Norm Duke
Encyclopedia
Norm Duke is an American professional bowler
currently on the Professional Bowlers Association
(PBA) Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.
A native of Mount Pleasant, Texas
, Duke resides in Clermont, Florida
, with his wife Karen, and their son, Branden.
In 1983, less than a year after turning pro, Duke won a title in Cleveland, OH to become the youngest player ever to win a PBA Tour event (age 18 years, 345 days). On that day, Duke started from the #5 position and defeated four bowlers to take the championship, including a victory over the legendary Earl Anthony
in Duke's first-ever televised match.
Duke became a member of the USBC
Hall of Fame in 2002, and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in January 2009. He has won over $2.9 million in PBA Tour prize money during his career, placing him third all-time behind only Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber
. Norm was also the winner of the PBA Player of the Year award in 1994 and 2000.
Duke currently owns 34 PBA Tour titles, including seven majors: one ABC Masters
, one Tournament of Champions, two United States Open
s, and three PBA World Championship
s. The 34 titles place him in a tie with Mark Roth
for 4th on the PBA's all-time list. He has made multiple TV Finals appearances every season since 1990. He has won at least two titles in a season eight times, including a career-best five titles in 1994.
The diminutive Duke (he stands 1.65 meters, or 5-foot-5) is known for his exceptional versatility. He is generally thought of as a stroker, either throwing the ball relatively straight or playing a hook shot from the extreme outside of the lane. But he has also shown the ability (especially earlier in his career) to swing the ball out toward the gutter and bring it back like a cranker when necessary. This gives him the advantage of being able to score well on most of the PBA's multiple oil patterns.
started slowly for Duke, as he battled illness on top of a series of injuries through the first half. Standing 51st in points and with his Tour exemption in jeopardy, he put together a furious finish by winning two majors in the final five weeks of the season. On February 24, 2008, he won his second career PBA World Championship to lock up a 2008-09 exemption. Then on March 30, he won the U.S. Open
and joined Mike Aulby
and Billy Hardwick
as the only bowlers to ever complete a PBA career "grand slam" (U.S. Open, PBA World Championship, Tournament of Champions and ABC/USBC Masters). He is also one of only six bowlers to complete the PBA career Triple Crown (U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions and PBA World Championship).
by again winning the PBA World Championship. Continuing on his success from the previous season's sweep of the final two majors, he accomplished something never before done by any professional bowler: win three consecutive major tournaments. The streak ended when he failed to make the TV finals for the 2009 Tournament of Champions. On April 5, 2009, Duke narrowly missed an opportunity to become just the fifth bowler to repeat as champion at the U.S. Open. He qualified as the #1 seed, but was upset in the final by Mike Scroggins
, 191-173. Duke eventually did win a second U.S. Open, On February 27, 2011.
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
currently on the Professional Bowlers Association
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...
(PBA) Tour. He has bowled 58 perfect 300 games in PBA competition, including the 15th televised 300 game in PBA Tour history on January 5, 2003.
A native of Mount Pleasant, Texas
Mount Pleasant, Texas
Mount Pleasant is the county seat and largest city of Titus County in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2000 census, Mount Pleasant's population was 13,935. It is the county seat of Titus County, and is situated in Northeast Texas. This town, by city ordinance, is dry to sell alcoholic beverages....
, Duke resides in Clermont, Florida
Clermont, Florida
Clermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States, west of Orlando. The population was 13,100 in 2008. The city is essentially residential in character and its economy is centered in retail trade, lodging, and food and beverage establishments, which are tourism oriented. The historic...
, with his wife Karen, and their son, Branden.
In 1983, less than a year after turning pro, Duke won a title in Cleveland, OH to become the youngest player ever to win a PBA Tour event (age 18 years, 345 days). On that day, Duke started from the #5 position and defeated four bowlers to take the championship, including a victory over the legendary Earl Anthony
Earl Anthony
Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member...
in Duke's first-ever televised match.
Duke became a member of the USBC
United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress is a sports membership organization dedicated to ten-pin bowling in the United States. It was formed in 2005 by a merger of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance, and USA Bowling...
Hall of Fame in 2002, and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in January 2009. He has won over $2.9 million in PBA Tour prize money during his career, placing him third all-time behind only Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Pete Weber
Pete Weber
Peter David "Pete" Weber, nicknamed “PDW”, , is a famous bowling professional on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Weber is one of the sport's most popular active players and is well known for his maverick, rebellious personality...
. Norm was also the winner of the PBA Player of the Year award in 1994 and 2000.
Duke currently owns 34 PBA Tour titles, including seven majors: one ABC Masters
USBC Masters
The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000....
