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The New England Bowlers Association returned to Lang's Bowlarama in Cranston, Rhode Island for the 2026 Tournament Sense Open Singles, as 153 entries competed for a spot in the 32-player match play bracket while the remaining competitors in the Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series battled to survive another elimination round.
By the end of the weekend, Thomas Carter had made NEBA history.
At just 15 years and 9 days old, Carter captured his first career NEBA championship, becoming the youngest competitor ever to win a NEBA title.
Making the accomplishment even more impressive, the Tournament Sense Open Singles marked just Carter's 11th career NEBA appearance and only his third appearance in the finals.
Carter didn't simply reach the winner's circle — he earned it by navigating a difficult match play bracket that included consecutive victories over two members of the NEBA Hall of Fame before defeating Kyle Wilks in the championship match.
Nathaniel Clarke led qualifying with a five-game total of 1,200 to earn High Qualifier honors. Rich Reynolds earned a Storm/Roto Grip/900 Global bowling ball with a 1,078 qualifying total, Dave Paquin earned the second ball through the raffle, and Steve Blanchet earned $50 as High Senior Out of the Money with a 1,057 total.
Competitors faced the 2026 PBA Jr. Tackett, measuring 44 feet with 30.75 mL of oil and ratios of 5:1.04 on the left and 5:1.01 on the right.
The pattern produced a medium scoring pace overall, but there was certainly high-score potential for competitors who matched up properly such as Chris Forry who had a 300 game to start the 1230pm qualifying squad.
Throughout the weekend, the condition tended to reward players who kept their launch angles relatively shallow and played more toward the middle portion of the lane. Those who were able to control their angles, keep the ball in front of them and properly match their equipment to the condition found opportunities to put together some big games.
That ability to control the pocket became increasingly important once the field moved into single-game elimination match play, where one mistake could quickly bring an end to a competitor's tournament.
After qualifying through the at-large list with a 1,095 total, Carter entered the 32-player match play bracket as the No. 22 seed.
What followed was a championship run that saw the 15-year-old get stronger as the bracket progressed.
Thomas Carter defeated Max Macklin, 258-228
Carter wasted little time making his presence felt, firing 258 to eliminate Macklin and move into the Round of 16.
Thomas Carter defeated David Napier, 223-186
A 223 was enough to keep Carter's run alive and set up his first matchup against a NEBA Hall of Famer.
Thomas Carter defeated Bill Webb, 267-243
Facing one of the most accomplished competitors in NEBA history, Carter responded with one of his best games of the tournament. His 267 was enough to eliminate Hall of Famer Bill Webb and earn a spot in the semifinals.
Thomas Carter defeated Chris Forry, 234-174
Another NEBA Hall of Famer stood between Carter and the championship match.
Once again, the teenager was up to the challenge.
Carter defeated Hall of Famer Chris Forry 234-174, giving him consecutive victories over NEBA Hall of Fame members and sending him into the championship match against Kyle Wilks.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Wilks had put together an impressive run of his own, including games of 248, 288, 255 and 267 on his way to the title match.
The championship match offered the chance for a major update to the NEBA history books, with Thomas Carter (15 years, 9 days old) looking to become the youngest player in NEBA history to win a title, taking the mantle from Kyle Perillo, who won at 16 years, 2 months old. The match also carried plenty of weight for Wilks, who was looking to become a multi-title holder.
Our competitors attacked the lanes a little differently from one another, with Wilks walking farther left on the lane and creating a little more shape, while Carter kept his angles much tighter and used more ball speed. Kyle had been averaging 264.5 in his matches, while Carter averaged 245.5 leading into the championship match, setting the tone for a potential high-scoring brawl.
Carter began the match with a strike, while Kyle Wilks answered with a double, including a messenger to take out a pesky 10-pin. Carter would not be intimidated, responding with two high-flush, powerful hits resulting in strikes. Wilks saw his string broken up by a 4-pin in the third frame but bounced right back with another strike in the fourth.
