Huge Scoring Closes Out the Century
It's hard to believe that the Bowling History column has been going on for almost six years now. What started as a 75th Anniversary City Tournament article for Don Spall's bowling column in January 1995, has now covered bowling in Kokomo from its humble beginnings in the 1800's through the close of the 20th century. The march through Kokomo's bowling history now concludes with two articles covering the 1995-96 season through the 1999-2000 season. This first article focuses on the records and high scores that dominated the era. The second article to be published in a few weeks will summarize the major events that occurred during this time.
Women's Series Record Continues Rise
The women's three game series record continually advanced. In October 1995, Lynn Harbaugh eclipsed Sandy Shuck's record with her 743 series. Later that same season, in March 1996, Beth Stanley raised the mark to 748. Lisa Graham claimed the record one year later in March 1997 with her 762. Then in September 1998, Beth Stanley reclaimed the record with her fabulous 770 series.
Brian Graham Dominates Local and National Bowling Scene
One of the big stories of the late 1990's in Kokomo bowling has to be Brian Graham. After having bowled local youth leagues, Brian advanced his game at the collegiate level bowling for the University of Nebraska. Graham shot his first 800 series in March of 1995 while subbing for his father in a Friday night mixed league with a score of 803. Then on December 12, 1995, in the Travelling Super Classic League, he fired an 847 series. Graham missed striking on only three occasions. All three times he left the 8-pin! Without those unfortunate leaves, Graham could have been the first to shoot a sanctioned 900 series nationally instead of Jeremy Sonnenfeld. (Sonnenfeld shot the first sanctioned 900 series in February 1997 and, coincidentally, was bowling for the University of Nebraska at the time.)
But Graham wasn't done. In April 1998 he fired another 800 series when he blasted an 828 at Don Lowry Lanes. I personally witnessed two of Graham's 800 series. Scoring wasn't quite as high then as it has been these last three or four years. Graham was able to generate a much more powerful roll that just exploded into the pins allowing him to dominate the game locally.
In the summer of 1996, Graham tried to qualify for Team USA, the national amateur bowling team. Both he and his mother Lisa advanced to the final qualifying. Brian did qualify for Team USA after shooting a big final game to leap several positions in the standings. Unfortunately, Lisa didn't make the women's Team USA. She was probably a little too distracted watching Brian!
While a member of Team USA, Graham shot the first ever 800 series in a Team USA event, an 801. This was quite a feat as lane conditions for Team USA events are not conducive to high scores.
Eagles Series Record Raised Three Times
The Eagles three-game series record was raised on three occasions. Jim Huffer fired a 718 series in February 1997. Later that same year in November, Tom Power upped the mark to 747. Tom Arnett decided that he wanted the record and fired a 764 series in January 1999. (Then on November 3, 2000 Arnett fired the first Eagles' 300 and upped his series record to 779!)
Team Series Record Increased
The Kokomo Sports Center team rolling in the Kokomo Sports Center Classic League at Don Lowry Lanes, set a new team series record for Kokomo. On April 24, 1997, on the last night of the season, Kokomo Sports Center fired consistent games of 1136, 1181 and 1140 for a total of 3457. This broke the Revs-N-Resin record of 3420. Earlier the same season, MAB Paint fired a 3417, paced by Trent Marner's 802 series. The Kokomo Sports Center team and their scores were Tom Haughn (741), Danny Preston (716), Jon Kelley (713), Bob Harding (660) and Jim Mote (627).
Revs-N-Resin almost got the record back on two occasions. In March 1998, they got off to a fast start with games of 1179 and 1232. Unfortunately, they only finished with a 1023 game and 3434 series. A couple of weeks later they tried for the record again and just missed with a 3425 series.
In the opening shift of the 1999-2000 City Tournament, Cedar Crest Lanes just missed breaking the record when lefty Doug Workman left a flush 10-pin in the 10th frame. The Cedar Crest Lanes team, rolling a score of 3450 was comprised of Ron Harding (778), Ted Wooley (774), Doug Workman (652), Clint Spencer (645) and Dave Wolfe (601).
