Brendan Thomas does it: 25-year-old ties all-time St. George bowling record

Willie Theis
Updated ·6 min read
St. George-area bowler Brendan Thomas keeps adding to an already impressive career with another 300 game and 21 consecutive strikes during a 787 series at Dixie Bowl last week.
St. George-area bowler Brendan Thomas keeps adding to an already impressive career with another 300 game and 21 consecutive strikes during a 787 series at Dixie Bowl last week.

Brendan Thomas didn't break the record for 300 games in St. George bowling, but still, tying the record at the young age of 25 is still a jaw-dropping achievement.

More specifically, he began Wednesday night league play at Sunset Lanes by running the front nine. Now if this had been his first time entering the 10th frame needing three more strikes for a perfecto, it would be a heart-pounding affair.

However, after reaching the pinnacle of bowling success with 14 previous 300s, and seemingly unfazed by any added pressure, he fired three more rockets to the 1-3 pocket for his 15th 300 game and tying the record of 15 held by Blaine Hartley who rolled his first 300 at age, 65, and his 15th, at age, 80.

The story of Thomas becoming a scoring juggernaut had its genesis in New York where he began bowling when he was five years old. Fast forward to age,14, when he tossed both his first honor score with 11 straight strikes in a 299 game, along with his first 700 series. And at 16 in 2013, he booked his first 300 game in youth bowling at Dixie Bowl.

Thomas graduated from Snow Canyon High School in 2015, is currently carrying a 217 average, is an avid fan of the Indianapolis Colts and New York Yankees, and it's staggering to think about how many 300 games his resume will show decades down the road when he hangs up his bowling shoes for the last time.

Oh, and don't be surprised once Hartley reads this column if he punches out a 16th 300 before the clock runs out on the 2022-23 season.

In other pin action, Mo Davis tossed 45 strikes and averaged an eye-popping 243 over six games between Sunset (744-269) & Dixie Bowl (717-248), Dennis Craft's (714-248) stellar outing featured only two open frames, and a top-notch effort by Al Oliveira V included 21 strikes and a clean 256.

Rick Lesko (767-266) enjoyed a good week just like he did when he bowled his three 300 games, Kyle Kidman (672-235) raised his Dixie Ten Pins League average a pin to 188, while Ben Stang (670-259) raised his Industrial League average to 202 from 200.

And Utah Tech student Brandon Hadlock's (666-254) strong outing raised his Sunday Night League average to 190 from 188, Scott Brosier (632-245) raised his DTP League average a pin to 199, and Tyler Robinson merits ink after his 621 blew away his previous high 554 series while also tossing a season-high 259.

Meanwhile, it's clear after doing a deeper dive into Patrick Webster's DTP League outing his 617 does not reflect how well he really bowled during clean games of 238 and 193, and his only two opens on the night came on splits in a 186, Pat Darragh (611-221) has steadily raised his average to 187, and Chris Otuafi (603-221) delivered his second 600 of the season.

In single game play, Chase Evans (677) tossed a 269, Chris Ray (624) booked a 258, Nick Mace (634) uncorked a 7-bagger in a 254; Jake Heaton pocketed a 247, while David Palmer posted a 245, and Bob Lehnen logged a 237. Finally, Bryan Eytcheson, David Guckenburg, Rob Carrier, Bill Logan and Phil San Antonio chalked up games of 225, 215, 209, 203 and 201, respectively.

In women's pin action, Ashley Thomas averaged an impressive 218 between terrific outings at Dixie (686-238) and Sunset (627-226), Hailey Bundy navigated the lanes for a 604 set on good games of 219, 212, 173,and Lisa Jones tossed a season-high 560 with a 202 game raising her Elks & Friends League average to 157.

And league secretary extraordinaire, Sue Brooks peppered the lanes with a season-high 540 with a 194 game raising her Thursday Mixed Nuts League average to 147, Sharon Howard (513-193) captures ink for a quality outing, Janet Parker KO'd 512 pins, and Colleen Bedford logged a 509.

