A lot of people like to ask how old you were when you started bowling. You can answer if you’d like. But when did you really start to get serious about it? What was the turning point for you?
Some people would say that I helped the Egyptians with the game 3,000 years ago…. **laughs**😊But I was actually 8 years old when I first went bowling with my older brother who was in the AirForce.
I then got serious around 13 at my first Junior league at West Bolyston bowl, and then joined the Juniors Program at Auburn. With my brother, even when he came home from league he would always make time for us to go bowling, whether it was ten pin or candlepin. Also, there used to be a lot of bowling on TV in the mid 50s early 60s. There was a program called Championship Bowling. Because I got so interested my parents gave me a bowling game and I used to set up on the floor of the living room, and I’d be bowling along with the Pros. As a Junior in 1965, I had a high game with front 9 got a 266.
When I was away at college, I didn’t touch a bowling ball until I joined Lincoln Lanes in Worcester with my brother in 1970. After I graduated college in 1972, I worked for the Sheriff’s department in Suffolk County for 27 years.
What is your overall Bowling History?
In 1984 I discovered Amateurs Bowlers Tour (ABT) modeled after PBA, but it was MA, CT, RI, NH, with squads on Saturdays at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 bowling 4 games of qualifying and at end of day and a cut was made. If you didn’t make cut on Saturday, you could try again on Sunday (kinda like a second chance). Kept a rolling average, graduated out at 195. I managed to last around 10 years before getting my “walking papers”.
In 1994 at North Bowl on Route 1 was my last ABT tournament. That day, I had a Champions pin down weapon polished, played up 1-2 board all day long, and was top qualifier (#1 seed). At that moment, the Tournament Director had looked at me and said,
“Well this is going to be your last chance!” [with the rolling average].
As we go out to get ready to warm up he had a liner duster (wide broom) to wipe lanes and he looked right at me and he cross-wiped (basically creating hell). I was like well, you don’t want me to win and now the shot I had had wasn’t there, so I lost tournament, and finished second.
Then in 1984 I attended Bowling Camp in Columbus, Ohio. It was called PBC (Professional Bowling Camps). Local PBA Paul Mosher was an instructor. Bill Spigner another instructor, and I was fortunate enough to get Don Johnson (shot 299 on Tournament of Champions, ever seen the video? Got to check that out, see link) as my lead instructor. At that time, in 1984-85, the science of bowling was evolving. Urethane just came out around 1981, drilling started to change, release started to change. Frisbee release evolved (in order to throw the urethane ball). Pro bowlers from 1984 talked about urethane release, and also talked about using axis points and moving the weight block around and what that would do. Wayne Webb was very instrumental on that.
The game was becoming much more scientific. As a bowler in order to compete at the level I wanted to compete at, even tho it was amateur level, I figured I had to learn all that stuff!
Then in 1990 I attended a camp at Cornell University hosted by Dick Ritger, another Hall of Famer. There you started out as a New Bowler no matter what you were, and you just worked on everything. Hand position, angles, spare shooting, a lot of stuff. Still on wood lanes.
Moving on in 1992 went back for an Advanced Camp, which you could only go to if you had gone to a beginner camp first.
With some friends we would take a weekend, leave Friday from this area [Auburn], and go to tournaments in Albany, the Lilac Tournament (Rochester Area), and up to Buffalo for the Wild Irish Rose. Tournaments everywhere!
We’d bowl 18 games a day, over 50 with practice and would kind of beat up our hands…
There was money to be made tho at that time!
In the early 90s, I started working in a Pro Shop at Boston Bowl. I figured if I am going to compete, I’m gonna have to have equipment. I was in league with the Pro Shop owner. I spoke to him,
“I don’t want to be paid, but can I work if I need a ball at whatever is the cost and I will drill it too?” He was good with that, so I worked there until 1998 when I took over the Pro Shop in Auburn. That’s when the reactive balls were becoming popular, synthetic lanes, and newer oil patterns. The game started to really take off! Thursday night was my busy night. Then in Auburn, used to have Double shifts. On Thursdays at 630PM they ran a full league with all the 50 lanes, then a second shift would come in at 9pm and take up almost another full house.
