By Kyle LoJacono
Rob Kuntz and Chad Gaddie have bowled together in Royal Bowling Lanes’ Tuesday league for more than two years, but the teammates did something neither has seen before on Jan. 4.
On that night Kuntz, 41, opened the three-game matchup with a perfect 300 score. Gaddie, 31, bowled all strikes except one spare for a 279 in the first game, and then followed with a perfect game of his own in the second.
Making things even stranger, the two finished with identical scores of 837 by bowling 300, 279 and 258 in different orders during the three games.
“I’m sure it’s happened somewhere before, but no one we’ve told has ever heard of anyone doing that,” said Gaddie, who lives in Land O’ Lakes.
Kuntz, who is better known in the league as “Sippy Cup,” said the possibility of identical scores became apparent toward the end of the last game.
“It was in the ninth when I noticed,” said Kuntz, who lives in Lutz. “We had to both throw all strikes to do it and we did.”
It was Gaddie’s 25th perfect game in a sanctioned event. He is averaging 245 in the Tuesday league, called Men’s Night Out.
“I was ready to go,” Gaddie said. “I try and do my best every time I walk in the door. It was one of those days when things were going really well.”
Kuntz, who is averaging 232, did not know how many times he’s tossed a perfect game, but said it has been at least 12 years.
“I took about 10 years off from the sport,” Kuntz said. “I hadn’t shot 300 in a long time, so I wanted to make sure I focused on every shot in the second and third game. I didn’t want to throw it away with bad scores in the second and third.”
Watching the pair of perfect games was their teammate John King, 24.
“We told him it was his turn after we did it,” Gaddie said jokingly.
King is averaging 204 and just enjoys being a part of the league.
“It’s exciting to play with them,” said King, who lives in Land O’ Lakes. “They are good enough to go professional if they wanted.”
The thought of going professional has crossed both of their minds. Kuntz currently works with J.P. Morgan, but did participate in some regional Professional Bowlers Association tournaments years ago.
“I started playing when I was about 5 years old and I really considered it when I came out of the youth league,” Kuntz said. “I cashed some checks in those tournaments. Then I started working in a pro shop and thought that would make me bowl more, but I actually bowled less.”
Gaddie has been playing the game for 32 years. He currently works for Edible Arrangements, in real estate and owns and operates a lawn care company.
“I’ve thought about going pro, but I really just try and enjoy the game,” Gaddie said. “I will be going to the (United States Bowling Congress’) national tournament this year in Reno for the first time.”
Anthony Matthews has been the president of Men’s Night Out for four years and says the three-man team brings a lot of energy to Tuesday nights. However, he wishes they would take it easier on him.
“They threw those two perfect games against my team,” Matthews said. “It seems like every time we play them they both put up 800 on us.”
For more information on the league, call Royal Bowling Lanes at (813) 949-3606.
