Stus, Couch enter PBA Hall of Fame
April 14, 2012
PBA Communications
LAS VEGAS -- Sixteen-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist Jason Couch and 11-time PBA Senior Tour winner Gene Stus were inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame during ceremonies Saturday evening at the Red Rock Resort.
The 42-year-old Couch is the only player in Tour history to win three consecutive PBA Tournament of Champions titles, an event many players consider one of the most demanding to win because a player must win a PBA title to be eligible to compete.
In addition to his Tournament of Champions titles, which came in 1999, 2000 and 2002 (the tournament was not conducted in 2001), Couch won a fourth Tour major in the 1993 PBA Touring Players Championship.
The Clermont, Fla., left-hander began his Tour career in 1992 when he earned Rookie of the Year honors. His first title would come the next season in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Couch’s career path was probably a foregone conclusion as the son of parents who owned a Florida bowling center.
“I lived my life dreaming of this day,” Couch said. “From the time I was a kid bowling in junior leagues I couldn’t wait to get back home to watch the pros on the PBA Tour telecasts to not only watch them but also try to do what they did.
“I went out and did my best and when I achieved one milestone, I continued to work hard and went on to the next goal.”
Throughout his 20-year Tour career, Couch had a string of winning at least one title in six straight seasons (1998-2004) and he won multiple titles in five seasons. Still active on Tour, he has more than $1.6 million in career earnings and was ranked 24th among PBA’s 50 greatest players in history as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2009. He also won 25 PBA regional titles.
As a competitive bowler for most of his adult life, the 71-year-old Stus wondered how he might have done on the PBA Tour. But the opportunity to compete in Tour competition didn’t present itself until he retired from General Motors after 32 years at the age of 50 and became a regular on the Senior Tour.
Stus’ 11 Senior Tour titles rank fourth on the all-time list behind fellow Hall of Famers John Handegard with 14 titles, and Gary Dickinson and Dale Eagle each with 12.
In 1992, Stus, who currently resides in Taylor, Mich., earned Senior Player of the Year honors thanks in part to winning two titles. In July of that year he became the first Senior Tour player to bowl a 300 game on national television, defeating Don Gilman, 300-188, in the Pacific Cal Bowl Senior Open in Lakewood, Calif.
Stus was not able to attend the ceremonies for health reasons but good friend and fellow Senior Tour competitor Dave Bernhardt accepted the honor on his behalf.
“I always wanted to bowl on Tour and it was the Senior Tour that allowed me to fulfill my dreams,” Stus said through his video acceptance. “I wasn’t able to bowl on Tour when I was younger but I was still fortunate to have the honor to bowl with the sport’s greats.”
“I hope that bowlers like myself who didn’t have the opportunity to bowl on Tour when they were younger will give the Senior Tour a try because it’s a great opportunity to fulfill their dreams.”
The PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies were held in conjunction with the PBA Tournament of Champions which concludes Sunday at Red Rock Lanes. Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill.; Jason Belmonte of Australia; Mike Fagan of Dallas and Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., will compete in the live stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. The TOC concludes the PBA’s 2011-12 season.
LAS VEGAS -- Sixteen-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist Jason Couch and 11-time PBA Senior Tour winner Gene Stus were inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame during ceremonies Saturday evening at the Red Rock Resort.
The 42-year-old Couch is the only player in Tour history to win three consecutive PBA Tournament of Champions titles, an event many players consider one of the most demanding to win because a player must win a PBA title to be eligible to compete.
In addition to his Tournament of Champions titles, which came in 1999, 2000 and 2002 (the tournament was not conducted in 2001), Couch won a fourth Tour major in the 1993 PBA Touring Players Championship.
The Clermont, Fla., left-hander began his Tour career in 1992 when he earned Rookie of the Year honors. His first title would come the next season in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Couch’s career path was probably a foregone conclusion as the son of parents who owned a Florida bowling center.
“I lived my life dreaming of this day,” Couch said. “From the time I was a kid bowling in junior leagues I couldn’t wait to get back home to watch the pros on the PBA Tour telecasts to not only watch them but also try to do what they did.
“I went out and did my best and when I achieved one milestone, I continued to work hard and went on to the next goal.”
Throughout his 20-year Tour career, Couch had a string of winning at least one title in six straight seasons (1998-2004) and he won multiple titles in five seasons. Still active on Tour, he has more than $1.6 million in career earnings and was ranked 24th among PBA’s 50 greatest players in history as part of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2009. He also won 25 PBA regional titles.
As a competitive bowler for most of his adult life, the 71-year-old Stus wondered how he might have done on the PBA Tour. But the opportunity to compete in Tour competition didn’t present itself until he retired from General Motors after 32 years at the age of 50 and became a regular on the Senior Tour.
Stus’ 11 Senior Tour titles rank fourth on the all-time list behind fellow Hall of Famers John Handegard with 14 titles, and Gary Dickinson and Dale Eagle each with 12.
In 1992, Stus, who currently resides in Taylor, Mich., earned Senior Player of the Year honors thanks in part to winning two titles. In July of that year he became the first Senior Tour player to bowl a 300 game on national television, defeating Don Gilman, 300-188, in the Pacific Cal Bowl Senior Open in Lakewood, Calif.
Stus was not able to attend the ceremonies for health reasons but good friend and fellow Senior Tour competitor Dave Bernhardt accepted the honor on his behalf.
“I always wanted to bowl on Tour and it was the Senior Tour that allowed me to fulfill my dreams,” Stus said through his video acceptance. “I wasn’t able to bowl on Tour when I was younger but I was still fortunate to have the honor to bowl with the sport’s greats.”
“I hope that bowlers like myself who didn’t have the opportunity to bowl on Tour when they were younger will give the Senior Tour a try because it’s a great opportunity to fulfill their dreams.”
The PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies were held in conjunction with the PBA Tournament of Champions which concludes Sunday at Red Rock Lanes. Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill.; Jason Belmonte of Australia; Mike Fagan of Dallas and Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., will compete in the live stepladder finals Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. The TOC concludes the PBA’s 2011-12 season.