Tommy Jones
Encyclopedia
Tommy Jones is an American professional bowler currently on the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour (Professional Bowlers Association
).
Jones, who is right-handed, is one of the most competitive pros on the tour today. He has won almost $1.2 million in PBA prize money during his nine full seasons on tour, including over $800,000 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
. He is single, and has one daughter from a previous marriage.
titles.
He won his first 12 titles in just 20 TV Finals appearances.
.
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.
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.
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
).
, the final title event of the season.
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
).
Jones, who is right-handed, is one of the most competitive pros on the tour today. He has won almost $1.2 million in PBA prize money during his nine full seasons on tour, including over $800,000 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
Bowling form
In the sport of ten-pin bowling there are many different ways in which to deliver the bowling ball in order to advance it toward the pins in an accurate and powerful manner. Generally, there are three basic forms and several variants. The most basic form is known as stroking, which is the most...
due to his high backswing and rev rate, although some coaches (such as John Jowdy) describe him as a power stroker
Bowling form
In the sport of ten-pin bowling there are many different ways in which to deliver the bowling ball in order to advance it toward the pins in an accurate and powerful manner. Generally, there are three basic forms and several variants. The most basic form is known as stroking, which is the most...
due to his smooth slide-step and release.
Jones is a current resident of Simpsonville, South Carolina
Simpsonville, South Carolina
Simpsonville is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,352 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 17,778 in 2009...
. 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 TourPBA Tour
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
titles.
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. He won his first career major in this season, at the 63rd U.S. OpenU.S. Open (bowling)
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. With four victories, Pete Weber holds the most modern-day U.S. Open trophies.The U.S...
.
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
Wes Malott
Wesley Clint "Big Nasty" Malott is an American professional ten-pin bowler who resides in Pflugerville, Texas. He has six titles in eight full seasons on the PBA tour, having won at least one title in four straight seasons . He also won the 2006–07 Showplace Lanes Megabucks Shootout, which is not...
in the semifinals of the 2005 Banquet Open, she came up short against Jones in the final, 219-192.
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
Mike Aulby
Mike Aulby is a left-handed bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He is one of only three PBA bowlers to win both a Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award...
and Chris Barnes as the only players to win both the PBA Player of the Year and PBA Rookie of the Year awards.
2006-07 season
In 2006-07, Jones captured two more titles, including his second major at the H&R Block Tournament of Champions.2007-08 season
With his win in the 2008 ConstructionJobs.com Championship, Tommy joined Mika KoivuniemiMika Koivuniemi
Mika Juhani Koivuniemi is a Finnish ten-pin bowler, currently on the Professional Bowlers Association tour in the United States, who has won bowling titles in 12 different countries in his career....
as the only two bowlers to win a title on all five of the PBA's primary oil patterns (Shark
Shark oil pattern
A Shark oil pattern is a pattern of oil on the lane used by the Professional Bowlers Association in tournament play.A typical Shark pattern is 44 feet long. it forces players to move toward the center of the lanes, because if the ball moves to the outside it will not curve back into the pocket....
, Chameleon
Chameleon oil pattern
A Chameleon oil pattern is a pattern of oil on the lane used by the Professional Bowlers Association in tournament play.A typical Chameleon pattern is 39 feet long. It forces players to play in a specific zone on the lane because of the way the oil is layered in "strips". The lane conditions...
, Cheetah
Sport bowling
Sport Bowling, an alternative to traditional bowling leagues, offers players the opportunity to bowl on exactly the same lane conditions and oil patterns that professional bowlers face on the PBA Tour. Sport Bowling was created by the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport...
, Scorpion
Sport bowling
Sport Bowling, an alternative to traditional bowling leagues, offers players the opportunity to bowl on exactly the same lane conditions and oil patterns that professional bowlers face on the PBA Tour. Sport Bowling was created by the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport...
and Viper
Sport bowling
Sport Bowling, an alternative to traditional bowling leagues, offers players the opportunity to bowl on exactly the same lane conditions and oil patterns that professional bowlers face on the PBA Tour. Sport Bowling was created by the United States Bowling Congress, the governing body of the sport...
