New Hampshire bowler competes in 50th consecutive Open Championships
April 26, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – Paul Hagman of Hudson, New Hampshire, was greeted with many cheers at the Raising Cane’s River Center on Tuesday after making his 50th appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
“Getting high-fives and cheers from the group I bowl with made me really feel important and special for my 50th year,” Hagman said. “The nerves that came along with the march out got to me a little bit after keeping myself as calm and composed as possible leading up to today, but I felt really good.”
The 77-year-old right-hander was accompanied by his son, James, for his march out to the lanes to receive his chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin.
Hagman started his journey at the Open Championships by making his first appearance at the 1975 event in Dayton, Ohio, and he has been to every tournament since his debut.
“The best year I ever had was at the event in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1980,” Hagman said. “My buddy and I went to a revival meeting in town and had a few drinks. After a few drinks, my swing seemed to get a little freer compared to usual, and I felt really relaxed at that tournament.”
Getting to his 50th year at the Open Championships was not an easy journey for Hagman, since he has been battling some health issues leading up to the event.
“I went in for a routine checkup one day in December, and out of the blue, I was told I have cancer,” Hagman said. “After getting some treatments, nothing has changed with my situation, so I have decided to stop treatments and let whatever happens happen the rest of my life. I don’t feel sick or unhealthy, so I just plan to keep on living life and bowling as much as I can.”
Hagman has enjoyed his years at the Open Championships and has many memories with his teammates and family.
“I could tell a story for every year I bowled, but getting to bowl with my wife, Lori, before she got sick and now my son, Jimmy, means the most to me,” Hagman said. “So, that has kept me going here, as my ability to bowl at the highest caliber has slowly dwindled over the years.”
Hagman only bowled in the team event this year, rolling a 365 series to finish out his 50th appearance, bringing his lifetime pinfall at the tournament to 73,840 (166.3 career average).
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.
“Getting high-fives and cheers from the group I bowl with made me really feel important and special for my 50th year,” Hagman said. “The nerves that came along with the march out got to me a little bit after keeping myself as calm and composed as possible leading up to today, but I felt really good.”
The 77-year-old right-hander was accompanied by his son, James, for his march out to the lanes to receive his chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin.
Hagman started his journey at the Open Championships by making his first appearance at the 1975 event in Dayton, Ohio, and he has been to every tournament since his debut.
“The best year I ever had was at the event in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1980,” Hagman said. “My buddy and I went to a revival meeting in town and had a few drinks. After a few drinks, my swing seemed to get a little freer compared to usual, and I felt really relaxed at that tournament.”
Getting to his 50th year at the Open Championships was not an easy journey for Hagman, since he has been battling some health issues leading up to the event.
“I went in for a routine checkup one day in December, and out of the blue, I was told I have cancer,” Hagman said. “After getting some treatments, nothing has changed with my situation, so I have decided to stop treatments and let whatever happens happen the rest of my life. I don’t feel sick or unhealthy, so I just plan to keep on living life and bowling as much as I can.”
Hagman has enjoyed his years at the Open Championships and has many memories with his teammates and family.
“I could tell a story for every year I bowled, but getting to bowl with my wife, Lori, before she got sick and now my son, Jimmy, means the most to me,” Hagman said. “So, that has kept me going here, as my ability to bowl at the highest caliber has slowly dwindled over the years.”
Hagman only bowled in the team event this year, rolling a 365 series to finish out his 50th appearance, bringing his lifetime pinfall at the tournament to 73,840 (166.3 career average).
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.