BOWLING: Ninety-year-old Bob Morgan throws a stellar 679 series in Mesquite bowling

Bob Morgan is the only bowler I know who had the good fortune of spending two days with Dolly Parton.

I know, you’d like the details, but first let’s chat about his latest awe-inspiring bowling achievement.

Now remember, Morgan’s 90-years-old, but he doesn’t act like it, doesn’t look like it, and isn’t bowling like he’s a nonagenarian.

It was a month ago and exactly one day after his 90th birthday when he bowled an eye-popping 609 series.

Well, last week he flirted with a 700 series as he blew away his 609 by blistering the lanes at the Virgin River Bowling Center with a jaw-dropping 679 series.

He began his standout feat with a 195 game, followed with a 6-bagger in a clean 248, and finished with a clean 236. And his mind-boggling feat included 20 strikes and marks on 13-of-13 non-split spare shots with his only open coming on a split. Wow!

And here’s the scoop on the aforementioned Dolly Parton tease. Morgan was a limo driver for one of the premier limousine firms in Seattle, and when she came to Seattle as a stop on a book tour promoting her book, Coat of Many Colors, he was the assigned driver taking her all over the city during her two days in The Emerald City.

Oh, two other notable clients he was the assigned driver for was the Sultan of Brunei, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he came to Seattle for the NBA All Star game in 1988.

Another favorite memory of Morgan over his many years on the planet is sitting in right field at Yankee Stadium in the 6th game of the 1977 World Series when Mr. October, aka Reggie Jackson became the first player in MLB history to hit 3 home runs in a World Series game.

And his earliest memory of bowling goes back to his days as a pin boy setting up pins for league bowlers in Seattle and getting paid 25-cents a game, plus tips.

In other pin action, John Hollaway gets high-series accolades after delivering a 701 pasting of the VRBC which  included 10 strikes in a 278 game, Dennis Craft combined 20 strikes, 12 spares, clean games of 256 and 236 along with a 186 for a stellar 678 set.

Meanwhile, it’s not surprising Milan Carr (675-247) made his debut in the Monday Scratch League a successful one, while Al Gans (659-246) competing in the same league as Carr raised his average to 201 with another first-rate scoring output.

And with Dave Newman (650-246) remembering to bring his strike ball to the party, he chalked up 18 strikes leading to his best outing this season, and Harold Hendricks threw 18 strikes in a 656 series and raised his average to 187 from 185, while Darren Simonds (641-232 & 640-227) averaged 213 in his top two outings.

And Mike Gentry (640-227) had another good week mowing down pins and you’ll have to ask him about his memorable adventures from his two Grand Canyon hiking trips, and Jerry Holloway put together another competitive outing with a 623 series on games of 226, 220 and 177.

Kelly Williams uncorked a 606 with a clean 231, and was an impressive 17-of-18 on his spare shots. He served in the United States Air Force and is an avid fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.

Robin Drury tallied a 602 with a clean 225, and during his prime bowling years was an outstanding bowler with some impressive bowling achievements, and Jeff Harmes topped a previous 601 with a season-high 616 including a 6-bagger in a clean 231.

In single game play, Scott Mattingly (696) led the way with a 288, while Doug Love (640) tossed another big 277, and Brue Hooley (640) popped a 240.

And Jan “Kooz” Kusy (590( smacked a 234, and except for a bad case of 7-pin-itis and then going 0-for-7 trying to pick them up, he’d of had a darn nice 600 set, and Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez and his explosive strike ball tossed six strikes in a clean 226, and Jack Baker of the Our Drinking Team Has a Bowling Problem team booked a 225.

Dean Shepard (602) switched to a new ball he hadn’t used in some five years and tossed a 6-bagger in a 225, Dave Pershing (607) logged a 223, but beefier games are surely ahead as he’s already tossed a 288 and 265 earlier this season, and Jeff Branche who played football, basketball and tennis in high school also registered a 223.

And Richard Long’s clutch 6-bagger in a 219 was key in leading his Kings & Queens team in winning a game, Jack Northover rolled a clean 213, Dave Cirbo had a 5-bagger in a 212, Robert Murguia also tallied a 212, and Ron Johnson worked the lanes for a 210.

Finally, Carlos Baeza posted a 202, Dale Milligan’s five strikes in a 201 included a turkey, Rick Jones also fired a 201, and Dennis Woolsey had six strikes in a 200.

In women’s pin action, Diane Marget led the week’s scoring parade with a 640 series on games of 235, 203 and 202 and raising her average to 185 in City High Rollers League play, while both LoriJo Turner (604-233) and Sandy Shepard (595-233) posted the two next best scores.

Cheryl Rogers (534-196) should see her scores rip higher soon, and Bobbie Robbins (529-294) snapped a recent scoring funk with some solid scores.

In single game action, Virginia Glossa (551) fired six strikes in a 224, Debbie Hansen (552) bagged a 210, and Bev Cormani (537) logged a 205.

Reiko Schultz (534) delivered a good outing including a 202, while Mary Posey (518) scratched out a 200 game. I don’t know for sure, but word on the street is she was a heckuva good bowler in her prime including some 700 series scores. But what I do know for sure is both her scores easily, yes, easily surpassed those of her husband, Wally (507-179). Uh, oh! No, on second thought, I can leave this in because I’m sure the editor will catch this and remove the reference to her husband’s scores.

Pat Garcia picked up the 4-7- split. He’s a huge fan of the Utah Jazz and University of Utah Utes football and basketball teams … Kim Hamby averages 135, and threw some nice consistent games of 154, 154 and 155.

Mike Saldivar 690-247; Bob Marget 622-212′ Wayne Donnafield 621-228; Ernie Kale 617-224; Dean Baum 607-223; Sal Diaz 227; Gil Niimi 225; Logan Hendrick 218; Orlyn Meyer 216; Bob Davis 214; Jim Lytle 214; Alan “AJ” Jacobson 212; Britt Kesl 212; Frank Ferreira 212; Larry Moultrie 211; Shaun Edwards 206; Mike Yoder 205; Ron Hendrickson 204; Harvey Scow 203; Dave Johnson 202; Gary Moore 202; Dan Aslin 200; Tim McNees 200.