Iowa bowler returns to USBC Open Championships for 50th appearance
May 05, 2023
RENO, Nev. – Bruce Pals of Waterloo, Iowa, had his moment in the spotlight Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium as he made his 50th appearance at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
The 83-year-old was happily escorted by his wife, Charlotte (Charli), to receive his chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin for his milestone.
“I’m really happy my wife was there to share this moment with me,” said Pals, who mentioned that Charli has only missed two out of the 50 years he has been attending the USBC Open Championships. “Charli has been a real big support of my bowling, and I’ll never be able to thank her enough for all these years. Without Charli’s support, I am not sure I would have been able to make it to see this day.”
Throughout his 50 years of participation, Pals has enjoyed all the different destinations he has been able to visit because of the tournament. He also reminisced about bowling with many friends when he started his journey who are no longer with us.
“I don’t specifically have a place that I liked more than another, but I did enjoyed when the tournament traveled,” said Pals, who made his debut at the 1969 Open Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. “My best series came in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so I guess you can say that I really enjoyed that year.
“I do wish some of the guys I originally bowled with my first few years were here to see this. Unfortunately, many of those friends have passed on, and I have been bowling with the current group now for a few years.”
Pals’ top performance was in 1993 in Tulsa, where he rolled sets of 716 in singles, 691 in doubles and 650 in team for an all-events score of 2,057.
“I haven’t been able to put a score up like that since, but it was fun to do that with all my bowling friends there with me.”
Pals finished up his 2023 appearance with a 1,430 all-events total, with scores of 520 in team, 473 in doubles and 437 in singles. It puts him at a career pinfall total of 82,258 to bring his career average at the Open Championships to 182.7.
With the 2023 event in his rearview mirror, Pals says he plans to continue coming to the event as long as his health remains in good shape.
“I didn’t plan on bowling anymore after I got to 50, but I know I’m going to get the itch around this time next year,” Pals said. “I would say to plan on seeing me here next year.”
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 83-year-old was happily escorted by his wife, Charlotte (Charli), to receive his chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin for his milestone.
“I’m really happy my wife was there to share this moment with me,” said Pals, who mentioned that Charli has only missed two out of the 50 years he has been attending the USBC Open Championships. “Charli has been a real big support of my bowling, and I’ll never be able to thank her enough for all these years. Without Charli’s support, I am not sure I would have been able to make it to see this day.”
Throughout his 50 years of participation, Pals has enjoyed all the different destinations he has been able to visit because of the tournament. He also reminisced about bowling with many friends when he started his journey who are no longer with us.
“I don’t specifically have a place that I liked more than another, but I did enjoyed when the tournament traveled,” said Pals, who made his debut at the 1969 Open Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. “My best series came in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so I guess you can say that I really enjoyed that year.
“I do wish some of the guys I originally bowled with my first few years were here to see this. Unfortunately, many of those friends have passed on, and I have been bowling with the current group now for a few years.”
Pals’ top performance was in 1993 in Tulsa, where he rolled sets of 716 in singles, 691 in doubles and 650 in team for an all-events score of 2,057.
“I haven’t been able to put a score up like that since, but it was fun to do that with all my bowling friends there with me.”
Pals finished up his 2023 appearance with a 1,430 all-events total, with scores of 520 in team, 473 in doubles and 437 in singles. It puts him at a career pinfall total of 82,258 to bring his career average at the Open Championships to 182.7.
With the 2023 event in his rearview mirror, Pals says he plans to continue coming to the event as long as his health remains in good shape.
“I didn’t plan on bowling anymore after I got to 50, but I know I’m going to get the itch around this time next year,” Pals said. “I would say to plan on seeing me here next year.”
The 2023 Open Championships kicked off March 4 and will conclude July 24. The 143-day tournament will feature more than 9,700 five-player teams and nearly 50,000 bowlers making their way to compete in The Biggest Little City in the World.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.