I remember one night a fella came in and Visionary Bowling (offshoot of Hammer) had came out with ball called Gargoyle (Particle ball, coverstocks infused with microbeads, particles). It would help the ball grip the lane, because this was the beginning of the dog chasing it’s tail. The oils got thicker so the bowling ball manufacturers kept coming out with different balls. Box grit maybe 500. So this guy comes in and says,
“I want a ball that hooks!” Which everybody says. So I said,
“Every ball here will hook. How much do you want?”
“I want maximum! I can’t get a wrinkle on this stuff out here. Just drill it.”
Showed him the Gargoyle. In 1998-1999 some new drilling techniques were already out, but I drilled “leverage weight” (put pin 3/38 at bowler’s axis point so this would create length and hard break at the end) I said,
“OK here you go.” He went out and about 5 min later he comes running back in,
“What the heck’s going on!”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can’t keep this ball on the lane!”
“You said you wanted a ball that would hook and you got one!”
“I didn’t mean that much!!!”
So I adjusted the surface. Be careful what you ask for!
I was in the Auburn Pro Shop until 2002, when Jeff Valentine, who was GM in Shrewsbury, asked me to open up a shop in Shrewsbury and that’s when John Zawalick took over.
From 1990, I bowled my first ABC National Event, and had bowled 32 consecutive years after that. I have a 30 year award plaque and my name was on a movable wall on display at every Open event. However, during the 33rd, my knee was bothering me, and dropped out because wouldn’t be fair to my team if I couldn’t bowl. Did go back in 2024 bowled the 33rd in Las Vegas, then I kind of retired.
Since 1985 I had worked towards a goal of being a Pro. There was a scratch league in Boston, and these guys averaged 215 in 1985 (on wood, so the guys were pretty good). I called the Bowling Center manager on the scratch league to get in, and he said,
“Oh you have to talk to league president to see if he’d let you in.” Happened to be Billy Zeoli (who became a life-long friend of mine) He said he had guys well over 200. I said Bill,
“I’m joining this because I want to get better, if I finish in last I don’t care. As long as I’m getting better!” I bowled in that league and actually got Chris Monroy into the league as well, and we would commute together to Boston.
Photo: Picture of a DoDo scale that was used to weigh balls before USBC banned weight holes. It was a specialized tool used to measure the static weight distribution of a bowling ball.
What was your highest Average?
As I progressed, highest held was 20 years ago, maybe 223 in Shrewsbury.
Going Pro…
In 1994, 6 years away from 50, my goal was going Pro and to go on the PBA Senior tour. For 2 years I only bowled handicap tournaments, challenging myself to beat handicap bowlers. One time I was bowling for a NABI Title in Shrewsbury. The lanes were just wood, like trying to bowl on a regular floor, and I was bowling a woman giving her 50 pins. (Bowling on lanes 35-36.) We start the game and I have no idea what I’m doing, I can’t keep a PLASTIC BALL to the right of head pin. She’s not doing much better. My friend called me over and asked,
“Can you play 6-10 pocket?“
I start to think and say hmm,
“Okay, I think I can do that.”
SO that’s what I did, I forget what ball, I moved wayyy left and set myself up to shoot the 6-10 spare. I ended up throwing 6 bagger and won the tournament. I always say that tournament was his.
Have to think and get creative nowadays because of two handers, urethane, etc. Urethane creates a different transition than reactive. A ball reacts to friction by doing what? If you can’t move left or right, you’ve created a stop. If you can’t move to third, fourth arrow and hook the ball you’ve screwed yourself! If you’ve got a 500 rev rate, then throw whatever you want to throw! Chris Monroy can absolutely throw urethane, he’s good enough to adjust. Nate Purches absolutely. Tyler behind the desk, absolutely high rev rate. There was a recent banning of urethane for certain events. Can I throw urethane? Absolutely not. At my age I’m not that good to create that spot and play 5th arrow again. I just can’t do it!
