Young bowler is on a roll

The best young bowler in the country just so happens to be from Southern Denton County.

Justin Tan, a senior at Flower Mound High School, was recently named the best youth male by the United States Bowling Congress for holding the highest reported bowling average in the nation.

“At first, I didn’t believe it when I found out,” Tan said. “It felt really good, though, because all of the hard work I had put in finally seemed to be paying off.”

Tan, 17, started bowling at the age of seven and said he was originally attracted to the sport for a couple of reasons.

“Honestly, I just wanted to have something to do where I could have fun outside of school and meet some new people,” Tan said. “I also wanted the opportunity to build up some college scholarships.”

While Tan said he has not received any scholarship offers yet, he is on the lookout, and hopes to continue bowling in college.

The Flower Mound senior said his average is currently 239.

Tan works at AMF Lewisville, said he typically bowls four times a week, and has made some serious accomplishments besides being named the country’s best bowler.

“I’ve bowled two sanctioned 300’s, but many more in practice and stuff,” Tan said. “I’ve bowled what they call an 800 series, where I shot an 816 over three games, so I averaged a score of 272 per game.” Tan also had the highest individual average in the state among high school bowlers last year.

The Flower Mound senior just made the team at Flower Mound High School, and after a third place finish in state two years ago and an 11th place finish last year for the Jaguars, expectations are high again this year.

“Our team is great,” Tan said. “But I don’t really put a lot of pressure on myself. If I bowl well, I bowl well, and if I don’t, I don’t. I just try to go out and have fun.”

Tan is also a member of the FMHS student council, the National Honor Society, the math club and Breakfast Buddies.

He has a 3.9 grade point average.