A Williams Lake bowler can hardly believe his luck after bowling a 425 game and winning $1,000 all within a week.
Dustin Morrison pitched a 425 game during his regular Thursday Night Bowling League Dec. 6, then fired a perfect ‘strike game’ during Cariboo Bowling Lanes Tuesday’s Commercial Bowling League to claim the cash prize.
“It was pretty intense,” Morrison said Wednesday. “I’m still in shock.”
Morrison was rolling along during his Thursday night league play — already in the 10th frame — when he realized he was in the midst of a special game.
“I can’t really look at the screen when I play,” Morrison said. “What happened was when I was getting ready for my approach I heard someone in the background say ‘He’s at 420.’ Then it was in the back of my mind from there. I didn’t think it was that decent of a game up until then, but I knew it was a good one.”
Perhaps, ‘a good one’ is an understatement for most.
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Morrison picked up a right-corner-pin spare in the first frame, then followed that up with an impressive 10 strikes in a row, then punched the head pin in the 10th frame for the 425 game.
“I’ve been bowling since I was about 13 years old,” said the 26 year old who had, up until last Tuesday, never cracked the 400 mark.
His best score prior to that was a 360-point game.
“It still hasn’t quite set in yet,” he said.
Morrison is currently the seventh-highest ranked bowler among all men playing in league play at Cariboo Bowling Lanes.
For his efforts, Morrison will have his name hung from above lane six at the local alley, receive a T-shirt and certificate welcoming him to the ‘400 club’ and have an opportunity to play at a prestigious, fun 400 Club Tournament in Surrey.
To date, just Morrison and one other bowler, who was from Prince George, have thrown 400-plus games this year.
Morrison’s good fate, however, didn’t end there.
During Tuesday’s Bowling League, players participate in a ‘strike game’ for a chance to win prizes.
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In the game, players are required to throw strikes in certain frames for a shot at the money.
“I bowled strikes in the sixth and ninth frame in the first game, the seventh, fourth and third in my second and then in my first and my fifth in the third game for $1,000,” he said.
“It’s just pretty crazy.”
Coming up for Morrison, he’ll be competing locally at the Interior Tryouts for a shot to make the team competing at the upcoming tournament in Chase and Salmon Arm.
The tryouts go this weekend, Dec. 16, at Cariboo Bowling Lanes, where the top six men and top six women will advance to the tournament being held March 15-16.
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