Illinois team cuts to the top of the leaderboard at 2023 Open Championships
March 09, 2023
Pictured above (from left): Andy Peckys, Rick Nowalany, Robert Nowalany, Derek Webb and Malcolm Peckys
RENO, Nev. – The members of Surgically Repaired of Darien, Illinois, operated their way to the top of the standings as the new Standard Team leaders at the 119th United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday after posting a score of 2,977 at the National Bowling Stadium.
The team used games of 994, 963 and 1,020 to surpass Silver Bullets Too of Beavercreek, Oregon. Silver Bullets Too had held the lead since the opening squad with a score of 2,853.
For the Surgically Repaired squad, their name really hits the nail on the head. The team is made up of brothers Andy (568 series) and Malcolm (635) Peckys, the father and son duo of Robert (573) and Rick (517) Nowalany and Derek Webb (684).
The team admitted to having more than their share of injuries over the years.
“Derek has like 21 screws in his back, and my dad, Robert, has had his neck fused as well as his hip and knee replaced in the past two years,” Rick Nowalany said. “Malcolm also hasn’t bowled since November due to a wrist injury. This was the first time he has bowled competitively since then.”
While the squad has lived up to its name, they also could have easily named this team as Family. The team has bowled in the USBC Open Championships together for 10 years, and they have also bowled together in league play at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois, for almost 30 years.
Rick Nowalany was all smiles when he said, “Malcolm and I have bowled together since we were 8 years old. Honestly, if I didn’t bowl with these guys each week, I am not sure I would bowl at all. This team is family.”
The teammates agreed that Wednesday was their best collective appearance as a group at the Open Championships, and now they have to see if their score can keep with the trend in the Standard Division since its debut in 2017.
Their score would have been enough to win in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2021 and 2022, their 2,977 total would have netted the team a top-five finish at the event.
“This was the best we’ve done here,” Rick Nowalany added. “It’s great to be in first place this early, but it would be much better to be in first at the end of July. We might take turns (watching the leaderboard). Someone Monday, someone Tuesday, and then when we are together on Wednesday.”
Webb jokingly chimed in, “If one of us looks and we fall to second, we’ll have a memorial and drink our sorrows away.”
This year’s Open Championships also was very special for Andy Peckys as he celebrated his 25th consecutive tournament appearance.
Rick Nowalany stated, “This was the perfect tournament for us to show out for Andy.”
Andy Peckys added, “After 25 years, I’m finally on the top of the leaderboard.”
Standard Team features bowlers with combined entering averages of 776-875.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The tournament’s official opening ceremony will take place Saturday, March 11 as more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers make their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
RENO, Nev. – The members of Surgically Repaired of Darien, Illinois, operated their way to the top of the standings as the new Standard Team leaders at the 119th United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday after posting a score of 2,977 at the National Bowling Stadium.
The team used games of 994, 963 and 1,020 to surpass Silver Bullets Too of Beavercreek, Oregon. Silver Bullets Too had held the lead since the opening squad with a score of 2,853.
For the Surgically Repaired squad, their name really hits the nail on the head. The team is made up of brothers Andy (568 series) and Malcolm (635) Peckys, the father and son duo of Robert (573) and Rick (517) Nowalany and Derek Webb (684).
The team admitted to having more than their share of injuries over the years.
“Derek has like 21 screws in his back, and my dad, Robert, has had his neck fused as well as his hip and knee replaced in the past two years,” Rick Nowalany said. “Malcolm also hasn’t bowled since November due to a wrist injury. This was the first time he has bowled competitively since then.”
While the squad has lived up to its name, they also could have easily named this team as Family. The team has bowled in the USBC Open Championships together for 10 years, and they have also bowled together in league play at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois, for almost 30 years.
Rick Nowalany was all smiles when he said, “Malcolm and I have bowled together since we were 8 years old. Honestly, if I didn’t bowl with these guys each week, I am not sure I would bowl at all. This team is family.”
The teammates agreed that Wednesday was their best collective appearance as a group at the Open Championships, and now they have to see if their score can keep with the trend in the Standard Division since its debut in 2017.
Their score would have been enough to win in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2021 and 2022, their 2,977 total would have netted the team a top-five finish at the event.
“This was the best we’ve done here,” Rick Nowalany added. “It’s great to be in first place this early, but it would be much better to be in first at the end of July. We might take turns (watching the leaderboard). Someone Monday, someone Tuesday, and then when we are together on Wednesday.”
Webb jokingly chimed in, “If one of us looks and we fall to second, we’ll have a memorial and drink our sorrows away.”
This year’s Open Championships also was very special for Andy Peckys as he celebrated his 25th consecutive tournament appearance.
Rick Nowalany stated, “This was the perfect tournament for us to show out for Andy.”
Andy Peckys added, “After 25 years, I’m finally on the top of the leaderboard.”
Standard Team features bowlers with combined entering averages of 776-875.
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The tournament’s official opening ceremony will take place Saturday, March 11 as more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers make their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.