As I kind of mentioned earlier, the ball manufacturers have gotten to the point where they come out with a new ball it seems every 8 weeks because pattern volumes are higher. And, it’s like the dog chasing it’s tail in the circle. [Money, money, money] That’s all it is! I have a couple of balls that I’ve gotten in the last couple of years, but most of the stuff is 3-4 years old. Or stuff I’ve used when I bowled on Senior Tour.
In 1995, in Saratoga NY at PBA Regional, first met Chris Monroy. I think we were standing in ball check-in line to test for hardness, he was still in Law School, and we got to talking “Where you from?”
“I’m from Holden.”
“Oh I’m from Grafton!”
So I thought why don’t we start traveling together, would be stupid to take 2 cars! And now we have a friendship to this day. I was in both his son’s Christenings, and was an usher in his wedding. We’ve maintained long-term friendship through bowling.
In 2001 started bowling the PBA 50 Tour 6-8 Events a year. Went to first event in Beaverton, Oregon. I’m bowling with the best Senior bowlers in world who I saw on television! Bowled near Crater Lake National park (highly recommend visiting) and bowled in the Epicenter Bowling Center.
On the second day, I’m bowling okay, think I shot 268. Going into last game of qualifying, I was kinda in and out, shot 300. That was the first Pro 300 bowled in the center. When we were all done, the owner said we want you to autograph bowling shirt and we want to put it in our Hall of Fame and put in the bar. I don’t know if it is still there. At that particular time, I didn’t know Mark Roth (great guy, hard to get to know, but then would give you his heart), but I’m walking by Mark, and Mark has his head down writing the scores and happens to look up,
“Hey you the guy shot 300 out there?”
“Yeah that was me!”
“Yeah nice effin’ game”. And I’m thinking like what a jerk! And I walk into the bar, and Guppy Troupe was there (he’s a character, great guy) and he goes,
“You just shot 300?”
“Yeah!”
He goes, ”Cocktails!” That’s how I became friends with Guppy. Later on, as I got to know Mark better, Mark was actually paying me a compliment. To get a compliment from Mark was really something. Once you got to know Mark, he had a heart of gold.
In 2006 in NJ made Finals and bowled against Steve Lickliter, a former touring Pro. Pair we were on was brutal. Neither one of us going anywhere. Chopped 2-5 spare early on. Steve doubled, then opens, getting to 9th 10th frame game really close. Need double and count to shut him out. I throw the first strike, pinched the second one, and lost 201-194 by 7 pins. Which is why I always emphasize MAKE your spares. Especially to the kids. But that was my best year.
2006 April my Mom had passed. She was probably my biggest fan. Had gotten a phone call when I was in DC and she was gone before I got home. So even though I finished 2nd, I was kinda bummed because I really wanted that win for her.
In 2006 at the end of year there was a NEBA in Brockton and a ton of entries. I think I shot -46 in qualifying, but made the cut with 64 others in the middle of the pack. That’s how bad it was! Single elimination. Bowl a match, win, second win, etc.. I was actually with Troy LaBrie at this tournament. Made it to the Final 4, and if I win I go for a Title. They didn’t know me and they looked at me like, I’m gonna flick you off like a fly. It was like a repeat of the last frame at NJ! I’m Bowling Billy Major for the Title. He was a 4 time NEBA champion, Brockton was his home house, and here comes old plod-along (me). Anyway the match was going back and forth, I needed a double in the tenth, I got the first one then I leave 4-9. I’m thinking there are over 200 entries, and right now I’m over 198 bowlers ahead of everybody. Billy gets up and needs a mark. However, he takes a shot, goes thru the nose and leaves the Big 4…all 4 pins were wobbling but none fell. No mark. I won on the bench. Won!
My Mom had passed away that year. And because I was born on Valentine’s Day she had a big thing about hearts. And this is the honest to God’s truth because I still have the Title Prize envelope…so the NEBA secretary at the time, Becky, hands me the winning envelope…and it has hearts all over it. I knew it was my Mom.
In 2007, I became very lucky and good friends with Tommy Baker (USBC and PBA Hall of Famer).
