Friday, May 22, 2009

King Malott Runs The Table with Another 300

Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Player of the Year Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, became the first bowler in PBA history to bowl two nationally-televised 300 games, defeating Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., 300-223, in the King of Bowling by Amp Energy series finale at Kegel Training Center.

The victory, televised Wednesday on ESPN2, was Malott’s fifth consecutive as he swept the King of Bowling series, earning a grand total of $50,000. In successive weeks, Malott defeated Chris Barnes of Double Oak, TX, 268-214; Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, FL, 258-234; Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, FL, 300-238, and Rhino Page of Topeka, KS, 257-233, before rolling his second perfect game against Bohn. Bohn advanced to the week five title match with a 260-187 victory over Brad Angelo of Lockport, NY.

“In practice, I moved up on the approach a little, and that slowed everything down a little bit more so I could get the ball to hook in the right part of the lane,” Malott said of his mastery of the Scorpion lane condition pattern he selected for each telecast as reigning “King.”

“Once I did that, I had an unbelievable look. It actually got in my head that I could shoot another 300.

“I’m usually pretty laid back, not very excitable, but I actually did fall on the floor after the 12th shot. I was wondering what else in the world could happen to me this season? It was an unbelievable way to cap off a great season.”

After his King of Bowling Powered by Amp Energy sweep and a runner-up finish to Allen in the Dydo Japan Cup, Malott and his Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour competitors will head to Jackson, NJ, for the PBA GEICO Team Shootout hosted by Six Flags June 11-14.

“Winning five in a row against the guys I had to bowl?” Malott reflected. “I just worried about my game and made the most of it. I had some luck – good and bad – along the way.

“But that’s behind me. I’ve moved on to the future, and oh my god, to be in the position I’m at now? I’ve had some pretty good success this early in my career. I’m blessed and I hope I can keep it going.”

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