Local bowler wins big in Las Vegas

For Kalispell resident Rick Perry, the tag High Roller fits.

The veteran bowler officially earned that title by winning the Classified Classic at the Senior High Roller Tournament in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend.

Perry, 57, was one of 48 match play finalists in a field of 480 bowlers from around the U.S to compete at the three-day event at Sam’s Town Bowling Center.

“Definitely one of the top things I’ve ever done,” he said.

“It’s a very simple tournament. You draw a name out of the hat. If you win a game (in the match play finals) you keep going. If you lose a game, you’re done.”

Perry qualified for the match play finals by rolling a 672 series, which included a high game of 265.

Perry then bowled five times in the finals and had one bye.

“Do or die, it doesn’t get much better than that,” he said of the format.

Perry started off with a gut-wrenching 213-205 win over Tony Churchey of Madison, Alabama.

“I was behind going into the 10th (frame),” Perry said.

“I had to strike out to beat him.”

Perry did just that, and followed with a pair of even more dramatic back-to-back rolloff victories to break ties and advance.

He tied Jim Stephens of Rowlett, Texas, 193-193 in the second round.

“I had to strike out in the 10th to tie him,” Perry said.

“It was pretty crazy. There weren’t any easy matches.”

Then in the two frame rolloff with Stephens, Perry prevailed 39-38.

After a bye, which had trimmed the field to eight finalists, Perry squared off with Jim Mee of Jamestown, N.Y. Both rolled 244s, which forced another two frame rolloff. Perry prevailed again, this time 29-26.

Perry then eliminated Jack Nelson of Bismarck, N.D., in the semifinals 235-215, and Billy Sales of Huntsville, Ala., in the finals 207-187 to claim the $10,000 check.

“The scores don’t sound all that big, but they don’t make the lanes down there very easy,” Perry said.

“It’s a nice center, just how they condition them. They make them pretty challenging.”

Perry said he’s competed in this event 18 times, but had never won it.

“I’ve always made money in them,” he said.

Sales, the runner-up, earned $5,000.

Perry is now one of the 665 bowlers who are members of the $10,000 Senior High Roller Tournament club. He’s also one of the event’s 192 champions.

Nine bowlers joined the club this year, three from this tournament. The first tournament was held in 1982.

Earlier this year, Perry finished third in United States Bowling Congress singles tournament in Las Vegas. That was in May.

Perry bowls in league play at the Pin and Cue in Whitefish, where he holds a steady 225 average.

“Stuff (tournaments) around Montana,” Perry said of his winter schedule.

“I go back down the end of January for another High Roller, just a regular one, not a senior one. Then go to the USBC Tournament in Reno.”