The Women's team game and series record were broken on April 27, 1998 when Colleen Holaday's record-breaking 300 game was shot. In the second game, Go's Girls totaled 1155. Other team members and their scores were Beth Stanley (245), Lois Kelley (197) LaDonna Ogle (187) and Tammy Burge (226). Their series total was an impressive 3210 shattering the old mark of 3049 set in February 1998. Series scores were Holaday (707), Stanley (738), Kelley (586), Ogle (525) and Burge (654).
Scratch League Sets Records
The 1999-2000 Kokomo Sports Center Classic League set more local records this past season. Five bowlers in the league fired perfect games meaning that over 27% of the 18 bowlers in the league rolled perfect games. Richard Santos rolled two of the perfect games and added an 826 series on the last night.
Almost half of the league averaged 210. Jon Kelley set a new Kokomo record with his average of 228. Close behind were Clint Spencer (223), Santos (222) and Lee Reeves (221).
Burge Makes National News
In December 1999, Bob Burge made Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd section. Burge went on a real tear firing a 300 game and 824 series in the City Mixed Tournament, another 300 two weeks later and yet another three days after that!!
Kelley Sets Season 700 Record
Jon Kelley set a Kokomo season 700 series record in the 1999-2000 season with a total of 36. Jack Bender was close behind with 32.
Top Men’s Series
Tremendous scoring dominated the era. Due to the number of 700 shooters, only those with a minimum of ten 700 series during this five year span are listed. All scores of 770 or higher are also noted. It is possible that some scores could have been inadvertently missed so these totals should be considered the minimum. Sorry if I accidentally missed anyone. There will be no recounts!
Jon Kelley - 83 - 816, 812, 784, 782, 781(2), 780, 779, 772(2), 771, 770
Jack Bender - 58 - 789, 783, 779, 773
Clint Spencer - 53 - 774
Ron Harding - 48 - 803, 778, 777, 777, 773, 771, 770
Lee Reeves - 43 - 781, 779, 770
Dave Turner - 36 - 802, 784, 772
Mike Butler - 31
Dan Preston - 31
Rob Smith - 31
Doug Workman - 31 - 781, 774, 774
Jim Krall - 29 - 805, 775
Cory Monroe - 29 - 773, 770
Bob Burge - 28 - 824, 788, 785
Charlie Locke - 26
Tom Arnett – 23 - 817
Trent Marner - 23 - 802, 783, 771
Don Price - 21
Floyd Russell - 21 - 794, 786, 780
Mark Snodgrass - 20 - 789, 780
Brian Graham - 19 - 847, 828, 782, 771
Bryan Ramberger - 19 - 821
Roscoe Crabtree - 19
Ted Wooley - 19 - 790, 773, 771
Tony Comoglio - 16
Rick Hartung - 15 - 772
Jim Monroe - 15
Don Spall - 15 - 817, 774
Richard Santos - 14 - 826, 784, 782
Tom Beale - 14
Tex Thornton - 14
Ed Martin - 13
Dave McDorman - 13
Bryan Mose - 13
Jon Martin - 12 - 803
Wayne Burthay - 12 - 781
Barry Blanton - 12 - 775
Jim Marlatt - 12
Jim Mote - 12
Sean Paul - 12
Don Pine - 12
Tim Winchester - 12
Bruce Young - 12
Mike Cowell - 11 - 793, 790
Greg Garretson - 11 - 774
Danny Gross - 11
Kelly Beale - 11 - 811, 804
Gary Brown - 10 - 771
Brad Slabaugh - 10
Curt Paul - 10
Bob Dunn - 10
Rocky McClish - 10
The following men did not make the list above but also shot a series of at least 770.
