BOWLING: Chad Klein is a former Long Drive champ who’s 18 strikes fueled a drive to his first 600 series, a 626

By Willie Theis

When a bowler sees Chad Klein for the first time in a bowling center chances are his thoughts run something along the line of he’s one tall imposing guy who’s probably a heckuva terrific basketball player, or thinking with his length he can generate so much leverage and club head speed he can probably drive a golf ball a country mile.

Well, astute observations they are, but since this is a bowling column let’s hit his bowling first. And he brought his strike ball to the party as he began his first game with a four-bagger, followed by a spare, and next fired a turkey before a pair of hiccups led to open frames in the 9th and 10th frames for a 221 game.

And building on the momentum from his 221, he combined six strikes and five spares for a clean 223, and next finished league play with clutch marks in the 8th, 9th and 10 frames for a 182 third game paving the way for his first-ever 600 series, a 626.

Klein’s been on a nice run in his last four outings which began with a 558 series, followed by successive series scores of 589, 585 and with his latest, a 626 he’s mowed down 2,358 pins giving him an impressive 196.5 average over his last 12 games. And that’s the perfect segue into mentioning he’s currently in 2nd Place in Open All Events in the 2025 Southern Nevada Open Championship in Sin City.

Away from bowling he’s an avid fan of Notre Dame football, but golf is also a passion, and in particular long drive competition from which he’s developed a loyal following of fans over the years thanks to seeing his booming drives and friendly personality.

In fact, he’s traveled all over the country competing in long drive competitions and even qualified for the finals four times for the World Long Drive Championships. And he’s also won the Utah State Long Drive Championship four times with his latest coming in 2022. Brace yourself here, but his longest drive in Utah competition is a jaw-dropping 444 yards, and his longest drive in Mesquite competition is an eye-popping 431 yards. Bay-Bee!  He’s also done multiple charitable long drive events over the years and still does two a year.

And his latest venture and passion in competition is pickleball which he took up four years ago and is competing in leagues and tournaments on the 4.0 level and already has won three First Place finishes in pickleball tournaments. And as a great dad, he’s also coaching his kids soccer team and is no doubt instilling a spirit of competitive excellence.

Klein is self employed and has been designing homes in the area for almost two decades, and Mesquite bowling is blessed having him back on the lanes again.

In other pin action, scoring overall last week proved to be pretty much of a yawner. But first let’s chat about the handful of bowlers who managed rolling at least one really top-notch score.

And Milan Carr was one of ’em as he pounded out a 732 with 24 strikes including nine in a clean 258, Jeremy Turlington led Monday Scratch League action two nights ago with 22 strikes and 10 spares in a clean 704 series on games of 265, 233 and 206, while Logan Hedrick also defied the trend with a 692 series coming on 22 strikes including a six-bagger in each of his two best games, 258 and 246, and Scott Mattingly also tossed a 692 with 22 strikes in games of 243, 235 and 214.

Meanwhile Austin Finster popped a 671 on Monday in which he ran the front 10 in a 279, and he treasured this series after his mind-boggling low series and games he had on lanes 1 & 2 last week.

Meanwhile, Dan Aslin put together a stellar effort with a clean  673 series on games of 235, 221 and 217 that came with 14 spares one of which even involved picking up the 3-4-6-7-10 split, Ricky Trujillo is finishing his best season on a strong note as he popped 21 strikes in a 655 set on games of 238, 223 and 194, and Jeremy Telford put together his best scoring output since returning from knee replacement surgery as he fired 19 strikes in a 660 set including a clean 225.

And Sal Diaz orchestrated arguably the best effort of the week when you consider the fact he was so dialed in hitting his mark he ended up tossing a rare, eye-popping 9 pin no tap 900 series before finishing with a scratch 653 which turned out to be one of 1 600s in the MMM League.

In any event, Felix Cruz chucked 20 strikes in a 635 with a clean 224 game, Octavio Botello’s 617 featured 19 strikes including a six-bagger in a 242, Al Gans booked a 611, and Jessie Dixon’s 606 included 17 strikes along with a clean 202.

Finally, both Mike Yoder with his 607 and Ernie Kala’s 603 with a clean 198 could easily shoot a series 100 pins higher next week, while Al Oliveira IV tossed 18 strikes in a 594, and Bobby Dixon’s 591 included consistent games of 201, 200 and 190.

In single game action, Jacoby Ford (634) racked up 10 strikes in a clean 276, Josue Mendoza (586) fired10 strikes including an eight-bagger in a season-high 260, Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez (657) fired nine strikes in a clean 258, and Jared Bundy (602) booked a 249.

