the USBC Open Championships. “Yesterday, we were able to get out of the gate as a team pretty well and got comfortable, and the next thing you know, we’re at the end of the set and challenging for the lead. That built my confidence for today, and then I immediately lost it when I started with 130 in doubles.
“I got lined up again thanks to all these guys in our group. They’re all about patting you on the back when you’re down. They helped to keep my head in the game.”
Henry gave the nod to his group again after an early open in Game 3 of singles. He responded with four consecutive strikes.
“I had too much going on in my head (to start Game 3),” Henry said. “The first ball was decent, but in the next frame, I left something and missed the spare. I was overthinking it at that point. But, they kept me in it, and I started on another striking spree.
“Next thing I know, every shot mattered, and they were behind me.”
After a spare in the seventh frame, he added two more strikes to set the stage for an exciting run to the top of the standings.
Needing one more strike to start the 10th for the chance to secure the lead, Henry’s shot was left of target but was able to get all 10 pins to fall. He left a 3-10 split on his second delivery and converted the spare to close the set.
Henry experienced a range of emotions after leaving the 3-10. He wasn’t sure if he needed a second strike in the 10th to take the lead and initially thought his run was over.
His teammates made sure he knew he got the job done, though.
“When I threw that ball, I knew I missed inside,” Henry said. “I was hoping for it to turn over and get to the Brooklyn side. When it went through the nose and I saw the split, tears came to my eyes because I thought I needed that one to get there. I didn’t look up at the score, though, and they met me at the ball return and told me I did it.”
The group erupted after every strike down the stretch for Henry, and it’s easy to see his appreciation for everyone in the group.
“Scott Hampshire is the captain and puts all of this together,” Henry said. “I’m a retired military guy that showed up in St. Louis not knowing anybody. This group took me in as if I had been going forever. They’ve been there when I’ve shot scores in our home houses in St. Louis and also have been there when I throw gutter balls. I couldn’t have done it without them. It’s an individual award, but I take it as a team award.”
Now, Henry will have to wait and see if his score can hold until the end of the 2026 Open Championships.
“My phone keeps the hours of how long you’ve been on social media, and that will definitely go up from this point,” Henry said. “I haven’t had a lot of No. 1 accomplishments in my bowling career. If the first one would be an Eagle … oh my God. I don’t think I could tell you how excited I would be for that.”
The Classified Division features bowlers with entering averages of 160 and below.
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.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The 49-year-old right-hander took over the top spot in singles Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium, delivering games of 235, 212 and 235 for a 682 series. Kevin Taylor of Aberdeen, Maryland, had held the lead since April 15 with 675.
On Monday, Henry and his Striking Moments #6 teammates – Matthew Massa, Logan Brown, Tim Abotobik and Michael Brown Jr. – recorded games of 887, 915 and 844 for a 2,646 total at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins. League of Underperforming Bowlers 3 of Marlow, Oklahoma, lead Classified Team with 2,690.
Henry also moved into 16th place in Classified All-Events with a 1,710 total. He added sets of 546 in team and 482 in doubles to his leading singles score.
The team’s performance on Monday added some confidence for Henry heading into Tuesday’s session, but he admits it quickly wavered after a rough start in doubles. He credits his teammates for helping him get back on track.
“In all honesty, I’ve never been able to put games together here,” said Henry, who made his sixth appearance at the USBC Open Championships. “Yesterday, we were able to get out of the gate as a team pretty well and got comfortable, and the next thing you know, we’re at the end of the set and challenging for the lead. That built my confidence for today, and then I immediately lost it when I started with 130 in doubles.
“I got lined up again thanks to all these guys in our group. They’re all about patting you on the back when you’re down. They helped to keep my head in the game.”
Henry gave the nod to his group again after an early open in Game 3 of singles. He responded with four consecutive strikes.
“I had too much going on in my head (to start Game 3),” Henry said. “The first ball was decent, but in the next frame, I left something and missed the spare. I was overthinking it at that point. But, they kept me in it, and I started on another striking spree.
“Next thing I know, every shot mattered, and they were behind me.”
After a spare in the seventh frame, he added two more strikes to set the stage for an exciting run to the top of the standings.
Needing one more strike to start the 10th for the chance to secure the lead, Henry’s shot was left of target but was able to get all 10 pins to fall. He left a 3-10 split on his second delivery and converted the spare to close the set.
Henry experienced a range of emotions after leaving the 3-10. He wasn’t sure if he needed a second strike in the 10th to take the lead and initially thought his run was over.
His teammates made sure he knew he got the job done, though.
“When I threw that ball, I knew I missed inside,” Henry said. “I was hoping for it to turn over and get to the Brooklyn side. When it went through the nose and I saw the split, tears came to my eyes because I thought I needed that one to get there. I didn’t look up at the score, though, and they met me at the ball return and told me I did it.”
The group erupted after every strike down the stretch for Henry, and it’s easy to see his appreciation for everyone in the group.
“Scott Hampshire is the captain and puts all of this together,” Henry said. “I’m a retired military guy that showed up in St. Louis not knowing anybody. This group took me in as if I had been going forever. They’ve been there when I’ve shot scores in our home houses in St. Louis and also have been there when I throw gutter balls. I couldn’t have done it without them. It’s an individual award, but I take it as a team award.”
Now, Henry will have to wait and see if his score can hold until the end of the 2026 Open Championships.
“My phone keeps the hours of how long you’ve been on social media, and that will definitely go up from this point,” Henry said. “I haven’t had a lot of No. 1 accomplishments in my bowling career. If the first one would be an Eagle … oh my God. I don’t think I could tell you how excited I would be for that.”
The Classified Division features bowlers with entering averages of 160 and below.
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.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.