And then there were 16.

Sixteen 900 series officially certified by the United States Bowling Congress.

No. 16 was recorded on March 18 in the Thursday Night Men's Handicap League at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville, Ill., by Andrew Mank.

Mank's bid for three consecutive 300 games nearly came to an end in the 9th frame of the third game when Mank appeared to leave a 10-pin. But a messenger toppled the corner pin to keep the strike string alive.

Mank then punched out in the 10th to complete the 16th certified 900 and the 17th in certified league play. What many consider the most "legitimate" 900 of them all -- the one rolled by ABC/USBC Hall of Famer Glenn Allison in 1982 -- still has not been granted official recognition by bowling's governing body.

Mank, 22, now has a total of 19 certified 300 games to his credit. The sophomore at Southwestern Illinois College is studying to become a welder.

Here is a list of the 900 series rolled in sanctioned/certified league play:

1. Glenn Allison, Whittier, Calif., July 1, 1982 *

2. Jeremy Sonnenfeld, Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 2, 1997

3. Tony Roventini, Milwaukee, Nov. 9, 1998

4. Vince Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., Sept. 29, 1999

5. Robby Portalatin, Jackson, Mich., Dec. 28, 2000

6. James Hylton, Salem, Ore., May 2, 2001

7. Jeff Campbell II, New Castle, Pa., June 12, 2004

8. Darin Pomije, New Prague, Minn., Dec. 9, 2004

9. Robert Mushtare, Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2005

10. Robert Mushtare, Fort Drum, N.Y., Feb. 19, 2006

11. Lonnie Billiter Jr., Fairfield, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2006

12. Mark Wukoman, Greenfield, Wis., April 22, 2006

13. P.J. Giesfeldt, Milwaukee, Dec. 23, 2007

14. Rich Jerome Jr., Baltimore, Dec. 22, 2008

15. Chris Aker, Winnemucca, Nev., Oct. 30, 2009

16. Andrew Teall, Medford, N.J., Nov. 2, 2009

17. Andrew Mank, Belleville, Ill. March 18, 2010

(*) Denied official recognition by the American Bowling Congress