In single-game action, Pat McCabe (562) chalked up a 235; PJ Redhouse (528) smacked a 223, Susan Hill (606) booked a 222, Carolyn Echternkamp (518) popped a 215, while Ann Brosier (515) registered a 209, and DeeDawn Forsey snared her first ink for a 206. And bowlers Tami Olsen, Diana Stauffer, Sherri Snarr (587), and Diana Scharf (537) each tallied a 201.

Oh, bay-bee!

Betty Schedin received a 175 Game Award for a 188 ... Phil San Antonio spared the 4-5-10 split ... Marilyn Bramlet converted the 5-8-10 split ... Janet Parker spared the 3-6-7-10 ... Pat Verchota had a good time picking up the 6-7-10, 7-8, and 5-7 splits.

Senior scores

Lew Agius 673-268; Manny Hartmann 650-225; Dennis Craft 622-246; Dave Anderson 617-231; Greg Ward 607-212; Bob Lehnen 600-233; Frank Hayes 236; Lloyd Warner 223; Stan Rasmussen 222; Art Oswalt 219; Dave Conklin 213; Paul Yssel  215; Tony Zaccheus 200; Cathi Ritchie 541-192; Pat Schulze 529-192; Susan Hill 522-200; Diana Scharf509; Dianna Swart 505-190; Debbie Keyser 202.

High scores

Tor Lowry 722-252; John Potter 712-267; Cory Choate 670-248; Jeremy Turlington 662-258; Dalton Smith 660-231; Kyle Clark 660-233; Randall Wilson 646-233; Chance Evans 645-245; JC Barrow 644-259; Tyler Mickelson 644-244; Jeremy Telford 643-248; Matt Polatis 643-244; Jackie Syddall 642-247; Russ Harkins 638-219; Ron Floreani 637-269; Shane Wilson 637-238; David Schmucker 635-244; Jorge Grajeda 629-226; Lew Agius 628-236; Trent Nay 628-237; Wil Mariluch 627-256; Al Oliveira IV 624-225; Brayden Brooks 623-231; Iloa Otuafi 617-258; Jim Bedford 614-215; Gage Petersohn 613-236; Bard Hancock 612-21`2; Jay Healey 610-224; Mark Cruz 609-206; Rod Post 609-222; Ron Hanson 609-236; Waylon Nunley 609-221; Devin Werner 608-235; Chuck Irvine 605-232; Shawn Wonder 604-223; Todd Thomas 601-215; Blaine Hartley 600-217; Joseph Graham 247; Tyler Thomas 240; Jacob Martinez 237; Marcus Allen 235; Randy Halverson 234; James Henderson 230; Skyler Moss 230; Jim Bice (596) 226; Scott Bahrke 226; Tonga Nio 226; Bryan Eytcheson 225; Kobe Ray 224; Michael Garcia 224; Tony Zaccheus 224; David Romano 221; Justin Kee 221; Justin Seegmiller 220; Rod Engle 219; Jaren clark 213; Lindsay May 213; Vic Reading 213; Joel Redfearn 210; A.J. Thomas 210; Paul Yssel 210; Kaiden Klingonsmith 208; Randy Brown 208; Will Hutchinson 207; Doyle Mouser 206; Brent Pollock 204; Jim Mathews 203; Dan Sanzone 202; Gavin Muir 202; Keith Reynolda 202;.Bryeann Barckley 587-204; Sherri Snarr 587-201; Dawn Thomas 581-221; Ann Rasmusen 564-210; Margie O'Neill 561-214; Karen Balicki 558-202; Indianna Polatis-Nay 549-199; Debbie Lehnen 549-199; Nina Gibson 541; Donna Jo Judson 534; Kara Kopf-Rasberry 522-209; Tina Wilson 520-193; Tina Cruz 516-192; Sharon Reading 515; Annette Chugg 512-190; Luann Huchins 510-191; Renee Swall 502-199.

Willie Theis covers league bowling in St. George for The Spectrum & Daily News. 

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: St. George bowler Brendan Thomas ties all-time city record at age 25