Larry Wright - 815
Edd Reeves - 802
Nick Siefers - 800, 793, 780
Jeff Dunda - 798
John Hose - 793
Gerard Kelley - 791
Don Graham - 790
Bill Hamblin - 790
Mitch Wheeler - 782
Gene Adams - 781
Mark Renken - 781
Tom Walker - 781
Jim Head - 780
Joe Titus - 779
Greg Harbaugh - 773
Rudy Ware - 770
Top Women’s Series
Twenty-one women scored a series of 675 or higher. They are all listed below. Beth Stanley led the way with eighteen 700 series. Deb Stewart was close behind with 13.
Beth Stanley – 770, 749, 748, 747, 738, 737, 726, 726, 725, 722, 718, 716, 711, 707, 703(2), 702, 701, 691, 689, 686, 685, 675
Lisa Graham – 762, 733, 729, 726, 712, 698, 697, 689(4), 684, 682, 681, 680
Deb Stewart - 760, 727, 717(2), 715, 714, 713, 711, 707, 706, 705, 703, 700, 697, 689(2), 687(2), 684, 680, 676, 675
Kathy Exmeyer – 759, 724, 714, 701, 699(2), 687, 682
Ann Ramberger – 744
Lynn Harbaugh – 743, 710, 693, 691, 681, 680
Kim Akers – 738, 726, 720, 700, 676
Barb McClish – 732
Val Imbierowicz – 726, 710, 685, 683
Susan Corradi - 720
Leanna Aldridge - 720
Colleen Holaday – 713, 712, 707, 697, 695, 694, 687, 683, 682, 678, 675(2)
Mary Bailey - 711, 690, 687, 686, 685
Leslie Paul – 705, 704, 676
Jo Brooke - 705
Tammy Burge - 702, 701, 682
Lois Kelley - 698
Becky Mayfield - 692, 690
Kristen Graham - 682
Lida Gates - 679
Janet Carnall - 679
Lisa Cook - 678
Debbie Hobbs - 676
Top Men’s Games
There were so many high games for the men that only those over 290 are recognized here.
Bob Burge - 300(4), 299
Ron Harding - 300(4), 297
Trent Marner - 300(3), 299
Nick Siefers (YABA) - 300(3)
Jon Kelley - 300(2), 299(2), 296
Danny Preston - 300(2), 299, 298
Ted Wooley - 300(2), 299, 296
Clint Spencer - 300(2), 298
Dave Turner - 300(2), 298, 297
Barry Blanton - 300(2)
Fred Douglas II - 300(2)
Greg Garretson - 300(2)
Don Graham - 300(2)
Gerard Kelley - 300(2)
Lee Reeves - 300(2)
Jim Roark - 300(2)
Richard Santos - 300(2)
Troy Stanley - 300(2)
Tim Vandergriff (YABA) - 300(2)
Doug Workman - 300(2)
Jack Bender - 300, 299(2), 295
Mike Harford - 300, 299
Cory Monroe - 300, 299
Bruce Young - 300, 299
Don Spall - 300, 298(2)
Mark Renken - 300, 298
Roscoe Crabtree - 300, 297
Tex Thornton - 300, 297
Dave Addington - 300
Mike Aldridge - 300
Adam Alvarez (YABA) - 300
Robert Arnett - 300
Rick Bailey - 300
Kelly Beale - 300
Ivory Beard - 300
Joe Bollhoefer - 300
Steve Bradbury - 300
Dennis Branch - 300
Wayne Burthay - 300
Richard Comoglio - 300
Bob Dunn - 300
Kacey Gibson - 300
Brian Graham - 300
Greg Harbaugh - 300
Larry Harding - 300
Allen Hawkins - 300
Brett Hobbs - 300
Lee Jackson - 300
Gerard Kelley - 300
Rick Kelley - 300
Jim Krall - 300
Eric Lucas (YABA) - 300
Kevin Martin - 300
Bryan Mose - 300
Jim Mote - 300
DeWayne Pavese - 300
Don Pine - 300
Bill Pratt - 300
Bryan Ramberger - 300
Craig Rife - 300
Steve Shinholt (YABA) - 300
Rob Smith - 300
Mark Snodgrass - 300
Max Stover - 300
Jack Williams - 300
Mark Willis - 300
Tim Winchester - 300
Richard Winkler - 300
Greg Wright - 300
