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Mike Aulby
View on WikipediaMichael Aulby (born March 25, 1960) is an American former professional bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). He is one of only five PBA bowlers to win both the Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year award. (Tommy Jones, Chris Barnes, Jason Belmonte and E. J. Tackett are the others.) He is also the first player in history to complete a career "Super Slam", in which a bowler wins all five PBA Tour major tournaments at least once. He has since been joined in this exclusive club by Jason Belmonte. Aulby owns 29 career PBA Tour titles, currently 9th place all-time, with eight major titles among these wins. He is a member of both the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame.
Key Information
PBA career
[edit]Aulby joined the PBA Tour in 1978 and captured his first title and Rookie of the Year honors in 1979. His first title was a major in the 1979 PBA National Championship, as he became the youngest player (19 years, 83 days) to ever win a PBA major. That record stood until 2016, when Anthony Simonsen (19 years, 36 days) won the USBC Masters.[1] On June 12, 1985, Aulby became one of the youngest players in PBA history (25 years, 89 days) to reach ten career PBA titles. As of 2020, Aulby remains third-youngest on this list, behind Pete Weber (24 years, 247 days) and Marshall Holman (24 years, 274 days).[2]
Aulby won 18 titles in the 1980s, nine in the 1990s, and one more in 2001, giving him 29 titles in all for 8th place all-time. The victory at the 2001 Silicon Valley Open also made him the first bowler in history to win at least one regular PBA Tour title in four different decades. Pete Weber, Norm Duke and Walter Ray Williams Jr. have since joined Aulby in earning this distinction. (Dick Weber and Johnny Petraglia have PBA titles in six decades, but each needed PBA Senior Tour wins in the fourth, fifth and sixth decades).
Aulby was named PBA Player of the Year in 1985 and 1995. In 1985, he won six titles (including his second PBA National Championship) and became the first PBA player to earn more than $200,000 in a single season. In 1989, he collected a then-record $298,237 in winnings, but was beaten out for Player of the Year by Amleto Monacelli. In the history of the PBA Tour, there have been 15 occasions where a player seeded in the 24th and final spot of the match play round went on to win the tournament. Aulby is one of only two players (with Pete Weber) to accomplish this feat twice, both times in the 1989 season.[3]
On July 31, 1993, at the PBA Wichita Open, Aulby rolled the PBA's sixth televised 300 game in history to win the title over David Ozio, winning 300–279,[4] in turn setting a record for highest combined score in a title match of 579. The record stands to this day. This marked just the second time a nationally televised 300 game was rolled in a title match (after Bob Benoit). Aulby was also the first left-handed player to bowl a perfect game on TV. In his 1995 PoY season, he won two titles, both of them majors.
Among Aulby's 29 titles are eight major championships. The eight majors place him in a tie with Walter Ray Williams Jr. for fourth-most all-time. Only Jason Belmonte (14), Earl Anthony (10) and Pete Weber (10) have won more major titles. Aulby is one of only nine bowlers to capture the PBA career "Triple Crown" (winning the U.S. Open, PBA National Championship and Tournament of Champions) -- and along with Norm Duke and Jason Belmonte, the only bowlers to add the ABC Masters title for a career "Grand Slam." Also Aulby was the first bowler in history to capture the career Super Slam (winning a Touring Players Championship for all five majors), an achievement not matched until Jason Belmonte did so in 2020.[5] Aulby, Belmonte and Anthony Simonsen are the only three PBA players to have won the Masters at least three times.[6]
Aulby had 94 career top-five finishes, and was known as a true gentleman on tour. "Reserved, thoughtful, and pleasant, he's as polite when he's losing as when he's winning," commented Bowlers Digest writer Lyle Zikes in 2001.[7] This led to Aulby winning the PBA's Steve Nagy Sportsmanship award two times. In 2009, Aulby won the Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador Award, an honor given annually by the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) to the "bowling athlete who has consistently shown grace on and off the lanes by promoting the sport of bowling in a positive manner."[8]
Awards and recognition
[edit]- PBA Rookie of the Year (1979)
- 2x PBA Player of the Year (1985, 1995)
- 2x PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award (1994, 1995)
- Best Bowler ESPY (1996)
- Elected to PBA Hall of Fame, 1996
- Elected to USBC Hall of Fame, 2001
- Ranked 6th on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years¨
- BPAA Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador Award (2009)
Career tour titles
[edit]PBA Tour Titles
[edit]Major championships are in bold text.
- 1979 PBA National Championship, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- 1980 Midas Open, Palatine, Illinois.
- 1980 Tucson Open, Tucson, Arizona.
- 1981 Canadian Open, Windsor, Ontario.
- 1984 Indianapolis Open, Indianapolis, Indiana.
