RENO, Nev. – Larry Strell of Eastlake, Ohio, reached a remarkable milestone at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Thursday as he made his 50th consecutive appearance, adding his name to the list of competitors in the 50-Year Club at the event.

Strell was joined by his wife, Judy, as he made his ceremonial walk down the center aisle at the National Bowling Stadium and was presented with a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his entrance into the select group.

The 72-year-old approached the milestone with a sense of appreciation rather than nerves.

“I’ve been doing it for so long, I really wasn’t nervous or anything about it,” said Strell, who made his tournament debut at the 1976 event in Oklahoma City. “I knew it was going to be a big deal, but I just took it in stride.”

The moment was amplified as Strell took the approach alongside Judy, who has been a central part of his journey in the sport.

“I met her through bowling,” Strell said. “Walking out there with her, it was like walking down the aisle again, just with different music.”

Over 50 years, Strell has experienced not only the competition, but also the travel and memories that come with competing in the tournament each year.

“I’ve been to a lot of places I would’ve never gone to if it wasn’t for this tournament,” Strell said. “The ABC and USBC have taken me to a lot of different cities and states.”

One of those stops that left a lasting impression was Billings, Montana, in 2002.

“It’s just a beautiful area,” Strell said. “It was never on my bucket list, but once we got there, it was a really nice city. We went out and saw Boot Hill and some of the history out there. We had a lot of fun.”

While the destinations have been memorable, it’s the moments shared with family that stand out the most.

“One of my favorite memories was in Reno when my son ended up bowling with me,” Strell said. “My partner got hurt, and my son had his ball with him just in case. He stepped in and bowled doubles, singles and team with me, and his first game was 200.”

Another memorable moment came when Judy was called upon to step in during competition.

“She had to bowl doubles with me one time when my partner got hurt,” Strell said. “Her first game was 200, too. After that, it got a little tougher, but that’s something I’ll always remember.”

Throughout his career at the Open Championships, Strell also has built lasting relationships with teammates, including one that has spanned more than four decades.

“I’ve been bowling with Bob Bures Sr. here for over 40 years,” Strell said. “We’ve had different guys come and go, but we’ve stayed together all that time.”

The group has seen its share of success, including a pair of strong finishes that still stand out.

“We had a couple of really good years where we finished fourth and fifth in team,” Strell said. “Those are definitely some of the highlights.”

As he reflected on his time at the tournament, Strell also has his eyes on what could be next. With 82,599 pins to his name at the Open Championships (career average of 189.8), he knows the next major milestone is within reach, though not guaranteed.

“I’d like to get to 100,000 pins, that’s the big one,” Strell said. “But, my skills are kind of diminishing. I’ve had back surgery, neck surgery, so I’m not as good as I once was but it’s still fun. You never know. I’m already looking forward to my 51st and will keep on bowling the Open as long as I am physically able to.”

Strell had sets of 592 in doubles, 554 in singles and 544 in team for an overall score of 1,690 in 2026.
 
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.

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