Local bowler sets series record at Oxford Bowl

WORTHINGTON — Last week Derrick Luing set a new record at Oxford Bowl in Worthington.

The 29-year-old Worthington native bowled an 824 in a three-game series, setting the record for the bowling alley. It was guessed by league officials that the previous high score was 813.

“I just did like I do any other day,” Luing said. “I took it swing by swing. This new ball I use, I’ve had it about a month now, clears out more pins so I just ran them out all game.”

During the three games, Luing recorded 28 strikes, knocked down nine pins on five various occasions and hit eight of them one time.

His individual game scores were 299 — a personal-best, beating his previous high of 289 — 267 and 258.

In his middle game, the 267 game, Luing said he left a couple of pins in the pocket a few times but made few errors otherwise. As for the 258 game, he said he had more spares than he did strikes that time around.

And his first game, the game he fell one short of perfection, was a tough one.

“I missed that one pin in the last frame,” Luing said. “It was a little bit disappointing to come that close to 300 and then miss, but what can you do?

“Your heart starts to race when you know you’re going for a 300. It just takes a lot of effort and it sure takes a lot out of you.”

Luing has been bowling regularly since he was five years old. Both of his parents were avid bowlers and brought their son to the alley when he was a baby.

When he was finally old enough to try the sport on his own, Luing admits he wasn’t that great to start. But he stuck with it and learned as he went.

Now, Luing bowls in leagues on both Monday and Friday nights.

But his success last week came as a shock even to him.

“I didn’t even know the previous high,” Luing said. “Someone told me I set the record and I was pretty excited. It’s not everyday you can do something like that.

“But everytime I bowl I try to do my best. If I have a bad night I just move on and hope for better luck the next time around.”

Tags: sports, bowling, worthington