Monday, October 10, 2011

About the Idol (Tommy Jones)


Tommy Jones (born November 2, 1978) is an American professional bowler currently on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour (Professional Bowlers Association).[1]

Jones, who is right-handed, is one of the most competitive pros on the tour today. He has won over $1,000,000 in PBA prize money during his eight full seasons on tour, including over $750,000 since the 2004-05 season. Tommy won the PBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2001-02 season, and the PBA Player of the Year Award following the 2005-06 season. Jones' style is often described as that of a cranker due to his high backswing and rev rate, although some coaches (such as John Jowdy) describe him as a power stroker due to his smooth slide-step and release.

Jones is a current resident of Simpsonville, South Carolina.[2] He is single, and has one daughter from a previous marriage.


PBA career history

Jones joined the PBA in 2000. He currently owns 13 PBA Tour titles.[1]

He won his first 12 titles in just 20 TV Finals appearances.

2005-06 season

The 2005-06 season was his best to date, as he cashed in 20 of 21 events, made match play in 19 events, made the TV finals six times, won four titles, and posted a career-best $301,700 in earnings.[3] He won his first career major in this season, at the 63rd U.S. Open.

In 2005 Jones stopped Liz Johnson in her efforts to become the first female to win a national PBA tour event. After Johnson defeated Wes Malott in the semifinals of the 2005 Banquet Open, she came up short against Jones in the final, 219-192.[4][5]

In this season he had a 15-game TV match win streak snapped, falling one short of the all-time record set by Jim Pencak. Upon winning the 2005-06 Player of the Year award, Jones joined Mike Aulby and Chris Barnes as the only players to win both the PBA Player of the Year and PBA Rookie of the Year awards.[1]

2006-07 season

In 2006-07, Jones captured two more titles, including his second major at the H&R Block Tournament of Champions.[1]

2007-08 season

With his win in the 2008 ConstructionJobs.com Championship, Tommy joined Mika Koivuniemi as the only two bowlers to win a title on all five of the PBA's primary oil patterns (Shark, Chameleon, Cheetah, Scorpion and Viper).[6]

2008-09 season

The 2008-09 PBA season was the first since 2004-05 where Jones did not earn a title, although he did cash in 20 of the 21 events he participated in.[1]

2009-10 season

He had seven Top 10 finishes 2009-10, and won his 13th title in the 2010 Dydo Japan Cup, the final title event of the season.[7]

Additional PBA accomplishments

  • Jones was ranked 30th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."[8]
  • He is the most successful bowler ever on television with 35-12 record.[1]
  • Jones currently owns 13 career Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour titles, including the 63rd U.S. Open (2006) and the 2007 H&R Block Tournament of Champions.[1]
  • He holds record for shortest time span between 1st and 10th career titles (2 years, 6 months, 7 days).
  • Eclipsed $1,000,000 (U.S.) in total career PBA earnings late in the 2007-08 season, with total earnings now at $1,147,505.
  • Through the end of the 2009-10 season, he has accumulated 23 perfect 300 games in PBA events. For three years in a row since 2007, Jones has bowled a perfect game at the Weber Cup.

Career PBA Tour titles

No comments:

Post a Comment