USBC Communications
Minster’s Matthew Kuba became the 49th competitor at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to author multiple 300s at the tournament with his performance Friday at the 2026 event in Reno, Nev.
The 34-year-old right-hander secured his second perfect game while completing his team event at the National Bowling Stadium to finish with a 688 series and help Lawn Bowl 8 into the top 30 of Regular Team with a 3,298 total. Kuba started the set with games of 187 and 201 before heating up in Game 3.
He rolled the 35th 300 of the 2026 USBC Open Championships.
Kuba’s first 300 at the Open Championships took place during singles at the 2018 event in Syracuse, N.Y. He finished that set with 760, and the performance helped Lawn Lanes 8 finish the year in third place for Team All-Events (10,006).
This year, Kuba helped the group move into 14th place for Team All-Events with a 9,934 total. In his 13th tournament appearance, he added 704 in singles and 675 in doubles to finish with 2,067.
He was joined in the effort at the NBS by three of his former collegiate teammates from Calumet College of St. Joseph – Ryan Burks (2,084 for all-events), Tyler James (1,925) and Mitch Katic (1,992) – and William Guszczo (1,866). Burks also has a 300 at the Open Championships (2024 in doubles).
During his tournament debut in 2013, Kuba rolled a 298 in his team event at the NBS.
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.
WOMEN’S UPDATE
It was a fantastic Friday afternoon at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships is Las Vegas for Estrella Brewart of Upland, Calif., and Diane Staton of Alta Loma, Calif., as they ascended to the top of the leaderboard in Emerald Doubles.
The pair took over the top spot by 22 pins with a total score of 1,073 at the South Point Bowling Plaza. Peggy Maves of Colfax, Wis., and Darlene Gabriel of Hixton, Wis., previously held the lead with a score of 1,051.
In Game 1, they combined for a score of 360. They stayed steady in Game 2 with 349 and had their best performance in Game 3, rolling 364.
Brewart led the way for the duo, posting a series of 558 (190-155-213). Staton helped the squad’s cause with a nice 515 series (170-194-151).
Staton and Brewart couldn’t believe they had taken the lead in Emerald Doubles but were overjoyed when they found out.
“We as a unit are so happy and surprised we took the overall lead,” Brewart said. “It was completely unexpected. Although, at the same time you want to have that expectation and think that I’m going to get this and not give up.”
They wanted to work hard but also have fun at the USBC Women’s Championships as well.
“We always have fun bowling in this tournament,” Brewart said. “Although, we work hard as well trying to improve the best we can. Building a friendship together really helps both of us become better bowlers. That’s why I love this tournament so much, because it’s a bowling family community.”
Emerald Doubles features pairs with combined entering averages of 271-310.
In addition, The members of I.E. Lady Strokers 17 of Rialto, Calif., stunned the competition Saturday, taking the lead in the Sapphire Division.
The group successfully made their way to the top spot with an impressive team effort at the South Point Bowling Plaza, scoring a total of 1,768 with games of 580, 553 and 635. They lead their division by 14 pins. Kiser Custom Welding of Jerome, Idaho, previously held the lead with 1,754.
The team consisted of Alisa Keith and Collen Wilder of Philadelphia, Mouse Barba of Wolfforth, Texas, and Ashley Powell of Las Vegas.
Powell led the way for the team with an overall score of 590. In Game 1, she bowled a 171. She rolled a satisfying score of 200 in Game 2 and saved her best for last, soaring to a 219 in Game 3.
Keith was next for the team, shooting a series of 423. Wilder had 379, and Barba finished with 376.
For the team, this was the first time they had all bowled together in a tournament. Keith knew how big of a moment it was for all of them.
“This is the first time I have bowled with people I really don’t know that well,” Keith said. “So for us to come together and bowl well really speaks to how great this sport is.”
Keith said the big thing that helped was positivity with her teammates throughout the event.
“We can gel together as a group,” Keith said. “We all are like-minded people, even though we didn’t know each other that well. We had such great team positivity and a good overall team effort throughout our series.”
Sapphire Team consists of four-player groups with combined entering averages of 540 and below.
The Women’s Championships is celebrating its 106th edition in 2026 and making its sixth trip to Las Vegas. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 16,000 bowlers and 4,200 four-player teams competing across 65 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza.