RIP Callahan Memorial Open Singles
Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama – Newington, CT
July 11-12, 2026
Event #1065
161 Entries | 40 Match Play Finalists
Pattern: 2022 USBC Women's Championships (42', 25.6 mL, 5.79:1)
The New England Bowlers Association returned to Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama for one of the season's premier events, the RIP Callahan Memorial Open Singles.
A total of 161 entries competed for one of the richest prize funds of the season while also battling through the first Survivor Round of the 2026 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Callahan Family, competitors bowled for an event featuring $6,000 added to the prize fund, helping make the RIP Callahan Memorial one of NEBA's marquee tournaments each year.
Bowlers faced the 2022 USBC Women's Championships pattern, a demanding 42-foot challenge that rewarded precision, spare shooting, and making the right adjustments throughout the day. With every game carrying significant weight toward both match play and the Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series, competitors were challenged to stay patient while navigating transition.
Leading qualifying was Kevin Thibeault, who posted a tournament-best 1,249 five-game total to earn High Qualifier honors. Nick Defazio and Joey Transue each earned a Storm/Roto Grip/900 Global bowling ball after tying with identical 1,058 qualifying totals.
After earning a first-round bye as the No. 7 seed, Sean Buck needed five consecutive victories to defend his title.
Round of 32
Defeated Olivia Hillman, 297-183
Round of 16
Defeated Jason Mahon, 241-185
Quarterfinals
Defeated Nathaniel Clarke, 247-223
Semifinals
Defeated Jonathan Sellers, 258-256
Championship Match
Defeated Tyler Inthanongxay, 226-201
Buck's run showcased exceptional shot-making under pressure, averaging just under 254 across his five match play victories while surviving a thrilling semifinal against Jonathan Sellers before completing the championship run against Tyler Inthanongxay.
This championship match was guaranteed to make history. Tyler Inthanongxay was seeking the first NEBA title of his career after the deepest tournament run of his young career, while Sean Buck was looking to capture back-to-back NEBA championships, earning his third career title and joining the select group of bowlers to accomplish that feat.
Inthanongxay came out firing, opening the match with nothing but strikes and remaining perfect through the first five frames. Buck also started well but struggled with carry on the right lane. He opened with a ringing 9-pin before being stopped again by a stubborn 10-pin, preventing him from putting together an early string of strikes. Buck finally solved the right lane in the fifth frame, allowing him to connect for a triple.
Tyler's first blemish came on the right lane when he left a 2-4-10 split, resulting in an open frame. However, he immediately bounced back with another strike and remained flawless on the left lane throughout the match.
Lane 36 continued to challenge Buck as well. After striking again on lane 35, he was unable to carry on 36, leaving a 2-4-8 that he successfully converted before returning to strike once again on lane 35. In fact, every shot thrown on lane 35 by both competitors resulted in a strike until the 10th frame, making lane 36 the deciding factor throughout the championship.
When Inthanongxay returned to lane 36, his ball encountered the friction a bit too aggressively, jumping high through the pocket and leaving another split. The resulting open frame handed the lead to Sean Buck for the first time in the match.
Tyler responded with a strike in the ninth frame but could only watch from the bench as Buck stepped up with control of the championship in his hands.
Buck delivered one of his best shots of the match on the demanding lane 36, flushing the pocket for a strike to put himself in position to close out the victory. Entering the 10th frame, a strike and good count would secure the championship. His first shot found the pocket once again, but a stubborn wrapped 10-pin remained standing, keeping the door open for Inthanongxay. Buck converted the spare and struck on the fill ball, forcing Tyler to step up on the difficult lane 36 needing the first two strikes and good count to claim his first NEBA title.
Inthanongxay delivered a quality shot under the pressure, but once again the lane had the final say. A 10-pin remained standing, ending Tyler's championship bid and securing the victory for Sean Buck, who successfully defended his title and became one of the few bowlers in NEBA history to win back-to-back championships.
With the victory, Sean Buck captured his third career NEBA title while becoming the first bowler during the 2026 season to win back-to-back NEBA singles events, following his victory at the Better Bowling Concepts Open Singles just one month earlier.
Thanks to the incredible support of the Callahan Family, this event featured $6,000 added to the prize fund, creating one of the largest prize funds of the 2026 season.
Top Finishers
1st – Sean Buck — $2,300 + Tournament of Champions Entry
2nd – Tyler Inthanongxay — $1,150
T-3rd – Jonathan Sellers — $800
T-3rd – Chris Viale — $800
Top Eight
5th – Aaron Major — $600
6th – Nathaniel Clarke — $600
7th – Justin Goodspeed — $600
8th – Andrew Robitaille — $600
Prize money extended through all 40 match play finalists, rewarding competitors for advancing to Sunday's finals.
Several members of the NEBA Hall of Fame once again found themselves competing on Sunday afternoon.
Hall of Famers advancing to match play:
Bill Webb
John Kirker
Their continued success highlights the depth of experience present throughout every NEBA event, with past champions and Hall of Famers regularly battling alongside the next generation of title contenders.
The RIP Callahan Memorial served as the first Survivor Round of the 2026 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series.
Although the format originally called for 40 competitors to advance, only 38 competitors participated in the opening Survivor Round, meaning all 38 advanced to the next round of the series.
NEBA extends its sincere appreciation to Bruce Hall and the Hall Family for their continued support of the $10,000 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series, giving members another prestigious championship to compete for throughout the season.
An updated list of the remaining Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series competitors will be posted in the coming days.
NEBA extends a heartfelt thank you to the Callahan Family for contributing $6,000 to the prize fund and continuing to make the RIP Callahan Memorial one of the premier events on the annual schedule.
We also thank the entire staff at Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama for their outstanding hospitality and hard work throughout the weekend. Their continued partnership helps ensure another successful championship event for NEBA members each season.
There is still plenty of time to qualify for the 2026 Cambridge Credit Invitational.
Bowlers need to compete in at least three regular-season NEBA events to become eligible for the season-ending Invitational. The event features one of the largest added prize funds of the year, with the Top 8 point earners receiving automatic spots into the Invitational Finals while still bowling qualifying.
Every event remaining on the 2026 schedule is another opportunity to earn points and secure your place in one of NEBA's most prestigious events.
August 1, 2026
Yankee Lanes – Keene, NH
$1,000 Added to the Prize Fund by Jeff Barden
Followed by...
August 2, 2026
Yankee Lanes – Keene, NH
$1,000 Added to the Prize Fund by Jeff Barden
Congratulations once again to Sean Buck on capturing the 2026 RIP Callahan Memorial Open, earning his third career NEBA title, and becoming the first bowler of the 2026 season to win consecutive NEBA singles championships.
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