Photo: 2013 PBA50 Highest Qualifying Event, finishing 4th to Tom Baker for the Title.
And through Tommy I got to know Pete Weber in 2012. A lot of people don’t know Pete, he is not a jerk and he is one of the nicest guys and a funny guy, not like on TV when he’s working. Pete’s brother John was the tournament director for the Senior Tour.
I was bowling on tour at the time in Dayton Ohio. I spoke with John,
“Could you do me a favor? I know the lane pairings are random, but you think you’d could randomly get me to bowl with Pete?”
Of course got paired with Pete Weber the following week! So, me again, not give really giving a crap about what people think of me in the overall scheme of things says, Ok, I’m gonna bust on Pete. It’s gonna go South or go funny. He’s a big St louis Cardinals fan. Coming out to bowl that morning, I said to him:
“By the way, there was something I’d like to show you.” Pulled up pants to show him the Red Sox socks I was wearing, he flips me the bird, and that’s how we became close friends. He laughed. Later that afternoon, Walter Ray was bowling next to us, and Norm Duke too. Pete said something to Walter, “We need a 4th to play golf this afternoon, you know of anybody?” and I opened my big mouth, and said,
“Pete, hey I’ve got my clubs and I know how to play, not really good but if you don’t care…” And that’s how I ended playing golf with Pete and Walter, and Norm and Bakes for over 10 years.
Also, I did win $10 from Norm playing golf. Never beat him bowling, but golf.
One more thing about Weber and Duke….One day on Long Island in NY in 2016 I had made it into the cash round and I was struggling a bit. Pete goes “Hey, can I tell you something? Stop grabbing the effing ball, throw it!”
Norm Duke told the same thing to me a couple years later.
BOWLU
I moved on from that into BowlU, probably most influential instruction I’ve ever had [BowlU Training Camps]. Anyone who has gone, Chris Monroy, Sean Treasure, John Zawalick will all vouch for it. I’ve been to 3 of them. First one was in August 2022 in Chicopee on LanePlay and Ball Motion (2-day intensive workshop). You see stuff that you’ve never seen before in your life and didn’t even know it!
We had to bowl on a lane with no oil, had to strike on the lane when the lanes were COMPLETEY STRIPPED, and had to strike TWICE…with whatever ball you had. Lanes with no oil are like instantaneous friction. I’m trying to do everything I can possibly remember. I can’t get the ball halfway down lane before it’s in the left gutter. Rick Benoit, one of BowlU Founders, watches me and says, “Can you throw a back up ball?” I said,
“Jeez! I think I can.”
“Try throwing it.” I take a shot. So he says “Now, line yourself up off the left-hander third arrow.” Then I throw three in a row!
Up through here from Sept 1997 I was a PBA member until 2022 when I turned card in. Succeeded in 6 year plan to be in Senior Pros!
Photo: 2010 MA State Scratch Tournment Championship and State Record for 5-Man Team.
In Sept 2022, two weeks after that camp, I’m subbing on Thursday in Auburn, and I shot my highest series 823 ever! 300, 257, 266. All ball motion, and lane play, and I didn’t have to throw a backup ball. BowlU never did anything to change my physical game, but they give you more tools to use.
In 2023 I attended another camp on lane transition. Then in August of 2024 I attended a camp in Chicopee called Skill Development Workshop with Mika Koivuniemi as assistant instructor. Strictly. Just. Bowling. This was with Sean Treasure, John Z, Jon Glabus, Chris M, and others.
As a result of BowlU…
In 2022 I had had an 823 series with a 300-257-266. Then in Timber Toppers bowled Darryl Diamond, another 300, side-by-side with an overall 755 series! Shortly after in March 2025 I was bowling a Lithium pattern and shot a 300 with 816 in block. BowlU is just amazing.
It’s the best money that anybody could spend. Most people think they know what they’re doing but have no clue.
The phrase, “The one ball you need bring to the bowling center, the Eyeball”… that is from BowlU. If you can’t see what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter. Your Eyeball is the most important ball you bring. You don’t know how much you don’t know, until you find out how much you DIDN’T know.