Carter would also find his first non-strikes of the match, leaving a 10-pin that refused to fall despite a blazing headpin attempting to take it down, followed by a 4-pin. With a chance to pull the lead back his way, Kyle missed right on the 44-foot pattern and was punished with a washout and an open frame. Wilks did lock back in on his more favorable left lane, answering with another strike.
Thomas, sensing the opportunity, caught a break in the sixth frame with a high trip of the 4-pin, then followed it with 10 back to complete the double and create a gap between himself and his opponent. Wilks responded with a double of his own, only to have another errant shot sent right, this time missing the headpin. He was able to convert the spare and keep himself in the match.
With a sizable lead, Thomas converted a 10-pin in the eighth before packing another strike in the ninth, setting up Wilks for a must-strike situation in the ninth and 10th frames to put the pressure back on Carter. Wilks delivered in the ninth, only to be denied in the 10th.
That rolled out the NEBA history carpet for Thomas Carter to stroll his way into the winner’s circle.
With a strike in the 10th frame and an exclamation of joy, Carter captured the Tournament Sense Singles title and etched his name into NEBA history as its youngest-ever champion at just 15 years and 9 days old.
Thomas Carter — 235
Kyle Wilks — 204
With the victory, Thomas Carter captured his first career NEBA championship at just 15 years and 9 days old, establishing a new benchmark as the youngest champion in the history of the New England Bowlers Association.
To accomplish it in only his 11th NEBA appearance and third finals appearance, while defeating Hall of Famers Bill Webb and Chris Forry in consecutive rounds, made the historic championship run even more impressive.
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH & MATCHPLAY
The Tournament Sense Open Singles featured a total prize fund of $11,450, with NEBA adding $500 to the event. NEBA's event listing also identifies the tournament as part of the $10,000 Vincent Hall Series.
Thomas Carter — $1,500 + $125 Tournament of Champions Entry
Kyle Wilks — $750
Stephen Major — $625
Chris Forry — $625
Prize money extended through all 32 competitors advancing to match play.
Two members of the NEBA Hall of Fame advanced to match play at Lang's Bowlarama:
Bill Webb
Chris Forry
The Tournament Sense Open Singles also represented another major step in the $10,000 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series.
The remaining competitors entered Lang's Bowlarama knowing another elimination was coming, with the field being reduced to the Top 20 competitors still alive in the series.
Those 20 competitors will advance to the final round of the Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series, which will take place during NEBA's next event on September 12-13 at East Providence Lanes.
The official list of the Top 20 remaining competitors will be posted soon.
NEBA once again extends its appreciation to Bruce Hall and the Hall Family for their continued support of the Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series and for providing NEBA competitors with another prestigious championship to pursue throughout the season.
NEBA extends a huge thank you to Luigi Danakos and Tournament Sense for their continued support of NEBA and the sport of bowling.
We'd also like to thank Carl De Rosa and the entire staff at Lang's Bowlarama for their hospitality, hard work and support throughout the weekend.
As always, we'd like to recognize our 2026 season sponsors Storm, Roto Grip and 900 Global for their continued support of the New England Bowlers Association.
There is still 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 Top 8 point earners will receive automatic spots into the Invitational Finals while still bowling qualifying, making every remaining event another opportunity to earn valuable points and secure eligibility for one of NEBA's biggest events of the season.
September 12-13, 2026
East Providence Lanes – Rumford, RI
$1,250 Special Youth Prize Fund
Added Youth Prize Fund provided by DJBT, NE Megabucks, Island Bowling Supply & NEBA. The event is also the next stop in the $10,000 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series.
Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series Final Round — Top 20 Competitors
Congratulations once again to Thomas Carter on capturing the 2026 Tournament Sense Open Singles and making history in the process.
At 15 years and 9 days old, in just his 11th NEBA appearance and third finals appearance, Carter is officially the youngest champion in New England Bowlers Association history.
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