Gary Connelly of Overton, Nevada tossed a seven-bagger in a season-high 246, Harold Hendrick (613) had eight strikes in a 245 in Gamblers 4 Aces League play, and in the same league as Hendrick, Dave Houghton also tallied a 245 with eight strikes.

Ken Kaylor combined eight strikes with three spares, one of which involved picking up the 2-7 split in a season-high 244 game, and if you’re a new bowler in Mesquite this season and haven’t seen his incredible paintings hanging at ACE Hardware you will not be disappointed if you check them out. And you will leave in awe of his artistic talent.

Jeff Harmes (654) didn’t roll his 2nd 300 of the season, but did chuck a darn nice clean 242, Jimmy Webb fired seven strikes including a four-bagger in a clean 235, and southpaw James Hartley rolled a five-bagger with one open in a 225, and another southpaw, Orlyn Myer (639) posted Early Riser League games of 223, 221 and 182.

In the Mesquite Merchants Men’s League Bob Morgan continues defying “Father Time” and in fact tossed another deuce, a 221 and the lucky dude even had two cheerleaders cheering after each strike as his two daughters from Seattle came for a visit.

In other action, Angel Hernandez uncorked seven strikes in a 214 with one open, Jedd Fisher also tossed seven strikes in a 214, and Bob Robbins who spent lotsa years living in Alaska bagged a 211.

And Gil Niimi, along with a clean 211 also posted a clean 191, Raul Macias chucked six trikes and also picked up the 2-4-5-10 split in a 210, and Juan Morgana overcame a open frame with five strikes in a 208 in the MMM League.

Jadon Borges pocketed a 204, Cedar City bowler Tim Brandt tossed a 203, while Bill Finnegan grabs some ink for a 203, and Curtis Miller makes his debut in this column after also throwing a 203 with five strikes,

Finally,Jan ‘Koooozzz’ Kusy is closing out his return to bowling this season in style with a 202 but I’m expecting an even beefier one in the final two weeks, Nick Medina chucked a 201 in his ER League play, and Reno, Nevada’s Rick Stoneman put together five strikes with one open frame in a 201.

On the women’s side of the coin, Sandy Sheppard finished atop the scoring food chain with a 606 effort including a 225 game, and Bev Cormani’s first-rate 585 included 15 strikes along with a clean 214.

And Charlene Heiden was stoked after putting together her best scoring output this season, a terrific 566 set with a 200 game, and southpaw Vickie Martinsen put together another solid effort in a 546 series with a 206 game.

Autumn Telford mowed down 546 sticks including197 from her third game, Jane Burgoyne’s 524 included a pair of nice 182 and 180 game, and former Alaskan Bobbie Robbins popped a 518 with four strikes in a 198 game.

In single game action, Polly Hendricks set the scoring pace with a 226 in City High Rollers League play, Lexi Mattson and her powerful two-handed delivery fired eight strikes in a heckuva nice 216, and Ashlee Yokoyama is another promising two-handed bowler who booked a 508.

Polly Hendricks led single game scoring with a 226, Maurine Schumann (508) a good friend of the late Bessie Roberts rolled a season-high 207 in Ladies Trio League action, while Kim Marshall (556) cranked out a 206, and Georgia “GG” Godfrey (511) logged a 203, and so did Debbie Hansen.

Kelly Williamson 628-224; Dennis Craft 580-221; Jonny Manning 559-235; Alfred Oliveira V 203; Jacoby Ford 202; Sal Diaz 195; Al Oliveira IV 190.

Dean Baum 646-257; Ron Vandevanter 619-228; Bob Wells 613-224; Gary Smith 611-215; Vic Reading 604-218; Larry Willis 244; Dave Pershing 227; Dennis Craft 226; Marty Roper 225; Dylan Kesl 223; Chuck Youngdale 218; Bill Rife 213; Bob Robbins 213; Alan Jacobson 212; Gil Niimi 211; Harry Uncles 211; Dave Harris 206; Bruce Hooley 205; Chris Scott 204; Jim Lytle 203; Rob Cormani 203; Tim McNees 203; Alfred Oliveira 202; Max Baarz 202; Jim Bice 202; Bob Marget 202; Duane Sullivan 201.

Kathy Gardner 542-202; Reiko Schultz 525-181; LeeAnn Harmes 518-191; Julie Chilson 505-175; Mary Posey 501-186; Laurie Dillree 500-184; Sandi Scheiderer 495-192.