Featured Story: Bowling's Most Dramatic Finishes

Bowling's Most Dramatic Finishes

Showing up in the 10th frame, whether it’s in league or under the television lights at the USBC Masters, can be nerve-wracking. But it’s WAY more intense under the television lights at the USBC Masters!

Let’s take a look at some of the most dramatic 10th frames ever caught under the television lights:

HAUGEN’S DRAMATIC TOC COMEBACK

At the 2008 H&R Block Tournament of Champions, Chris Barnes was in the driver’s seat and up 50 pins halfway through the final against Michael Haugen Jr. Haugen got lined up, and thanks to a missed 10 pin in the ninth frame by Barnes, all of a sudden it was a match. Here’s what happened:

DON JOHNSON’S CHANCE AT PERFECTION

USBC Hall of Famer Don Johnson already had the 1970 Firestone Tournament of Champions title locked up, but he was looking for a $10,000 bonus for rolling a perfect game in the finals. Here’s one of the most famous scenes in bowling’s rich history:

PDW: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?  

Pete Weber already owned four U.S. Open titles when he faced off against Michael Fagan at the 2012 U.S. Open. Fagan threw all three strikes in the 10th to force this historic PDW moment:

DEL’S GUTTER 

At the 1991 Fair Lanes Open, Del Ballard needed just seven pins on his fill ball to wrap up the title over Pete Weber after delivering the first two strikes in the 10th. Here’s what happened:

THE WORST BREAK IN BOWLING HISTORY 

With Ernie Schlegel’s score in the book, Randy Pedersen needed the first strike and good count in the final frame to take home the 1995 Touring Players Championship title. Here’s the shot, and the reaction by both Schlegel and Pedersen:

DUKE DOWNS THE BUCKET FOR THE U.S. OPEN 

In a grueling U.S. Open final, Norm Duke and Mika Koivuniemi battled down to the final frame. To hoist the 2008 title, Duke needed just a mark, but found himself staring at a 2-4-5-8 conversion for the win:

MIKA MISSES AT THE U.S. OPEN 

Three years later, Koivuniemi found himself in the same position as Duke in 2008, and needed just a mark and good count in the final frame to capture the 2011 U.S. Open:

ASBATY CLAIMS FIRST MAJOR VICTORY

Diandra Asbaty had been preparing to become a champion since she was a kid, and at the 2012 USBC Queens, she found herself one strike away in the 10th to earn her first major title. Here’s the frame against USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, and the reaction afterwards:

WALTER RAY’S 8-10 

Walter Ray Williams Jr. has thrown plenty of big 10th frames in his illustrious career, but this is one he would like back. After striking with his first shot of the 10th, WRW needed a nine count and spare to force a tie or a strike for the win against Patrick Allen at the PBA National Bowling Stadium Championship. Here’s the shot:

BELMONTE SNEAKS INTO 2014 USBC MASTERS SHOW 

Although this didn’t happen on television, it was still captured and can be seen here. Defending USBC Masters champion Jason Belmonte would have been shut out of making the TV show of the 2014 Masters if Dom Barrett was able to fill his 10th frame. Barrett left the 4-6-7-10 and was unable to convert, giving Belmo the chance to double and make the show. The rest is history.