- 1984 Brunswick Memorial World Open, Glendale Heights, Illinois.
- 1985 AC-Delco Classic, Union City, California.
- 1985 PBA National Championship, Toledo, Ohio.
- 1985 Old Spice Classic, Garden City, New York.
- 1985 Denver Open, Denver, Colorado.
- 1985 Showboat Doubles Classic w/Steve Cook, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- 1985 Brunswick Memorial World Open, Glendale Heights, Illinois.
- 1986 Showboat Doubles Classic w/Steve Cook, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- 1988 Miller Lite Open, North Olmsted, Ohio.
- 1989 Showboat Atlantic City Open, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
- 1989 Budweiser Open, North Olmsted, Ohio.
- 1989 U.S. Open, Edmond, Oklahoma.
- 1989 Showboat Doubles Classic w/Steve Cook, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- 1989 ABC Masters, Wichita, Kansas.
- 1990 Greater Hartford Open, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
- 1992 Green Bay Classic, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
- 1993 Showboat Invitational, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- 1993 Wichita Open, Wichita, Kansas.
- 1995 PBA Tournament of Champions, Lake Zurich, Illinois.
- 1995 ABC Masters, Reno, Nevada.
- 1996 Greater Baltimore Open, Baltimore, Maryland.
- 1996 Touring Players Championship, Harmarville, Pennsylvania.
- 1998 ABC Masters, Reno, Nevada.
- 2001-02 Silicon Valley Open, Daly City, California.
Personal
[edit]Aulby continues to live in the Indianapolis area. He currently owns two ice skating rinks in Carmel, IN, and a bowling alley (Mike Aulby's Arrowhead Bowl) in Lafayette, IN.
In the 2025 PBA Tour season, a tour stop was named in Aulby's honor: The PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic. The lanes featured the Mike Aulby 39 (39 feet in length) oil pattern, which debuted in the 2023 PBA Tour season.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Schneider, Jerry (February 14, 2016). "19-Year-Old Simonsen Wins USBC Masters to Become Youngest to Win a Major Title". pba.com. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- ^ Vint, Bill (July 6, 2018). "PBA Spare Shots: EJ Tackett Joins Elite List of Young PBA Tour Winners with 10 Titles". Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ "PBA Scoring Records, Twenty-fourth Place (Match Play) to Title". pba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ Feldman, Michelle. "Paying the price for III-timed perfection...The Match I'll Never Forget." Bowling Digest, April, 2003.
- ^ Vint, Bill; Cannizzaro, Matt (February 23, 2020). "Australia's Jason Belmonte Wins U.S. Open, Becomes Second Bowler to Complete PBA "Super Slam"". PBA.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ "Simonsen wins back-to-back USBC Masters, becomes youngest to five major titles | PBA". www.pba.com. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ "Not Fade Away: Mike Aulby, Champion Bowler Interview", Lyle Zikes, Bowling Digest, June, 2001.
- ^ "BOWLING INDUSTRY SERVICE AWARDS - Dick Weber Award". BPAA.com. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Nolan (March 15, 2025). "Andrew Anderson Wins PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic pres. by Pilgrim's". pba.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
External links
[edit]Mike Aulby
View on GrokipediaEarly Life
Childhood in Indianapolis
Michael Aulby was born on March 25, 1960, in Indianapolis, Indiana.[10] He grew up in Franklin Township, Indianapolis, with his parents; his father worked as a glazier who occasionally fixed windows for his son's sandlot baseball team.[5] During the 1960s and 1970s, Aulby's formative years were shaped by the blue-collar community of Indianapolis, a city known for its industrial roots and neighborhood-oriented lifestyle. Local influences included the prevalence of community gathering spots, fostering a sense of camaraderie and hands-on activities among youth in similar working-class settings. These elements contributed to his development before his interests shifted toward recreation in adolescence.[5]Introduction to Bowling
Mike Aulby first encountered bowling at the age of 3½, when his father introduced him to the sport at a local alley in Indianapolis, Indiana. He honed his initial skills at Beech Grove Bowl, immersing himself in the environment of the city's bowling scene. As a young boy, Aulby took on part-time jobs after school at these local alleys to stay close to the lanes, handling maintenance tasks such as picking up trash, varnishing pins, and operating as a pinsetter starting at age 10.[5][11][12][5] A natural left-handed bowler, Aulby developed his technique through consistent exposure and self-directed practice during his youth. By his teenage years, he established rigorous initial training routines, practicing bowling five nights a week at the alleys, which helped refine his smooth, controlled delivery style.[5] Aulby's early competitive experiences began in junior and amateur leagues around Indianapolis, where he quickly emerged as a standout talent. These leagues provided the platform for his skill-building, leading to key amateur successes before age 18, including the Indiana state high school championship at age 16. His family's support, particularly from his parents who covered early tournament expenses, played a role in fostering this amateur development.[5][3]Professional Career
