LAS VEGAS - Ron Ramza of Streator, Illinois, became the first bowler to hit a participation milestone at the 2017 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as he made his 50th consecutive appearance at the event.

The 71-year-old right-hander began his tournament career at the 1968 event in Cincinnati, and he was welcomed into the 50-Year Club on Saturday with family and friends cheering him on at the South Point Bowling Plaza. Ramza received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the achievement.

Saturday's celebration included an emotional speech on the championship lanes from Ramza, who enjoyed the opportunity to see his family come together for the moment.

"Today will stick out in my mind for many reasons, and I'm happy that my three sons were able to join me," Ramza said. "They're older and have families of their own. They live in Florida, Boston and Idaho, so to get the guys together to spend today with me was a very happy occasion."

Ramza got his start at the USBC Open Championships after being asked to join a group from a local league, and his dedication to the sport made it easy to work the event into his annual schedule.

He's enjoyed having the chance to travel and see the country throughout this tournament career, and Ramza's appearance at the 1971 event in Detroit registers as one of his favorite moments on the lanes.

"When the guys asked me to bowl, I jumped at the opportunity," said Ramza, a member of the Streator Major USBC Bowling Association Hall of Fame. "In 1971, I shot my first 1,800 for all-events, and I did it with a black Manhattan Rubber bowling ball. Bowling is something I'm passionate about, and I've always loved it."

Ramza worked as a bowling proprietor for 27 years and gave his time and service on both the local and state levels, and he still is on the Illinois USBC Youth Association's Board of Directors.

In 2011, Ramza was recognized for his work as the proprietor at Streator's Bowl-Mor Lanes by being named the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association Proprietor of the Year.

Ramza has battled several health issues in order to keep his consecutive streak intact, most notably at the 2012 event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

"I bowled the last squad on the last day in Baton Rouge to keep my string alive," Ramza said. "I was fighting cancer, and I wasn't sure the doctors were going to let me fly, so I bundled up and my wife drove us to Baton Rouge from Illinois."

With his milestone appearance in the books, Ramza reflected on a lifetime of memories brought to him from the Open Championships.

"My first trip on a commercial airliner was when we flew to Long Beach in 1972," Ramza said. "Throughout the years, many things have happened, but they've all been good. I've always enjoyed getting the guys together and bowling. This was just something that we continued to do. I'm so thankful and grateful to be here, and I look forward to keep putting along and make Syracuse next year."

In his 50th appearance, Ramza rolled sets of 471 in team, 459 in doubles and 401 in singles for a 1,331 all-events total. Over the course of his career, he's knocked over 80,950 pins for a lifetime average of 182.3.

In total, 23 bowlers are scheduled to celebrate their 50th tournament appearances in 2017.

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