, one Tournament of Champions, two United States Open
U.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...
s, and three PBA World Championship
PBA World Championship
The PBA World Championship is one of the four major PBA bowling events. Prior to 2002, the tournament was called the PBA National Championship. The PBA National Championship was first contested in 1960, then called the First Annual National Championship...
s. The 34 titles place him in a tie with Mark Roth
Mark Roth
Mark Roth is a former professional bowler. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners, Staten Island, New York City, New York.-Bowling career:...
for 4th on the PBA's all-time list. He has made multiple TV Finals appearances every season since 1990. He has won at least two titles in a season eight times, including a career-best five titles in 1994.
The diminutive Duke (he stands 1.65 meters, or 5-foot-5) is known for his exceptional versatility. He is generally thought of as a stroker, either throwing the ball relatively straight or playing a hook shot from the extreme outside of the lane. But he has also shown the ability (especially earlier in his career) to swing the ball out toward the gutter and bring it back like a cranker when necessary. This gives him the advantage of being able to score well on most of the PBA's multiple oil patterns.
2007-08 Season
The 2007-08 seasonPBA Bowling Tour: 2007-08 season
This is the 2007-2008 season in review for the Professional Bowlers Association .-Season Highlights:* Chris Barnes made the final match in four tournaments, winning two titles en route to PBA Player of the Year honors...
started slowly for Duke, as he battled illness on top of a series of injuries through the first half. Standing 51st in points and with his Tour exemption in jeopardy, he put together a furious finish by winning two majors in the final five weeks of the season. On February 24, 2008, he won his second career PBA World Championship to lock up a 2008-09 exemption. Then on March 30, he won the U.S. Open
U.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...
and 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 Billy Hardwick
Billy Hardwick
Billy Hardwick is a former right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association. He currently hails from Florida.-PBA career:...
as the only bowlers to ever complete a PBA career "grand slam" (U.S. Open, PBA World Championship, Tournament of Champions and ABC/USBC Masters). He is also one of only six bowlers to complete the PBA career Triple Crown (U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions and PBA World Championship).
2008-09 Season
Duke began the 2008-09 seasonPBA Bowling Tour: 2008-09 season
-Season Highlights:On October 1, 2008, the PBA began a three-year sponsorship deal with Lumber Liquidators, making the American hardwood flooring retailer the tour's title sponsor through the 2010-11 season...
by again winning the PBA World Championship. Continuing on his success from the previous season's sweep of the final two majors, he accomplished something never before done by any professional bowler: win three consecutive major tournaments. The streak ended when he failed to make the TV finals for the 2009 Tournament of Champions. On April 5, 2009, Duke narrowly missed an opportunity to become just the fifth bowler to repeat as champion at the U.S. Open. He qualified as the #1 seed, but was upset in the final by Mike Scroggins
Mike Scroggins
Mike Scroggins is a left-handed professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association , having joined in 1989. He resides in Amarillo, TX.Profile at www.pba.com He has won eight PBA Tour titles in his career, including two majors. He won the USBC Masters in 2005 and the...
, 191-173. Duke eventually did win a second U.S. Open, On February 27, 2011.
Awards and recognition
- Two-time U.S. Open winner (2008, 2011) and three-time PBA World Championship winner (2000, 2007-08, 2008-09)
- PBA Player of the Year (1994, 2000)
- George Young High Average award (1991, 1994, 2005-06, 2006-07)
- Harry Smith PBA Points Leader award (2005-06)
- In his first year on tour (1983), Duke won the tour stop in Cleveland, OH at age 18 years, 345 days, which is still the record for the youngest person to ever capture a PBA title.
- During the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour season, Norm broke the tour's average record for a season, averaging 228.47.
- Inducted into USBC Hall of Fame, 2002
- During qualifying for an April 1996 PBA tournament held in North Brunswick, N.J., Duke bowled three consecutive perfect games (900 total) in two squads.
- 58 career perfect games
- The most recent bowler to win the "Grand Slam" (USBC Masters, PBA World Championship, PBA Tournament of Champions, and the US Open)
- 2008 ESPY for Best Bowler
- Ranked 7th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years"
- First bowler in history to win three Major titles in a row
- Inducted into PBA Hall of Fame on January 24, 2009
In the media
- During the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour season, Duke served as a guest commentator on ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
telecasts for events in which he failed to reach the TV Finals alongside Dave Ryan and Randy PedersenRandy PedersenRandy Pedersen is a professional bowler and color analyst for ESPN's coverage of the PBA Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator Rob Stone. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida in the early 1990s, where he has resided ever since...
. During events in which he made the TV Finals, Chris Barnes filled in as the third commentator.
Trivia
- During televised matches, while his shot is rolling down the lane, crowds routinely shout out Duke's last name in an extended manner, which may sound like "boos" to the unknowing observer (similar to cheers for Mike MussinaMike MussinaMichael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....
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.) - Duke is also famed for his "trick shots", which include being able to sling a ball wrapped in a towel and consistently throw a strike. In September, 2009 (broadcast October 25 on ESPN), Duke won the PBA's special Trick Shot Challenge.