).
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.2009-10 season
He had seven Top 10 finishes 2009-10, and won his 13th title in the 2010 Dydo Japan CupDydo Japan Cup
Dydo Japan Cup is an annual PBA and JPBA bowling event. The tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, and has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. The last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.The tournament celebrated its 25th...
, the final title event of the season.
2010-11 season
In an abbreviated PBA season, he had four top ten finishes in 12 events, including a third-place finish at the U.S. Open.2011-12 season
Tommy won the PBA All-in Showdown at the 2011 World Series of Bowling, an optional, non-title event that required a $5,000 buy-in.Additional PBA accomplishments
- Jones was ranked 30th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."
- He is the most successful bowler ever on television with 35-12 record.
- 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.
- He holds record for shortest time span between 1st and 10th career titles (2 years, 6 months, 7 days), beating Dick WeberDick WeberDick Weber was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association...
's mark by just four days. - Eclipsed $1,000,000 (U.S.) in total career PBA earnings late in the 2007-08 season, with total earnings now at $1,194,315.
- Through the end of the 2010-11 season, he has accumulated 23 perfect 300 games in PBA events. For three years in a row (2007-2009), Jones bowled a perfect game at the Weber CupWeber CupThe Weber Cup, named after bowling legend Dick Weber, is the Ten-pin bowling equivalent of Golf's Ryder Cup. It consists of two teams, Team Europe and Team USA competing over three days in a series of singles, doubles and team matches....
.
Career PBA Tour titles
Major titles are in boldface.- 2004 Dydo Japan CupDydo Japan CupDydo Japan Cup is an annual PBA and JPBA bowling event. The tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, and has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. The last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.The tournament celebrated its 25th...
(Yokohama, Japan) - 2004 Denver Open (Lakewood, ColoradoLakewood, ColoradoLakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
) - 2005 Cambridge Credit Classic (West Babylon, New YorkWest Babylon, New YorkWest Babylon is a census-designated place in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 43,452 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Babylon is located at ....
) - 2005 BanquetBanquetA banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
Open (Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
) - 2005 Dydo Japan CupDydo Japan CupDydo Japan Cup is an annual PBA and JPBA bowling event. The tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, and has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. The last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.The tournament celebrated its 25th...
(Tokyo, Japan) - 2005 Tulsa Championship (Owasso, OklahomaOwasso, OklahomaOwasso is a city in Rogers and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and a northern suburb of Tulsa. The population was 28,915 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Owasso is located at...
) - 2006 BayerBayerBayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
Atlanta Classic (Norcross, GeorgiaNorcross, GeorgiaAs of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races...
) - 2006 63rd U.S. Open (North Brunswick, New Jersey)
- 2006 Ace HardwareAce HardwareAce Hardware Corporation is a hardware cooperative based in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States. ACE Hardware Corporation, with 4,444 stores, does over $3 billion in retail hardware sales annually down from its peak of $12.5 billion in 2007.-History:...
Championship (Wickliffe, OhioWickliffe, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there are 13,484 people, 5,604 households, 3,754 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,898.2 people per square mile . There are 5,787 housing units at an average density of 1,243.8 per square mile...
) - 2007 H&R Block Tournament of Champions (Uncasville, ConnecticutUncasville, ConnecticutUncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
) - 2008 ConstructionJobs.com Championship (Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
) - 2008 GEICOGEICOThe Government Employees Insurance Company is an auto insurance company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway that as of 2007 provided coverage for more than 10 million motor vehicles owned by more than 9 million policy holders. GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance...
Classic (West Babylon, New YorkWest Babylon, New YorkWest Babylon is a census-designated place in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 43,452 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Babylon is located at ....
) - 2010 Dydo Japan CupDydo Japan CupDydo Japan Cup is an annual PBA and JPBA bowling event. The tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, and has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. The last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.The tournament celebrated its 25th...
(Tokyo, Japan)