Oakleaf highlights exciting run at 2026 USBC Open Championships
April 05, 2026
RENO, Nev. – At just 21 years old, Robert Oakleaf Jr. of Louisville, Kentucky, showcased the ability to deliver in several must-strike situations to place his name in the record book at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships and secure the lead in two events at the 2026 edition of the tournament.
The powerful two-hander started his singles set Sunday at the National Bowling Stadium with 279 before achieving perfection in Game 2. His first five frames of Game 3, however, put him in a tough spot.
After a spare in the fifth, his margin for error was minimal with three items still up for grabs – an 800 series and the lead in Regular Singles and Regular All-Events.
He connected on the next four strikes to set the stage for the exciting final frame. Oakleaf needed the first hit to keep his hopes of the 800 and top spot in all-events in place. He needed the first two strikes for the chance to also take the outright lead in Regular Singles.
Oakleaf delivered all three strikes to close his game with the last seven, finishing with 237 for an 816 series. Adding in his 729 in doubles and 622 in team, he posted 2,167 for all-events.
Zachary Bogholtz of Nassau, New York, entered the day leading Regular Singles with 805. Jonathan Cherpeski of Fairborn, Ohio, was leading Regular All-Events with 2,149.
Watch the video below to learn more about Oakleaf’s run to 800 and a pair of leads in Reno.
Oakleaf traveled to The Biggest Little City in the World as part of a four-team group, and he wasn’t the only one to find success.
Paul Esten of Louisville, Kentucky, and Brian McMahon Jr. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, also rolled 300 games at the 2026 USBC Open Championships.
Esten, a 38-year-old right-hander, posted his perfect performance Saturday during team competition. He became the first bowler to deliver a 300 in team at the 2026 event.
After starting with 216, Esten connected for the next 12 to secure his honor score. He closed with 245 for a 761 series and joined Oakleaf in helping Enhancements #4 to a 3,224 total in the Regular Division. The group currently sits in sixth place.
Esten added 656 in doubles with Oakleaf to help the pair to a 1,385 total (currently in ninth) and closed his 2026 appearance with 620 in singles for a 2,037 total. Esten and Oakleaf also helped their squad to fifth in Team All-Events with 9,635.
Check out the video below to hear more from Esten.
McMahon was the first to make his move Sunday, kicking off doubles with 300. The 38-year-old right-hander added 223 and 232 for a 755 series, and he paired with Anthony Preston of Louisville, Kentucky, to post a combined score of 1,293.
He also had sets of 664 in team and 627 in singles to finish the year with an all-events score of 2,046.
Click on the video to catch up with McMahon after his 300 game at the National Bowling Stadium.
The four-team group also took over some additional spots in the top 10 over the weekend.
Enhancements #1 – featuring 2013 and 2015 Team All-Events champions Matthew Tuckfield, Jeffrey Mersch, Steve Novak and Erik Vermilyea and Casey Shephard – took over third place in Team All-Events (9,806) and fourth in Regular Team (3,257).
Mersch led the way with 2,101 and now sits in fourth for Regular All-Events. Daniel Farish is sixth with 2,096. Tuckfield (746 series) and Novak (656) moved into sixth in Regular Doubles with 1,402.
Ohio’s FOF/KPT leads Regular Team (3,365) and Team All-Events (10,120), while Arizona’s Josh Blanchard and Timothy Simonis hold the top spot in Regular Doubles with 1,436.
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The powerful two-hander started his singles set Sunday at the National Bowling Stadium with 279 before achieving perfection in Game 2. His first five frames of Game 3, however, put him in a tough spot.
After a spare in the fifth, his margin for error was minimal with three items still up for grabs – an 800 series and the lead in Regular Singles and Regular All-Events.
He connected on the next four strikes to set the stage for the exciting final frame. Oakleaf needed the first hit to keep his hopes of the 800 and top spot in all-events in place. He needed the first two strikes for the chance to also take the outright lead in Regular Singles.
Oakleaf delivered all three strikes to close his game with the last seven, finishing with 237 for an 816 series. Adding in his 729 in doubles and 622 in team, he posted 2,167 for all-events.
Zachary Bogholtz of Nassau, New York, entered the day leading Regular Singles with 805. Jonathan Cherpeski of Fairborn, Ohio, was leading Regular All-Events with 2,149.
Watch the video below to learn more about Oakleaf’s run to 800 and a pair of leads in Reno.
Oakleaf traveled to The Biggest Little City in the World as part of a four-team group, and he wasn’t the only one to find success.
Paul Esten of Louisville, Kentucky, and Brian McMahon Jr. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, also rolled 300 games at the 2026 USBC Open Championships.
Esten, a 38-year-old right-hander, posted his perfect performance Saturday during team competition. He became the first bowler to deliver a 300 in team at the 2026 event.
After starting with 216, Esten connected for the next 12 to secure his honor score. He closed with 245 for a 761 series and joined Oakleaf in helping Enhancements #4 to a 3,224 total in the Regular Division. The group currently sits in sixth place.
Esten added 656 in doubles with Oakleaf to help the pair to a 1,385 total (currently in ninth) and closed his 2026 appearance with 620 in singles for a 2,037 total. Esten and Oakleaf also helped their squad to fifth in Team All-Events with 9,635.
Check out the video below to hear more from Esten.
McMahon was the first to make his move Sunday, kicking off doubles with 300. The 38-year-old right-hander added 223 and 232 for a 755 series, and he paired with Anthony Preston of Louisville, Kentucky, to post a combined score of 1,293.
He also had sets of 664 in team and 627 in singles to finish the year with an all-events score of 2,046.
Click on the video to catch up with McMahon after his 300 game at the National Bowling Stadium.
The four-team group also took over some additional spots in the top 10 over the weekend.
Enhancements #1 – featuring 2013 and 2015 Team All-Events champions Matthew Tuckfield, Jeffrey Mersch, Steve Novak and Erik Vermilyea and Casey Shephard – took over third place in Team All-Events (9,806) and fourth in Regular Team (3,257).
Mersch led the way with 2,101 and now sits in fourth for Regular All-Events. Daniel Farish is sixth with 2,096. Tuckfield (746 series) and Novak (656) moved into sixth in Regular Doubles with 1,402.
Ohio’s FOF/KPT leads Regular Team (3,365) and Team All-Events (10,120), while Arizona’s Josh Blanchard and Timothy Simonis hold the top spot in Regular Doubles with 1,436.
The Open Championships is celebrating its 122nd edition in 2026 and making its 15th trip to Reno, Nevada. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 55,000 bowlers and 11,000 five-player teams competing across 128 consecutive days at the National Bowling Stadium.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.