Who are some of the most influential people in your bowling history, coaches, peers, etc.?
Brother and Mom, my biggest fan, my wife, and BowlU
How many Titles, if any, do you have?
30 Titles:
6 ABT
6 NABI
1 NEBA
1995 US Open Regional Qualifier
1996 US Open
1996 Mass State Miller Doubles Tournament with Mike Lacey (had to qualify locally, win house, then advance to regional qualifier, state qualifier, then trip to Las Vegas)
2 Amateur Titles (group started by ABT) Decibes Amateur Tour (DAT)
2002 with George Jones MA State Scratch Doubles in New Bedford
4 MA State Senior Titles
2010 Won 2 MA Titles with Eric Mahoney, Sean Bouler, Kevin D, Troy Labrie. That was the last year that MA had 5 man teams and set state record never to be broken (no more 5-man teams) and beat the record by 60-70 pins. Maho shot a ridiculous number. Ended up getting double titles won Scratch and Handicap.
Won numerous Worcester Country Doubles, Teams Events. (First one 1998 Doubles)
What was one of your most memorable bowling moments?
Photo: My first 300 with John Zawalick on the Trio’s league.
In 1988 my first 300 at Lincoln Lanes, with John Z and the Trios league. To give some history of Lincoln Lanes, they opened in 1962, and the alley was a 56 lane center. In that whole time, there were thousands of games bowled, ABT events, local tournaments, kids’ programs, and despite all that only 6 300s were ever bowled. 2 in NEBA, 4 in league and I shot the 4th and final one in league.
Another memorable time was right after that was my first PBA 50 300 in a National Event in Oregon (see above picture). Then another one at age 66 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
MA State Titles all came after I was 50.
I had 1900 in All Events and a couple 279s in the USBC Nationals.
Another special moment was being elected in 2016 Worcester Country Hall of Fame and Life Member [See link – Life Members – Worcester County USBC Association].
Last 2024-25 season was my most memorable ever. I had 2 300s, and 2 800 series, which is not too bad for a 75-year-old senior who had a partial knee replacement in 2023. I also finished 10th overall scratch MA State Singles Division.
How do you feel about Pro Bowlers?
People don’t know how good they really are. Nate Purches, Rookie of the Year. You don’t become Rookie by just showing up and bowling, you have to earn that. Bowl on unbelievably difficult crap. The transition is like nothing anyone from around here could keep up with. These guys bowl all the time on sport and don’t bowl everything on a house shot. Most league bowlers might only get 150. I’m very serious! They don’t understand unless they get into what these guys are doing. Finals are on TV, you don’t see the qualifiers standing way over to loft over gutter cap because that’s how much oil is gone. They’re throwing a 210 by doing that. The Women are just as good. Most of the women don’t have higher rev rates, but I wouldn’t go up against any of them either.
Do you remember Bowlero Worcester when it was AMF Auburn, or even before that? What was it like and how would you like to see the alley grow?
Bowlero Worcester still has what is called the Juniors Program, I came thru it. The county can be proud that many have come thru it. Currently lead by June and Rich Halacy with coaches like Sean Treasure, Andrew Smith, Krystal Burns, and others. Bowlers like Chris Monroy has a PBA regional title came thru the program. And Nate Purches. I remember coaching Nate when he was 8 years old. Andrew Hall came thru, and now Mike Puzo, he’s out there working hard. He’s on the PBA currently and shot 300 in qualifying.
There are bowlers, and people who go bowling. There’s a big difference. Bowlers are people who want to get better. Who work at the game, and don’t bowl everything in one house shot. I’m not going to say that I’m a great bowler, maybe better than average, but I’ve got 23 300 games and 5 800s not all in one house but on varying lane conditions and different lane surfaces. The people who want to become bowlers is where BowlU would come into play.
Every one has their own way, but the basic objective: There’s 36 pounds of pins, 60 feet away, and you have to knock them over in one shot! That’s the object of the game, plain and simple! The lane is only 39” wide. Either gutter to the head pin is 18”. That 18″ is what you have to play in.
