Michigan teammates celebrate milestones at 2019 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas
May 03, 2019
By Matt Cannizzaro and David McCord
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - May 1 always has been a special day for Ronald Miller of Mount Morris, Michigan.
It's the day he was born, and this year, he celebrated his 75th birthday on the lanes at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with another special milestone - his 50th appearance on the tournament lanes.
"We planned on coming to the tournament around my birthday this year to celebrate," said Miller, who made his USBC Open Championships debut at the 1968 event in Cincinnati. "We had a few bowlers missing at first, but we were able to put things together and ended up bringing three teams this year to come and celebrate the moment with us."
Since camaraderie is such a big part of the Open Championships experience, it was only fitting that Miller got to share his special day with his longtime friend and teammate, Michael Wiser of Grand Blanc, Michigan, who reached an even rarer milestone Wednesday by bowling in his 55th Open Championships.
"We've been friends for almost 50 years now," said Wiser, who made his Open Championships debut at the 1961 tournament in Detroit when he was just 17 years old. "We met at the bowling alley, have played golf together, and, for the last 10 years, we've bowled together at the Open Championships as well."
Miller received a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his 50th Open Championships, and Wiser received a chevron, plaque and engraved watch for his entrance into the 55-Year Club.
For both Miller and Wiser, the 2019 event at the South Point Bowling Plaza marked their fourth visits to Las Vegas.
In the tournament's first trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World in 1986, Miller's team ended up finishing in fifth place, his highest team finish in his 50 years of bowling in the tournament.
In this year's team event, the two helped Vincent Pattillo Team 1 of Flushing, Michigan, to games of 785, 841 and 954 for a 2,580 total. They competed in the Standard Division, which is led by Shawn Blanton Team 2 of Owensboro, Kentucky, with a 2,870 total.
Miller contributed a 526 series to the team effort Wednesday, while Wiser added 506. They were joined by Allan Cox (585), Michael Stewart (562) and Vincent Pattillo (401).
The group returned to the lanes at the Bowling Plaza for doubles and singles Thursday night to add to their career pinfall totals and continue their chase of the coveted 100,000-pin plateau. In 116 years of Open Championships history, only 22 bowlers have eclipsed the 100,000-pin mark.
Miller added sets of 512 in doubles and 483 in singles for a 1,521 all-events total this year in Las Vegas. In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 86,045 pins for a 191.2 career average.
Wiser finished with 525 in doubles and 423 in singles for a 1,454 all-events total, bringing his 55-year pinfall total to 89,007, a 182 average.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.
USBC Communications
LAS VEGAS - May 1 always has been a special day for Ronald Miller of Mount Morris, Michigan.
It's the day he was born, and this year, he celebrated his 75th birthday on the lanes at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with another special milestone - his 50th appearance on the tournament lanes.
"We planned on coming to the tournament around my birthday this year to celebrate," said Miller, who made his USBC Open Championships debut at the 1968 event in Cincinnati. "We had a few bowlers missing at first, but we were able to put things together and ended up bringing three teams this year to come and celebrate the moment with us."
Since camaraderie is such a big part of the Open Championships experience, it was only fitting that Miller got to share his special day with his longtime friend and teammate, Michael Wiser of Grand Blanc, Michigan, who reached an even rarer milestone Wednesday by bowling in his 55th Open Championships.
"We've been friends for almost 50 years now," said Wiser, who made his Open Championships debut at the 1961 tournament in Detroit when he was just 17 years old. "We met at the bowling alley, have played golf together, and, for the last 10 years, we've bowled together at the Open Championships as well."
Miller received a chevron, plaque and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his 50th Open Championships, and Wiser received a chevron, plaque and engraved watch for his entrance into the 55-Year Club.
For both Miller and Wiser, the 2019 event at the South Point Bowling Plaza marked their fourth visits to Las Vegas.
In the tournament's first trip to the Entertainment Capital of the World in 1986, Miller's team ended up finishing in fifth place, his highest team finish in his 50 years of bowling in the tournament.
In this year's team event, the two helped Vincent Pattillo Team 1 of Flushing, Michigan, to games of 785, 841 and 954 for a 2,580 total. They competed in the Standard Division, which is led by Shawn Blanton Team 2 of Owensboro, Kentucky, with a 2,870 total.
Miller contributed a 526 series to the team effort Wednesday, while Wiser added 506. They were joined by Allan Cox (585), Michael Stewart (562) and Vincent Pattillo (401).
The group returned to the lanes at the Bowling Plaza for doubles and singles Thursday night to add to their career pinfall totals and continue their chase of the coveted 100,000-pin plateau. In 116 years of Open Championships history, only 22 bowlers have eclipsed the 100,000-pin mark.
Miller added sets of 512 in doubles and 483 in singles for a 1,521 all-events total this year in Las Vegas. In 50 years on the championship lanes, he has knocked down 86,045 pins for a 191.2 career average.
Wiser finished with 525 in doubles and 423 in singles for a 1,454 all-events total, bringing his 55-year pinfall total to 89,007, a 182 average.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships Facebook page.