RENO, Nev. - When Jack Glick of Findlay, Ohio, made his United States Bowling Congress Open Championshipsdebut at the 1966 event in Rochester, New York, he thought it would be a one-time experience he and his friends could cross off their bucket lists.

Glick enjoyed the tournament atmosphere and tradition so much, he made it a point to return the next year and all but one year since.

The 72-year-old right-hander became a noteworthy part of USBC Open Championships history Monday when he made his 50th march down Center Aisle, reaching the milestone at the National Bowling Stadium, which happens to reside in his favorite host city.

"We I started this, we were just a few young kids from a six-lane house, who got invited along to check out the national tournament," said Glick, who received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate the milestone. "We enjoyed it quite a bit and all thought we could do better the next time, so we went again. There have been many changes over the years, but some of the main traditions are still great."

Each event and the variety of locations have provided Glick with a wealth of memories and stories that get told for years.

He vividly remembers getting detoured by an ice storm after competing at the 1999 tournament in Syracuse, New York, for example, and he now has a fresh new tale to share with his friends and family.

"I really didn't know what to expect today, and I was a little nervous," Glick said. "I don't like the limelight too much, but I really enjoyed it."

Glick was glad to be able to celebrate the milestone in Reno, which he enjoys because there's so many things to do. His list includes, but is not limited to, snow-related activities in the mountains or at Lake Tahoe, horseback riding, gaming or visiting one of the many historic cities nearby.

Another highlight of Glick's annual journey to the Open Championships is the camaraderie shared on the lanes.

Over the years, he's had a chance to share the experience with a variety of bowlers and even look on as they took their first wide-eyed trips down Center Aisle, but there also has been one main staple for Glick.

For much of the last four decades, Glick has been joined on the championship lanes by Roger Russell of Forest, Ohio, who made his 44th tournament appearance this week at the NBS.

The two have kept each other going, in a way, and even though they live close to each other, the only time they compete together is on the biggest stage in bowling.

"Roger has been with me the longest, and it would be really great to see him get to 50 because of all the effort he's put in over the years," Glick said. "This is about the only time we get together. We bowl in different houses and don't bowl league together, but this is something we always look forward to."

Glick was the second of 20 bowlers scheduled to reach 50 years of participation during the 2016 Open Championships.

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