RENO, Nev. – The 122nd edition of the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships came to a close July 19 at the National Bowling Stadium and welcomed more than 55,000 competitors in 2026.

The tournament made its 15th trip to Reno and 12th visit to the Taj Mahal of Tenpins. The 2026 event got underway March 14 and ran for 128 consecutive days. A total of 11,058 five-player teams registered for the event.

This year’s event also featured the largest team count in Reno since 2011 and nearly 1,500 more teams compared to the tournament’s last visit to the NBS in 2023.

Reno’s premier resort casinos – Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus (Caesars Entertainment) – served as the presenting sponsors and hosting hotels for the 2026 tournament.

Bowlers took part in team, doubles and singles competition across three average-based divisions (Regular, Standard, Classified) and used their nine-game totals to determine the top spot in all-events. Teams also used their combined all-events scores across 45 total games to see which group would earn the Team All-Events title in 2026.

All standings are unofficial and pending final verification.

A record score sits at the top of the standings in Regular Doubles courtesy of Dean Distin of Phoenix, New York, and Michael Tryniski of Fulton, New York. The pair combined for a 1,567 total on April 17 to break the previous record by a single pin.

Brenda and Stephen Padilla of Mansfield, Texas, won the title in 2009 with a score of 1,566.

Distin led the way with games of 279, 268 and 245 for a 792 series at the NBS, while Tryniski posted 249, 226 and 300 for 775. The perfect showing in Game 3 for Tryniski also marked his second 300 at the USBC Open Championships (1993 – doubles).

The performance also places the longtime teammates in position to claim several additional records.

Distin and Tryniski won Regular Doubles and Team All-Events at the 1994 event in Mobile, Alabama. While several competitors in the storied history of the Open Championships have won multiple titles in doubles, Distin and Tryniski would be the first pair to record multiple wins as doubles partners.

“It’s still hard to believe even though it’s over to be honest with you – it’s something we’ll remember for a long time for sure, and it’s crazy at our age to experience something like that again,” said Tryniski, a 65-year-old right-hander who made his 38th tournament appearance in 2026. “It’s been awesome to share the lanes with Dean for 30-plus years, and we’ve been fortunate enough to share a lot of wins. But, to do what we did and set a record and win at our age is something really, really special. I think we’ll savor this win for a little bit.”

In addition, the teammates would cover a longevity mark by claiming their third Eagles in 2026. More than 32 years and 11,700 days have passed since the final ball was rolled at the 1994 event when they recorded their first wins at the tournament.

“The last couple of months have been a little nerve-racking with all the updates and good scores going on, but it’s a pleasure to see it come to an end,” said Distin, a 59-year-old right-hander who also made his 38th appearance. “It’s been a long road for us. You begin to think that some of your better days are behind you, but this really boosted morale and makes you think you have a little bit left in the tank. It’s kind of a resurgence for us, and it feels pretty good.”

Three of the five members of Higgy’s Aquarium are looking to hoist a fourth Eagle at the Open Championships after a thrilling performance in Team All-Events across June 18-19.

The talented crew – featuring Chad Roberts, Timothy Pfeifer, Christopher Bardol, Joe Bailey and Daniel Higgins Jr. in 2026 – moved into second place in Regular Team to start their run toward the top score in Team All-Events, posting 3,501.

They added 3,504 in doubles and 3,447 in singles the following day to finish with a 10,452 total, which ranks third on the tournament’s all-time list across 45 games.

Bardol led the team in 2026 with a 2,170 total and was followed by Higgins (2,101), Roberts (2,097), Pfeifer (2,065) and Bailey (2,019).

The core of Higgy’s Aquarium – Bailey, Higgins and Roberts – previously recorded wins in Team All-Events in 2016 and 2024 and took home the title in Regular Team in 2019. Pfeifer claimed his first Eagle as part of the team’s performance in 2024, while Bardol joined the group for the first time in 2026 and is in position to secure his first victory at the event.

“It’s crazy to even think about,” Higgins said. “Team All-Events is the hardest one to win, and we’ve been able to do it three times – that’s mind-blowing to me. It’s just amazing how well we work and communicate together. It’s not just during the two days but all the days leading up and preparing for it.

“They’re hard to get, and every time you get one is a blessing. Now to have three of those along with our team win … I never thought I’d see that come. We thought we could win, but I never thought I’d see this many. It’s been a fun ride, and I’ve been very fortunate to have great teammates. It’s even better that I can call them my great friends.”

Outside of Regular Doubles and Team All-Events, all of the competitors at the top of the standings are in position to record their first victory at the Open Championships.

The top score in Regular Team belonged to the members of Taylor’s Mark Pro Shop 1 of Raleigh, North Carolina. The group rolled games of 1,146, 1,175 and 1,192 at the National Bowling Stadium on May 28 to finish with a 3,513 total.

The effort was led by the 767 series of Carl Zbranak, and he was joined in Reno by Anthony Locke (724), Matt Taylor (708), Tyler Howard (681) and Shane Phelps (633).

“This is a pretty surreal moment for sure,” Taylor said. “When we left Reno, we were up about 100 pins on second place but knew there were a ton of great teams left to bowl with two months to go in the tournament. Every shot in our 10th frame mattered, and second place ended up just 12 pins behind us. It was very nerve-racking, but it ended up working out in our favor.

