299-100. In bowling, some scores do not need much explanation. Everyone remembers.
Back in 2011, Mika Koivuniemi defeated Tom Daugherty at the PBA Tournament of Champions in Las Vegas. Koivuniemi came within one wobbling 10-pin of his second televised 300 game. Daugherty, meanwhile, shot 100, the lowest televised score in PBA history.
That match put both players in the record book for very different reasons.
For 15 years, that score followed Daugherty everywhere bowling was discussed. On May 12, the four-time PBA Tour champion finally got a chance to summon Koivuniemi for another dance.
After defeating Mike Machuga 210-208 in the semifinal, Daugherty stepped up for his final shot at the 10-pin and knew who was waiting next.
“Let’s dance, baby! Let’s dance, Mika!” Daugherty shouted.
A few moments later, the rematch was real. But this time, Daugherty got the last shot and the last word.
The title match stayed close, but Daugherty had the control and was not letting this one slip. Needing a mark in the 10th frame, he struck to defeat Koivuniemi 227-216 and win the PBA50 World Championship.
The win gave Daugherty his second major title on the PBA50 Tour. He became the second player to win the World Championship on both the PBA Tour and PBA50 Tour, joining Chris Barnes.
Most importantly, the win gave Daugherty the redemption he had been waiting for. He admitted that facing Mika again meant even more to him than the title itself.
“It affected me the first game a little bit because it was something that I wanted more than the title. I just wanted to bowl Mika because who knows if we will ever get this opportunity again. I just wasn’t going to let him win,” Daugherty said.
“We have that connection. He definitely had the upper hand, and he let me know it on a regular basis. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get a rematch against Mika of all people,” Daugherty said.
Daugherty also joked about what would have happened if Koivuniemi had beaten him again on TV.
“My friends back home, I know they were watching. If I would have lost to him again, I could not have gone home,” Daugherty laughed after getting his rematch against Koivuniemi.
The PBA50 World Championship closed the PBA50 World Series of Bowling IV.
John Janawicz won the Ballard Championship, Jason Couch won the Monacelli Championship, Tom Hess won the Petraglia Championship, and Daugherty finished the series with the World Championship title.
The PBA50 Tour now moves to the PBA Senior U.S. Open in Greeley, Colorado. Qualifying rounds begin on May 20.
Your Weekly Bowling Digest
The latest bowling news, tips, and gear reviews—all wrapped up in a quick 3-minute read delivered straight to your inbox.
