USBC Communications
BATON ROUGE, La. – Garfield Heights’ Michael King posted a perfect finish to his singles set Wednesday at the 2025 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships to become just the 44th competitor in tournament history to achieve multiple 300 games on the championship lanes.
The 46-year-old right-hander started singles at the Raising Cane’s River Center with games of 215 and 235 before striking on his final 12 deliveries for a 750 series, moving the 46-year-old into the top 30 for the Regular Division.
King’s first 300 took place during team competition at the 2008 USBC Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. He rolled games of 217, 238 and 300 in that performance on the way to a 755 series.
“The first one was hard. I was nervous because the guys I went with made it a point of letting me know how much it means … the prestige and everything. So to meant a lot to shoot 300,” King said.
“A lot of people who bowl have a lot of 300s. But league 300s and certain tournament 300s … it kind of makes a difference. This one is always going to be special do it at the USBCs especially as hard as they are and you have to throw shots here.”
After a 533 set in doubles Wednesday, King made a move encouraged by teammate Darrel Ratliff that allowed him to see the right shape on the lanes in singles.
“If it wasn’t for my man Darrel, I never would have gotten to the part of the lane where he told me me to get to. I just never saw it,” King said. “He helped me out a lot.
“We talked as a team about a game plan and talked to other people who have bowled here. I just never got far enough right with it. They just kept telling me to trust us.d The guys I bowl with are really great bowlers and it was an honor to bowl with them … I was the guy that was here just to help them out.”
The group’s communication led to plenty of striking for King and his Before the 1st Frame 9 teammates in singles, as King, Ratliff (705), Nicholas Cooper (687), Nate Garcia (684) and Kent’s Joe Hostetler (660) averaged more than 232 in their final three games to jump into the top 25 for team all-events in Baton Rouge with a 9,484 total.
King, who made his first trip to the Open Championships since 2014, added 617 in team to finish his sixth tournament appearance with an all-events total of 1,900.
On his final shot for the 300, King was able to trip out a 2-7 “baby” split late to earn the honor score.
“That lane already was starting to hook a little more and I just tried to keep it more in front of me and try to firm up a little,” King said. “ The first one was good, but the second one I hit up on it a little more than I wanted to and it hooked.
“I made the move and leaked it a hair right. I thought it was a good shot, but it kind of wobbled down lane. But the pins just rolled out for me. I got to take it when I can get it. It was the first break I got all all day.”
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.