“It’s amazing to share it with these four guys. We all have a great relationship and great communication, and it means the world to do this as a team. Team bowling is definitely the most exciting and fun to be part of, and being able to do this with four guys I’ve known for a long time is pretty special.”

Junior Team USA’s Jacob Bockstie of Nottingham, Maryland, posted the big number in Regular All-Events in 2026, finishing with a 2,277 total across his nine games June 11-12.

The 19-year-old two-hander recorded sets of 784 in doubles (including a 300 game), 757 in singles and 736 in team to average 253 for his appearance. Bockstie’s performance also featured 90 clean frames.

His final score ranks fifth in tournament history.

“We were all kind of waiting it out and watching the scores the last month – it was pretty nerve-racking,” Bockstie said. “Regardless of whether someone passed it or not, I was pretty excited with the score I posted, so that made it a little bit easier throughout the wait. With the number of bowlers that went out there, it’s pretty cool to know that I finished at the top. It means the world that I was able to go out there with my dad and the rest of the group and bring home the title.”

Three-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Michigan, led the way in Regular Singles with an 836 series.

Smallwood rolled games of 290, 267 and 279 on May 25 to secure the top spot.

“With 55,000 bowlers out there, getting one is so hard to do and something you dream about doing,” Smallwood said. “It’s hard to get all the strikes together at the right time and in the right event. I was fortunate enough to string a bunch of strikes together at the right time this year.”

Big scores also were prevalent in the Standard Division at the 2026 event as record numbers were posted in team, singles and all-events. The Standard Division was introduced at the 2017 tournament.

In Standard Team, the members of Expensive Practice representing Albuquerque, New Mexico, put together scores of 962, 1,157 and 1,077 on April 20 to finish at the top of the leaderboard with a 3,196 total at the NBS.

Brian Skidmore led the charge to the lead with a 696 series, and he was joined in Reno by Jason Silva (641), Eric Espinda Sr. (629), Walter Espinda (619) and David Williamson (611).

Michael Hunter of Liverpool, New York, held on to the top spot in Standard Singles by a single pin after posting a 768 series.

Hunter rolled games of 258, 244 and 266 on May 1.

Getting stronger set by set, Joshua Langholdt of Charter Oak, Iowa, placed his name at the top of the standings in Standard All-Events on May 6-7 with a 2,028 total.

After starting his 2026 appearance with 648 in team, Langholdt added 674 in doubles and closed with 706 in singles to outdistance the field.

A father-and-son pairing posted the top score in Standard Doubles on May 3.

David Szynal and Grant Szynal of Isanti, Minnesota, took over the lead with a combined tally of 1,318. David led the way with games of 209, 244 and 223 for a 676 series, while Grant had 211, 229 and 202 in the performance for a 642 set.

In the Classified Division, Robert “P-Wee” Henry of Rolla, Missouri, achieved the highest score in the singles event since 2011 to finish the year in the top spot.

Henry connected for games of 235, 212 and 235 on June 9 in Reno to record a 682 series.

Jay Good of Kyle, Texas, and Javier Juarez of San Marcos, Texas, put together a 1,202 score in Classified Doubles on May 16 to lead the division in 2026.

Good started the set with eight strikes on the way to a 265 game and followed with 205 and 257 for a 727 series. Juarez added games of 148, 139 and 188 for 475.

In Classified Team, the members of League of Underperforming Bowlers 3 representing Marlow, Oklahoma, performed admirably to record the top score with a 2,690 total.

The team – featuring Jessie Pierson, Jerry Anderson, Jana Anderson, Rob Pierson and Joey Gunwall – had games of 824, 921 and 945 on April 23 at the Taj Mahal of Tenpins to set the pace.

Jerry Anderson had the top individual score for the team, finishing with a 592 series. He was followed by Gunwall (582), Rob Pierson (569), Jana Anderson (500) and Jessie Pierson (447).

Michael Cagle of Huntsville, Alabama, was the only bowler in the Classified Division to average more than 200 across all nine games in 2026 to lead the way in all-events with a total of 1,817.

Cagle delivered sets of 658 in doubles, 581 in singles and 578 in team on June 24-25 to record the top score.

The 2026 Open Championships included 43 perfect games and 11 800s. Smallwood’s performance in singles marked the top three-game score at the NBS.

Along with the big numbers and honor scores, Dale Diamond of Chatham, Illinois, joined one of the tournament’s most prestigious groups in 2026. Diamond became the 32nd bowler to reach 100,000 pins at the Open Championships and received a crystal pin to commemorate the achievement.

Diamond rolled a strike during his eighth frame of team competition on April 11 to secure the accolade and now has knocked down 101,224 pins across 62 appearances for a career average at the tournament of 181.4.

Participation milestones also highlighted the 2026 event. Clinton Zavakos of Henderson, Nevada, made his 71st consecutive appearance at the tournament to move into a tie for second on the event’s all-time participation list.

USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Glenn Allison holds the record with 72 appearances.

The 60-Year Club also welcomed a new member in 2026 as Fred Gordon of Cumberland Foreside, Maine, became the 37th bowler to reach six decades at the event. A total of 35 competitors made their 50th appearance in Reno, too, bringing the overall number to 420 bowlers.

The Open Championships will head to Las Vegas and the South Point Bowling Plaza in 2027 and is scheduled to run from Feb. 27-July 25.

Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.