Virginia bowler makes 50th consecutive appearance at Open Championships
March 22, 2024
LAS VEGAS – Thomas Knox of Leesburg, Virginia, joined the 50-Year Club at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The 73-year-old right-hander, known by most of his friends and family as Joey, was escorted by his son, David, and grandson, Shannon, as he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his consecutive years of participation at the tournament.
Knox began his career at the 1974 event in Indianapolis.
“I was feeling really good leading up to today, but I felt better once we walked down the approach to get my award,” said Knox, who was excited for the whole experience of his 50th year.
One of Knox’s favorite destinations through the years has been when the USBC Open Championships visits Reno, Nevada, as he enjoyed many of the things to do, including exploring around the downtown area and taking a trip to nearby Lake Tahoe.
Another location that he enjoyed visiting was Toledo, Ohio, in 1991. Knox rolled the highest set of his career that year at the Open Championships, finishing with an all-events score of 1,827.
“Toledo was the best I have ever bowled at the tournament, and I enjoyed the easy travel to Ohio being only a few states away in Virginia,” said Knox, who had scores of 642 in singles, 608 in team and 577 in doubles during his trip to Toledo.
Knox has enjoyed coming to the tournament all these years, and he plans to continue traveling to the tournament as long as his friends and family continue to join him.
“I am going to keep coming to the tournament as long as I can stay healthy and keep my bowlers coming with me each year,” Knox said. “We are signed up for Baton Rouge and looking forward to next year, since we will be closer to the east coast again.”
Knox closed out his 50th appearance with steady sets of 471 in singles, 464 in doubles and 461 in team for an all-events total of 1,396. He now has a career pinfall of 77,075 at the Open Championships for a career average of 172.4.
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 73-year-old right-hander, known by most of his friends and family as Joey, was escorted by his son, David, and grandson, Shannon, as he received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin to commemorate his consecutive years of participation at the tournament.
Knox began his career at the 1974 event in Indianapolis.
“I was feeling really good leading up to today, but I felt better once we walked down the approach to get my award,” said Knox, who was excited for the whole experience of his 50th year.
One of Knox’s favorite destinations through the years has been when the USBC Open Championships visits Reno, Nevada, as he enjoyed many of the things to do, including exploring around the downtown area and taking a trip to nearby Lake Tahoe.
Another location that he enjoyed visiting was Toledo, Ohio, in 1991. Knox rolled the highest set of his career that year at the Open Championships, finishing with an all-events score of 1,827.
“Toledo was the best I have ever bowled at the tournament, and I enjoyed the easy travel to Ohio being only a few states away in Virginia,” said Knox, who had scores of 642 in singles, 608 in team and 577 in doubles during his trip to Toledo.
Knox has enjoyed coming to the tournament all these years, and he plans to continue traveling to the tournament as long as his friends and family continue to join him.
“I am going to keep coming to the tournament as long as I can stay healthy and keep my bowlers coming with me each year,” Knox said. “We are signed up for Baton Rouge and looking forward to next year, since we will be closer to the east coast again.”
Knox closed out his 50th appearance with steady sets of 471 in singles, 464 in doubles and 461 in team for an all-events total of 1,396. He now has a career pinfall of 77,075 at the Open Championships for a career average of 172.4.
The 2024 Open Championships got underway Feb. 23 and will run through July 29 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. The tournament is scheduled to feature more than 11,000 teams and 55,000 bowlers making their way to compete in Las Vegas.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.