Zavakos celebrates 70 years of participation at Open Championships
July 23, 2025

BATON ROUGE, La. – Clinton Zavakos of Henderson, Nevada, joined an elite group of competitors at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships with his appearance at the 2025 event, as he participated in the tournament for the 70th consecutive time.
The 88-year-old right-hander became just the fifth bowler in tournament history to celebrate 70 years of participation. He received a plaque, chevron and custom trophy at the Raising Cane’s River Center to commemorate the rare milestone.
Zavakos joined USBC Hall of Famers Glenn Allison (72 appearances), Bill Doehrman (71 appearances) and Joe Norris (71 appearances), along with Sylvester Thiel (71 appearances) with 70 years at the USBC Open Championships.
He also joined Doehrman in reaching the milestone in consecutive appearances.
“I got emotional when I was presented with that award for 70 years,” said Zavakos, who made his tournament debut at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the age of 18. “It felt like all 70 years of bowling and coming to this tournament flashed before my eyes tonight, and I am really blessed to be able to see this day.”
Zavakos recalls traveling across the country throughout his time at the Open Championships, competing in 37 cities and 22 states along the way, and the many changes the tournament has experienced over the years.
“I have been around quite a while experiencing a lot of things at this tournament, including the manual scoreboards and transition to automatic pinsetters,” Zavakos said. “I have had my fair share of good moments and scores at the tournament, but having the support of my father in the early years, and then continuing to bowl with some great people, is what has made this journey special.”
In addition to being a member of the 70-Year and 100,000-Pin Clubs at the Open Championships (he earned his crystal pin during the 2015 event in El Paso, Texas), Zavakos also is the son of a past tournament champion. His father – Tom Zavakos – was part of the Regular Team champion at the 1932 event held in Detroit.
“My father was a great bowler himself and got me started here at the tournament,” Zavakos said. “I just wish he was able to see me here today at 70 years – he would have been so proud of me.”
Zavakos also has no plans of stopping now, and he has the tournament’s participation record in sight.
“I have my heart set on getting past 72 years to get the record and am determined to get there,” Zavakos said. “I just need to get my health in order, and I want to be able to walk again this time next year.”
In 2025, Zavakos only competed in the team event and raised his career pinfall to 107,064 for a lifetime average of 179.3.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
The 88-year-old right-hander became just the fifth bowler in tournament history to celebrate 70 years of participation. He received a plaque, chevron and custom trophy at the Raising Cane’s River Center to commemorate the rare milestone.
Zavakos joined USBC Hall of Famers Glenn Allison (72 appearances), Bill Doehrman (71 appearances) and Joe Norris (71 appearances), along with Sylvester Thiel (71 appearances) with 70 years at the USBC Open Championships.
He also joined Doehrman in reaching the milestone in consecutive appearances.
“I got emotional when I was presented with that award for 70 years,” said Zavakos, who made his tournament debut at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the age of 18. “It felt like all 70 years of bowling and coming to this tournament flashed before my eyes tonight, and I am really blessed to be able to see this day.”
Zavakos recalls traveling across the country throughout his time at the Open Championships, competing in 37 cities and 22 states along the way, and the many changes the tournament has experienced over the years.

In addition to being a member of the 70-Year and 100,000-Pin Clubs at the Open Championships (he earned his crystal pin during the 2015 event in El Paso, Texas), Zavakos also is the son of a past tournament champion. His father – Tom Zavakos – was part of the Regular Team champion at the 1932 event held in Detroit.
“My father was a great bowler himself and got me started here at the tournament,” Zavakos said. “I just wish he was able to see me here today at 70 years – he would have been so proud of me.”
Zavakos also has no plans of stopping now, and he has the tournament’s participation record in sight.
“I have my heart set on getting past 72 years to get the record and am determined to get there,” Zavakos said. “I just need to get my health in order, and I want to be able to walk again this time next year.”
In 2025, Zavakos only competed in the team event and raised his career pinfall to 107,064 for a lifetime average of 179.3.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.