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Bowling News USA - January 20, 2010 Bill Fong Fires 899 with Storm Reign!

After rolling 35 consecutive strikes, Bill Fong claimed he was not nervous as he lined up his final shot Monday night.

Activity ceased at Plano Super Bowl as everyone in the house focused on Fong's shot at bowling history: a perfect 900 three-game series.

The bowling gods, however, frowned on Fong. Despite a solid pocket hit, the stubborn 10-pin remained standing, and Fong had to settle for a state-record series of 899.

"Fong used two Storm Reigns," reports Storm Regional Sales Manager Tyler Jensen. "I think the most amazing part was that Bill switched to a Reign drilled different in the 6th frame of the 2nd game! 17 strikes in a row and switches balls!"

"Everybody is happy," said Fong, "but I am not. I didn't achieve what I wanted. I wanted 900."

Bill Fong was denied a perfect 900 series by one pin at Plano Super Bowl.
A self-proclaimed perfectionist, the 46-year-old barbershop owner called it the best and worst day of his life.

Late Monday, Fong suffered severe dizziness and nausea, symptoms of vertigo, an affliction he has never had. He believes it was caused by adrenaline.

"How could one of the best things happen to me, and all of the sudden I am in the bathroom thinking I am going to die?" Fong said, his eyes squinting as if a spotlight was being shined in his face. "I thought I was having a mini-stroke."

His symptoms eventually subsided, allowing Fong, a Chicago native who was a high school classmate of First Lady Michelle Obama, to tell his story.

Fong, a right-hander who carries a 242 average and has rolled 19 previous 300 games, dreamed of becoming a pro bowler as a youth and built an impressive amateur résumé before losing interest in the game. He moved to Texas in 1994 and abandoned bowling for almost 14 years before returning to the lanes in 1998.

For six years he worked at a local bowling pro shop and practiced four times a week.

With a previous high series of 814, Fong was entering uncharted territory Monday after back-to-back 300s. But his focus never wavered, as he analyzed the lane conditions and other details while rolling strike after strike.

Fong's final shot naturally deflated the crowd of 150, according to pro shop technician Danny Westbrook.

"To be that close and leave a 10-pin, it's heartbreaking. Everybody wanted it for him," he said.

Fong's series broke the state record of 890 set by Frankie Alonzo of DeSoto in 2002.

According to the U.S. Bowling Congress, there have been only 15 sanctioned 900 series in history, and Fong's 899 was the 11th on record.

Courtesy of dallasnews.com

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January, 2010