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Sports

Olsen conquers county lanes

By DEREK LaRIVIERE
Published June 23, 2006

SPRING HILL - He's only 28, but Jay Olsen already is noted as bowling royalty in Hernando County. He cemented that notion this season.

Olsen had what might be considered his best season to date in 2005-06 while competing in five leagues at Spring Hill Lanes. He averaged 223 for the season when it was all said and done.

During that stretch, he topped the county by tossing three perfect games, making his career total 13 in that department. Olsen also threw three 800 series to make his career mark five. No other county bowler had multiple 800s over the course of the season.

Olsen is his biggest critic though, which is not hard to understand when realizing the goals he has set for himself.

Despite achieving the highest average in most of his leagues and leading the county in both perfect games and 800 series, he feels he bowled better last season.

"I was far more consistent last year," said Olsen, who in 2002 won the Mariner Classic Tournament that pits the area's top bowlers against each other.

"I started slow this season and bowled more 500 series than I should have early on. I think I bounced back kind of well, but overall, I can do better."

Olsen holds the county record for a high series with an 855, a mark no one has come within 15 pins of since he set it in 2002 at Spring Hill Lanes.

When he tossed the series, which included his first perfect game (266, 289, 300), it marked his first career 800. It was not a bad way to start what turned out to be an impressive run for Olsen, a run that continues to this day.

"Jay's the best (bowler) in the county," said Jimmy Hearl, one of two bowlers to tie Olsen for the county lead in 300 games.

"The 800s are what are really impressive. Anyone can get lucky and string together a 300, but an 800 means you are consistently throwing good shots."

Some contend Olsen should consider going professional, a goal that is definitely on his mind. The reasons he gives for not pursuing that option right now are simple.

"It takes a lot of money to make a jump like that," Olsen said. "Sponsorship is so big at that level, and I'd really like to maintain this confidence I have for a while before I try to do that."

There is no timetable for the bowling prodigy to make a splash on the PBA Tour, but his biggest tests have come in the U.S. Bowling Congress national and state tournaments. Olsen just came back from the state tournament last month, where he bowled his best-ever scores in the event. He averaged a 232 over the course of nine games (2,092).

Last year's national tournament in Baton Rouge, La., was Olsen's first endeavor in that field and his scores showed it. He averaged only a 188 for nine games (1,696).

Olsen returns to the national tournament in two weeks at Corpus Christi, Texas. Obviously, he has higher hopes this time around.

"The oil patterns are so different at these events compared to house lanes," Olsen said.

"Now that I have some experience, I am really looking forward to going back there."

[Last modified June 23, 2006, 07:27:52]