Approved: Milwaukee 900 series

1/10/2007

By Mark Miller

USBC Communications

He doesn't mind whether you call him P.J. or Perry J. but the bowler with the last name of Giesfeldt definitely can answer to something few people can claim - an official 900 series shooter.

The 900 rolled Dec. 21, 2006, by the 24-year-old West Milwaukee, Wis., right-hander has been approved by the United States Bowling Congress. It is the third approved 900 in the Milwaukee area and 12th in the nation.

Giesfeldt rolled his three consecutive 300 games in the Men's 950 Handicap League at Milwaukee's Burnham Bowl. He was averaging 220 at the time after finishing the 2005-06 season with a 217 average in the five-player team league which is not part of USBC's Sport Bowling program.

"I still don't believe I shot 900 compared with some of the other great scores," the 2005 ITT Technical Institute graduate in computer network systems said. "I felt comfortable after getting the first two 300s. I had 300s twice before in this league this season so nobody watched. When the third game came around, I started to think I have the first two but figured to get a tap or two, which never happened.

"In the eighth frame, I learned that everyone started to watch. I wasn't paying attention. I was walking around. I didn't want to sit down. When I got up on the 10th, I thought, 'Do what you've been doing.' I didn't want to make the mistake of watching everyone watching me."

Giesfeldt matched Vince Wood as the only 900 shooters to also have 800 series and 300, 299 and 298 games in the same season. Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., turned the feat in the 1999-2000 season. Giesfeldt followed Tony Roventini (Nov. 9, 1998) and Mark Wukoman (April 22, 2006), who rolled their 900s at Classic Lanes in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield.

"I didn't play the line I normally play," said Giesfeldt, a member of Greater Milwaukee USBC Bowling Association Board of Directors. "I was playing a little bit deeper."

Giesfeldt, who started bowling at age 7 and had his first 300 game at age 17, competes in six leagues at five Milwaukee-area centers. He has worked part-time at Burnham Bowl since age 14.