What would you do if this location decided they wanted to move to String bowling?
*Sighs.* Never done it, right now it’s probably the way it’s going. Would have to try it to change my mind about being against it. Machinery-wise from what I’ve been told, maintenance is a lot less costly, less moving parts. There are two types of tension to adjust for open play and tighten for tournament play. I haven’t bowled on it so I don’t know. I’m being old school, but I see that’s how it’s going.
Who are some of the current or former employees you’d like to acknowledge for their service to the center?
“Maho” aka Eric Mahoney, probably one of the best General Managers. Good bowler, knows bowling. He is the best GM down here. Eric is very good and he’ll do anything for us. He can put a sport shot on Sundays for anybody who wants to practice. Jenna LaBrie was good when she was in Shrewsbury. She was a bowler, learned her job from bowlers. Ivy Hudson was another one, and her partner Megan Haas. All Bowlers, not people from McDonald’s.
Thoughts on Current Bowling Centers?
In the overall scheme of league bowling, in my opinion, is that humans like to be challenged. Whether it’s in a job, sport, or whatever it is that’s why they participate. People play golf not to be in PGA but to challenge themselves. Bowling is same thing. Have a great night bowling league, gonna want to come back. Well, if you had a crappy night you may want to come back, too.
What is missing now, why bowling is losing members, is because there’s no challenge left anymore. House shots turned 180 average bowlers into 220 bowlers, no challenge. I find it to be a challenge at my age, but kids aren’t challenged and that may hurt sport. This all depends on what the person wants to be, a high level player, or a good league bowler.
What comes to mind with the words “bowling family”?
My bowling family extends East coast to West coast and all over US. People I’ve met thru bowling, and the PBA Senior Tour. These are people that I have their phone numbers and if I’m in the area and need something I just pick up the phone, say “Hey, I need a hand can you help me?” I’ve gotten personally so much from this sport, I could never give back all that I’ve gotten from it.
If you could be remembered for ONE thing regarding bowling, what would it be?
Firstly, I want to give one thing about getting coached and coaches. I listen to everybody but I don’t always do what everybody says. There’s no one size fits all. Everyone is unique. If I see something really physically broken, it’s okay correct that. Then to take what individual has and make it better. That’s what good coaching is. Not change it but make it better. Have to pick and choose what fits your game and what’s going to make you a better bowler. Having an extra pair of eyes is helpful! John Z will come by and watch when I’m practicing or bowling and add his “eyes” to what I’m doing. He sees things that I’m not feeling but when I correct what he sees, I feel it. Also, Joel Sylvester and I have been working together lately. I coached him as a junior, and now he’s turned out to be quite a bowler even after taking 5 years off! Bowling is a game of feeling. Sometimes we don’t feel the right thing. Check out Mike Lichstein. He has a style you wouldn’t want to teach anybody except his release! Again, as a human, we’re limited and can only get so far within our own physical limitations.
Photo: The 10 pin, a challenge for most right-handed bowlers.
As a bowler, I’m probably not going to get any better, I’ve peaked! Now there are other bowlers that who will get beyond me, then beyond them! Have to take what you have, develop to the best it can be, then fine tune it. If the ball leaves a 10 pin, you need to know why! What you have to do is knock down 10 pins, doesn’t matter if you stand on your head, throw ball between legs with your eyes closed, and you strike, that’s what counts!!! Object of game is knocking down 10 pins in 1 shot. Doesn’t matter how you do it. It’s up to each individual, their own style, and their own bowling aura.
One of the best tips was from Don Johnson. You have a bowling program in your head. Your brain is a computer. Majority of bowlers make the same mistake: they step up on lane and start thinking. Do all your thinking off the approach. Before you even pick up the ball, should have in your mind how you are going to make next shot. On the approach, press Print.
I’d like to be remembered as a fiery competitor on the lanes… Some even may call me an A-hole. But overall I’d to think I’m nice guy willing to help anybody off lanes.
Striking Leaders 
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