Blind Man Rolls 300 In Bowling Game

Alta, IA (AHN) - A 78-year-old legally blind man from northwest Iowa rolls a perfect 300 game in bowling Saturday night.

Nicknamed "The Hammer," by fellow bowlers for the amazing punch of his rolls, Alta resident Dale Davis, hit 12 consecutive strikes for a perfect 300 score Saturday night at a tournament match at the Century Lanes, Alta, Iowa. Davis lost all his vision in his left eye in 1996 due to macular degeneration and has been bowling for more than 60 years with an average of 180. He later lost most of the vision in his right eye.

The former World War II veteran, who has limited peripheral vision and can't see straight ahead, didn't draw much attention from people inside the alley until his 10th strike. Davis says he has "a heck of time finding my ball sometimes."

The 115-pound Davis was quoted as saying by the Storm Lake Times, "When I got to the 10th frame, I said, 'Lord, let me throw three more good balls.' "

Century Lanes owner Clem Ledoux said that on his final frame, Davis threw a "Brooklyn," where a right-hander strikes the left side of the head pin, which drew wild cheers from fellow bowlers and onlookers. Ledoux adds that it is the first 300 he recalls since taking over the place in 1984

An optimistic Davis told the Storm Lake Times, "Hopefully. I'll do this again when I'm 90."