Larry Wright - 300
Wayne Harris - 299, 298
Rick Hartung - 299, 297
Don Price - 299, 296
Pat Bookmiller - 299
Mike Butler - 299
Phil Frazier - 299
Tom Gibson - 299
Tom Haughn - 299
Jim Head - 299
Gary Helvie - 299
Tim Hinton - 299
Greg Hobbs - 299
Ryan Mills - 299
Jim Monroe - 299
Sean Paul - 299
Tom Power - 299
Gilbert Russell - 299
Joe Seibert - 299
John Vote - 299
Randy Workman - 299
Kent Wright - 299
James Youngman - 299
Jeff Baxter - 298, 297
Floyd Russell - 298, 297
Rocky McClish - 298
Mike Pantaleo - 298
Dan Props - 298
Jerry Riddle - 298
Jerry Wence - 298
Roscoe Crabtree - 297
Frank Gervais - 297
Jim Krall - 297
Scott Moore - 297
Steve Carpenter - 296
Brian Miller - 296
Craig Slusser - 296
Chris Steward - 295
Some of these games had special significance. One of Lee Reeves' 300's came while subbing for his father in Rochester. One of Clint Spencer's perfect games was rolled in a tournament in Lafayette. The second of Troy Stanley's perfectos was the first on synthetic lanes in Kokomo. Steve Bradbury's was the first with the new Twister pins. Adam Alvarez was only 13 years old when he rolled his 300. Tex Thornton and Craig Rife rolled theirs in the City Mixed tournament in January 1998. Brett Hobbs and Bob Burge rolled 300's in the 1999 City Mixed event. Ron Harding and Bryan Mose each rolled one in the men's city tournament. Two out-of-town YABA bowlers, Kurtis Katterhenry and Steven Hegerfeld rolled perfect games at Cedar Crest in a TKO tournament. Bob Dunn rolled one in the UAW state tournament. Gerard Kelley rolled his last in the Family Twosome state tournament finals. In all, 93 perfect games were rolled in Kokomo during these five seasons, 29 in the 1999-2000 season alone!
Top Women's Games
Women's games of at least 260 are shown below.
Colleen Holaday became the first woman to shoot a perfect game in Kokomo on April 27, 1998. Just this past season Lisa Cook became the second woman to accomplish the feat.
Colleen Holaday - 300, 279(3), 278, 277, 269, 268, 267(3), 266(2), 263
Lisa Cook - 300, 267
Kristen Graham (YABA) - 300
Lynn Harbaugh - 299, 279(2), 277, 260
Denise Russell - 290
Beth Stanley - 290, 289, 279(4), 278(2), 276(2), 275, 269(2), 268(3), 267(2), 266(2)
Becky Mayfield - 289, 275, 262
Kim Akers - 289, 279, 276, 269, 268
Barb McClish - 289, 267
Kathy Exmeyer - 287, 280, 279(2), 269, 267(2), 266, 264(2)
Tonya Steward - 285
Lisa Graham - 279, 278, 277, 268, 267, 265(2), 263
Bobbie Dunn - 279
Deb Stewart - 279, 278(2), 277(2), 276, 269, 268, 267(4), 266(2), 265, 264(2), 260
Val Imbierowicz - 279, 268
Leslie Paul - 279, 268
Lois Kelley - 278, 266
Jo Brooke - 278
Tammy Burge - 277, 276
Debbie Hobbs - 276, 267
Jill Parry - 275, 265
Mary Bailey - 275
Sandra Crable - 269, 266
Linda Rossman - 268
Lee Aldridge - 268
Ann Ramberger - 268
Lida Gates - 268
Candy Bennett - 268
Bev Huff - 266
Janet Carnall - 266(2)
Michele Fritsch - 265
Dixie O'Bannon - 263
Sandy Griffin - 263
Terri Walker - 262
Bonnie Cardwell - 262