PBA Tour Debut
Mike Aulby, fresh from his amateur successes including a runner-up finish in the 1978 All-American Youth Bowling Championships, transitioned to professional bowling by joining the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour in 1979 shortly after high school graduation.[13][5] His professional debut came at the 1979 Showboat Invitational in Las Vegas, funded by his parents as a Christmas gift, marking the start of a rapid ascent on the tour.[3] Later that year, at just 19 years old, Aulby captured his first PBA title and a major championship by winning the Showboat PBA National Championship, where he defeated legendary bowler Earl Anthony 478-450 in the stepladder final.[5][14] This triumph established Aulby as the youngest winner of a PBA major at the time.[15] Aulby's rookie season showcased his adaptability to the rigors of professional competition, as he navigated a full schedule of events against established stars. He concluded 1979 with one title and earnings of $27,202, earning him the prestigious Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year award.[16][17] Building on this momentum, Aulby won two more tournaments in 1980, including the Tucson Open, and boosted his earnings to $79,735, solidifying his transition from promising amateur to competitive professional.[16][18]Major Championships
Mike Aulby's major championship victories in professional bowling underscore his exceptional skill and consistency, amassing eight PBA-recognized major titles, a total that ranks him fourth all-time.[1] These triumphs include three USBC Masters wins, two PBA National Championships, one U.S. Open, one Tournament of Champions, and one Touring Players Championship, making him the first bowler to complete the "Super Slam" by conquering all five majors.[19] His early breakthrough came as a 19-year-old rookie in 1979, when he captured the PBA National Championship in Las Vegas, defeating Earl Anthony 478-450 in the stepladder final to become one of the youngest major winners in PBA history.[4] Aulby's second PBA National Championship arrived in 1985 at the Toledo Trust event, where he overcame his brother-in-law Steve Cook 253-211 in a tense stepladder final, securing a then-record $45,000 prize and contributing to his Player of the Year honors that season.[20] In 1989, he dominated the U.S. Open in Edmond, Oklahoma, edging Jim Pencak 195-178 in the championship match to claim his first of four "Grand Slam" majors (U.S. Open, PBA National, Tournament of Champions, and USBC Masters).[21] That same year, Aulby won the USBC Masters in Wichita, Kansas, defeating Mike Edwards in the final after striking in seven of his first nine frames, showcasing his smooth left-handed delivery under pressure.[22] Aulby's mastery of the USBC Masters peaked with victories in 1995 and 1998, establishing him as the first bowler to win the event three times. In 1995 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, he bested Mark Williams in the title match following a strong qualifying performance, adding to his Player of the Year campaign.[22] Three years later in 1998, back at the same venue, Aulby defeated fellow Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III 224-192, solidifying his record with precise spare conversions in the later frames.[23] His 1995 season also featured a Tournament of Champions win at the Brunswick World event, where he narrowly topped Bob Spaulding 237-232 in a dramatic final, completing the Grand Slam.[24] Capping his major achievements, Aulby won the 1996 Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship in Harmarville, Pennsylvania, rallying to defeat Parker Bohn III 268-259 in the final match. This victory marked the Super Slam, as it was his first TPC title after already securing the other four majors, a feat achieved through adaptive lane play and mental resilience in high-stakes television finals.[25]Career Statistics and Milestones
Mike Aulby amassed 29 PBA Tour titles over his career, a total that ranks ninth all-time as of 2025.[3] His career earnings surpassed $2 million, reaching $2,045,083, with his peak year coming in 1989 when he earned $298,237 across four titles.[16] Aulby competed in 615 events, cashing in 373 of them and advancing to match play 239 times, while reaching the championship round 90 times.[16] Key milestones include becoming one of the youngest players to reach 10 career titles on June 12, 1985, at age 25 years and 89 days, during his standout season of six victories.[26] In 1985, Aulby also became the first PBA player to earn over $200,000 in a single season, totaling $201,200.[4] His statistical highlights feature a perfect 300 game rolled in the 1993 PBA Wichita Open finals, defeating David Ozio 300-279 for the title and earning a $10,000 bonus that pushed his career earnings past Earl Anthony's at the time.[27] Aulby's scoring prowess is evident in PBA records, including the highest 42-game block total of 10,544 pins set in Peoria, Illinois, in 1995.[28] The following table summarizes select yearly performance metrics, highlighting his dominant periods:| Year | Titles | Earnings | Events | Cashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 6 | $201,200 | 31 | 20 |
| 1989 | 4 | $298,237 | 29 | 17 |
| 1995 | 1 | $219,792 | 27 | 24 |
