Tommy Jones
Simpsonville, SC
Ebonite’s Tommy Jones is often lauded, and deservedly so, as the future of competitive bowling.
A former member of Team USA and the first youth bowler to throw a 300 game at the Junior World Youth games, ‘TJ’ joined the PBA in 2000 and currently owns the distinction of breaking the PBA record for shortest time between his first and 10th titles by four days with his second title of the year and his second Major, the 2007 PBA Tournament of Champions. He was chosen Rookie of the Year in 2001-02 and is one of few players to win back-to-back Japan Cup titles.
Tommy was unstoppable in both the 04-05 and 05-06 seasons, winning four titles each year, including the 63rd US Open. In 05-06, during which he was also chosen as the Player of the Year, Tommy had a 15-match televised winning streak, which ranks as the second-longest streak of all-time (Jim Pencak, 16). When he was named the 05-06 PBA Player of the Year, Tommy became one of only two bowlers (Mike Aulby) to earn both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors during his professional bowling career.
Upon winning the 2008 ConstructionJobs.com event (the Shark pattern), Tommy became only the second bowler to ever win on all five of the PBA’s oil patterns. He now has 12 titles to his credit and ended the 07-08 with a 220.27 average after bowling in all 21 events, advancing to match play 15 times and winning two events, ConstructionJobs.com Championship and the GEICO Classic. In 2008, he crossed the $1 million mark in earnings after posting his fourth consecutive year of over $100,000 in earnings.
“After throwing the new Playmaker, I can say it is going to be hard to beat. There’s no second guessing this one. The new Clash and Bash are going to be great on a lot more patterns and the re-release of The One makes this ball even better for the average player on oily environments.”
Tommy was ranked 30th on the PBA’s 2008 list of “50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years” and has been a member of the Ebonite pro staff his entire seven-year PBA career.
Bowls: R
Joined PBA: 2000
DOB: 11/2/1978
Titles: 13 (two Majors)