Zavakos reaches 100,000 pins at USBC Open
May 02, 2015
EL PASO, Texas - For the second consecutive year, Clinton Zavakos of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, found himself in the spotlight at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.
Exactly one year ago, Zavakos marched down the famed Center Aisle for the 60th time, and he was back on the championship lanes this week to join another elite club at the USBC Open Championships as he toppled the 100,000th pin of his tournament career.
The 78-year-old right-hander entered the 2015 tournament at the El Paso Convention Center needing just 941 pins to reach the plateau, and he got there with a nine-count to start his final frame of doubles Saturday afternoon.
"It feels good, but I was a little nervous today for some reason," said Zavakos, one of 20 bowlers to reach 60 years of participation at the Open Championships. "I've had my eye on this for a long time, and it's very rewarding."
Zavakos is the second bowler this year, and 17th in 112 years of tournament history, to reach the 100,000-pin mark at the world's largest participatory sporting event. Dick Rice of Platteville, Wisconsin, added his name to the list last week, one day after celebrating his own 60th appearance.
Bowling has been a huge part of Zavakos' life, a passion passed down from his father, Tom, a 1932 team champion at the Open Championships.
"I've had a love for the game all my life, and I have a lot of good friends because of bowling," Zavakos said. "I enjoyed bowling with my father, who introduced me to the sport and the tournament."
It also was Zavakos' father who was there to pick him up at the airport in Detroit when his consecutive streak at the tournament nearly came to an end after just six years.
Zavakos, who made his tournament debut at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was stationed as a guard at the Berlin Wall in Berlin in 1961 but was able to catch a flight to Greenland and then on to Detroit in time to compete on the tournament lanes.
With two big tournament milestones now in the books, the former bowling center proprietor simply is focused on enjoying life and bowling.
"My next goal is to spend the rest of my life with my friends," Zavakos said. "I have great friends. Oh, and I'm also looking forward to tournament No. 62."
Zavakos finished his 2015 tournament campaign with 527 in singles, 502 in team and 460 in doubles for a 1,489 all-events total. He increased his career pinfall to 100,548 for a career average of 185.1.
Frank Clay of Crystal Lake, Illinois, also made his 61st Open Championships appearance this weekend and entered the 2015 event 1,748 pins away from the 100,000-pin mark. He shot 470 in team, 470 in doubles and 423 in singles for a 1,363 all-events total. He'll need just 385 pins in 2016 to reach the milestone.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
Exactly one year ago, Zavakos marched down the famed Center Aisle for the 60th time, and he was back on the championship lanes this week to join another elite club at the USBC Open Championships as he toppled the 100,000th pin of his tournament career.
The 78-year-old right-hander entered the 2015 tournament at the El Paso Convention Center needing just 941 pins to reach the plateau, and he got there with a nine-count to start his final frame of doubles Saturday afternoon.
"It feels good, but I was a little nervous today for some reason," said Zavakos, one of 20 bowlers to reach 60 years of participation at the Open Championships. "I've had my eye on this for a long time, and it's very rewarding."
Zavakos is the second bowler this year, and 17th in 112 years of tournament history, to reach the 100,000-pin mark at the world's largest participatory sporting event. Dick Rice of Platteville, Wisconsin, added his name to the list last week, one day after celebrating his own 60th appearance.
Bowling has been a huge part of Zavakos' life, a passion passed down from his father, Tom, a 1932 team champion at the Open Championships.
"I've had a love for the game all my life, and I have a lot of good friends because of bowling," Zavakos said. "I enjoyed bowling with my father, who introduced me to the sport and the tournament."
It also was Zavakos' father who was there to pick him up at the airport in Detroit when his consecutive streak at the tournament nearly came to an end after just six years.
Zavakos, who made his tournament debut at the 1955 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was stationed as a guard at the Berlin Wall in Berlin in 1961 but was able to catch a flight to Greenland and then on to Detroit in time to compete on the tournament lanes.
With two big tournament milestones now in the books, the former bowling center proprietor simply is focused on enjoying life and bowling.
"My next goal is to spend the rest of my life with my friends," Zavakos said. "I have great friends. Oh, and I'm also looking forward to tournament No. 62."
Zavakos finished his 2015 tournament campaign with 527 in singles, 502 in team and 460 in doubles for a 1,489 all-events total. He increased his career pinfall to 100,548 for a career average of 185.1.
Frank Clay of Crystal Lake, Illinois, also made his 61st Open Championships appearance this weekend and entered the 2015 event 1,748 pins away from the 100,000-pin mark. He shot 470 in team, 470 in doubles and 423 in singles for a 1,363 all-events total. He'll need just 385 pins in 2016 to reach the milestone.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.