USBC MEDIA RELATIONS

LAS VEGAS — Raymond Sellers of Austin, Minn., started bowling more than five decades ago, but it took him five years of hard work and practice before he felt he was good enough to compete in the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

In 1959, when he finally felt he was ready, Sellers traveled to St. Louis for his USBC Open Championships debut and immediately was hooked. The 82-year-old right-hander has been to all but one tournament since and made his 50th tournament appearance Tuesday at Cashman Center.

“I was so nervous, and I didn’t realize how tough it was going to be,” Sellers said. “But I stuck with it, and after my 40th tournament, I said I hoped to make it to the 50th.”

Even at 82, bowling is still one of the most important things in his life, and Sellers passed his love for bowling on to his children and grandchildren. This year, two of his sons, Tim and Kevin, were part of his Echo Lanes “A” team, while his grandson, Matt, bowled with another team. Tim competed for the 28th consecutive year, while Kevin made his 25th tournament appearance. Matt made the trip for the fourth time.

“I told my wife before we got married that bowling was a priority in my life,” Sellers said. “But it has always been a family thing, and I like that they are doing this, too. When kids are young, bowling can make them stay out of trouble.”

Sellers’ participation in the Open Championships was nearly consecutive, but he missed the 1963 tournament due to a delay in the submission of his team’s entry. The group was then unable to attend the tournament, which was held in Buffalo, N.Y.

However, that missing year didn’t discourage Sellers from bowling, and as the years went by, he still made the time to travel to the Open Championships. And while he may not score as well as he used to, he still enjoys it just as much.

“I didn’t bowl as well as I wanted,” said Sellers, who had games of 127, 168 and 135 for a 430 series and helped his team to a 2,395 total. “But I had a great time.”

Sellers also said participating at Open Championships has given him the opportunity to meet many great people. It also has taken him to many places around the country that he wouldn’t have gone to if it weren’t for his desire to reach this milestone.

For becoming the 103rd bowler in tournament history to reach the 50-year mark, Sellers enjoyed an escorted march down Center Aisle and received a plaque, chevron and diamond lapel pin.

He rounded out his milestone appearance with 483 in doubles and 383 in singles for a 1,296 all-events total. In 50 years on the tournament lanes, he has knocked down 81,066 pins for a 180 tournament average.

Presenting sponsors for the 2009 USBC Open Championships are the Coast Casinos in Las Vegas and the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Silver Legacy Resort Casino and Circus Circus in Reno, Nev. Other participating sponsors are Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; Brunswick, capital equipment supplier; Storm Products, Inc.; Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel and Four Queens Hotel and Casino, the official brackets sponsors; Sapphire Gentleman’s Club; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; MGM Mirage; Jerry’s Nugget Casino and Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel.

For more information on the USBC Open Championships, visit USBCopen.com.