Jack Hocking is a pretty good bowler by anyone’s standards.
Bowling in his 21st year, the 25-year-old has a 207 average and enough awards to fill a room. But even he had to be impressed with his recent performance in a makeup series for the Ball & Chain League.
Hocking set a new Star Lanes league record April 5 when he strung games of 278, 259 and 300 for an 837 series. It was Hocking’s first 800 series — his previous three-game best was 776 — and his second-ever 300 game.
“It was kind of a relief,” Hocking said of his feelings following the outstanding series. “I had rolled some 770s before, but I never had an 800.” The first 300 game Hocking rolled wasn’t official, as it was scored in the 2000 Betty Taylor Memorial Tourney.
Strangely enough, this one won’t be acknowledged either, as the USBC will not recognize either the 300 or the 837 series as honor scores because they were bowled in makeup play as opposed to on a regular league meeting.
The USBC modified the rule a year ago after a bowler in New York rolled his third 900 makeup series, and will not allow pre- or post-bowl scores to be recognized.