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Bowling

Horne running out of room for milestone rings

By LARRY BUGG
Published January 25, 2006

	[Times photo: Will Vragovic]
	Jason Horne, 25, recently bowled his second perfect game, then tacked on a 299 outing four days later.

Jason Horne may feel like a bowling "Lord of the Rings."

Horne, 25, bowled a 300 on Dec. 7 at Manatee Lanes. Horne wasn't through though. Just four days later, he nailed a 299 at Manatee Lanes.

He now has two 300s and can expect to receive two new rings. He has one 300 ring from the old American Bowling Congress and will get rings from the new U.S. Bowling Congress. With a ruby red 300 ring and a blue 299 ring on the way, Horne may end up with too much bling.

Horne wasn't nervous about the second 300.

"I felt like I knew I had it from the seventh frame on," he said. "I had a feeling. I didn't have any bad shots. The first one (300 game), I overreacted and was really excited."

Horne was truly on a roll that night, but was unable to get the greatest prize of all.

"I shot a 275 the second game," Horne said. "I thought I would throw back-to-back 300s. I had 23 strikes in 25 frames in two games. I had a 798. I missed the 800 by two pins. I haven't had an 800 series."

Four days later, he had the 299. That night, he left the four pin on the last ball.

Horne wasn't shedding any tears over missing a 300.

"I was not really disappointed," he said. "I knew I would get the USBC ring. I was getting excited. I earned three rings. I never had a 299. It took the edge off."

Perhaps his birthplace foretold his kegling future.

Horne, 25, was born and raised in Bowling Green, Ohio. He moved to Florida in 2001 and works for T-Mobile in the Crystal River Mall.

Horne, who has been bowling 15 years, averages 210 overall in three leagues at Manatee Lanes. His previous high series was 767 in 2005.

Horne is thinking about bowling for bucks. "I think we all want to be professional bowlers," he said.

Horne remembers how his childhood neighbor brought him into bowling.

"My neighbor came to my house when I was 8 years old," he said. "I said no, I didn't like bowling. I did it because my friend bowled. It stuck. My Dad, Gary, was in a bowling league. I started getting closer to my dad's average when I was 13. He averaged around 180."

The younger Horne played baseball for 10 years but gave it up to concentrate on bowling.

"I like the atmosphere," he said. "I like the people. I like the competition. In bowling, you never know. Anyone can bowl a great game. It is always changing."

"I definitely won't stop until I am unable to do it."

CHAMPIONSHIP YOUTH TOURNAMENT: The GCUSBCA tournament will be held Saturday-Sunday. Singles and doubles competition will be held Saturday at Beverly Hills Bowl with action starting at 1 and 6 p.m. The team event will be held Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. at Neffers.

HOLIDAY NO-TAP WEEKEND RESULTS: Trevor Roberts and Steve Ellis took first in the 10 and under Dec. 18 at Manatee Lanes with a 1,403 total. Rebekah and Les Cook were second with 1,391.

John and Lucas Sparrow won the 11 and up with a 1,560 total. Jules and Jay Bridges were second with 1,550.

Youth Wyatt Dennington shot two perfect (300) tap games in succession. Adults Joe Riser and John Walker each bowled perfect tap games.

If you have announcements, information or comments, contact Larry Bugg at Larrybugg@msn.com

[Last modified January 25, 2006, 00:55:16]