No duds in this offering

Local Patrick Allen is one of the headliners in this week's Cream of the Crop Tournament.

By IZZY GOULD
Published June 6, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL - Patrick Allen has a lot going on this week.

After two years of crashing on friends' couches he'll finally unpack boxes at his new home off State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. Then he'll get a little more comfortable with the neighborhood at the 21st annual Cream of the Crop Tournament, which begins Friday at Lane Glo Bowl in New Port Richey.

Allen isn't just some run-of-the-mill bowler and this isn't just another tournament.

"The name doesn't lie, " Allen said. "It's definitely the cream of the crop. It's a prestigious tournament a lot of big names go to."

Norm Duke and Lisa Wagner are slated to compete. Some would consider Allen a big name.

Allen, 36, has been on the PBA Tour since 1999 with nine titles to his credit, including the 2005 Denny's World Championship. That earned him a four-year exemption, allowing him to hold on to his tour card through 2008-09.

Allen, who has $894, 292 in career earnings, was named PBA Bowler of the Year in 2004-05.

When Allen first took up bowling in New York's West Chester County, he wasn't chasing a dream or looking for a profession.

"You couldn't play baseball or golf all year round, " Allen said. "I just got into bowling because I could do it all the time."

The left-handed Allen caught on with the local junior program. The competition was at a high level, and he began enjoying success at 15, then really began to dominate at 16.

Without a safety net or backup plan, Allen decided to chase a professional bowling career.

"A lot of people told me I wasn't going to make it, " Allen said. "That just gave me more incentive to want to prove them wrong. I really didn't give myself a lot of room if things didn't work out."

In his third professional season, Allen began to question whether he belonged. His bowling had struggled and he questioned his place on the tour. Then he won his first PBA title at the 2001 Greater Detroit Open.

"Everybody goes through slumps here and there, " Allen said. "You always have questions in the back of your mind. For me, it just makes you want to work that much harder to get back to the level you were at before."

Allen steadily ascended. He won $83, 740 that season and earned more than $100, 000 for the first time in 2003-04.

The 2004-05 season has been his best to date with an average of 223.5. He earned $350, 740 including $120, 000 for the Denny's World Championship.

How difficult was that?

"You have to get a lot of breaks, " Allen said. "Anything in life you have to get breaks. A lot of things have to go your way."

Allen has no plans to quit or retire any time soon. He is happy with his new digs and content with his life path.

"Bowling has been my life for a long time, " Allen said. "I'm going to try and take it as long as I can."

Izzy Gould can be reached at igould@tampabay.com or 727 580-5315.

[Last modified June 5, 2007, 23:38:28]