Bowling: Former pro rolls along without competition

Chris Hayden's face is blank.

His bowling ball has just demolished 10 pins.

But Hayden doesn't clap his hands, doesn't smile and doesn't celebrate beyond a quick fist-bump to his teammate.

He simply walks back to the rack and waits to roll it again.

Hayden, who runs the pro shop at Diamond Lanes, might be Odessa's best bowler. He bowled full-time on the Professional Bowl-ers Association Tour from 1998-2007, won a PBA title at the 2003 VIA Bowling Open in Orlando, Fla., and possibly could carry his tour card if he still wanted to compete.

But he gave up tour competition because the stress of the tour sapped his love for the game.

"I got to the point where I didn't feel like bowling anymore," Hayden said. "I like the game, but I don't enjoy the game as much as I used to. I pick and choose where I know I can do well and make money."

Hayden is paired with Odessa resident Ron Leverich in the Super Senior/Guest Doubles Tournament this weekend at Diamond Lane. The tournament is competitive but lacks the pressure and travel demanded by the PBA Tour.

The PBA instituted a 64-bowler standard field for tour events in 2004. That meant that bowlers had to start qualifying for tournaments unless a bowler earned exempt status with a tournament win or a high place in the points standings.

"The field isn't large enough for all these guys to be out there," PBA member Wes Malott said. "The competition is really good."

Hayden barely missed exempt status in the system's first year, but he had no shot at the money without qualifying for the tournament. In that environment, every throw becomes crucial and the mental strain starts to build.

"When you're bowling on that cutline every week, it wears you down," Hayden said. "When you're doing well, it's like you're on top of the world, and when you're struggling, you want to crawl in the deepest hole you can find."

And every time Hayden missed a cut, he fell a little further behind the rest of the tour bowlers.

Bowling wasn't supporting Hayden financially, but more importantly, it wasn't fun anymore.

So Hayden quit the tour, got married and took a job at a pro shop in Dallas. He moved to Odessa in 2007.

Bowling isn't a stress point anymore for Hayden. Instead, it is a chance to teach.

"He's a quiet guy until you get to know him, but he's a super-nice guy," Leverich said. "There a couple times (Saturday) when I got out of whack, and he knew exactly what to do."

And when Hayden has a chance to help out an amateur bowler, something funny happens.

A smile crosses his face.

SASBA Super Senior/Guest Doubles Tournament

Saturday, At Diamond Lanes

First-Round Qualifying

Top 12 advance to Today's Final

1. Tommy Crouch-Wes Malott, 3,895.
2. Ron Leverich-Chris Hayden, 3,861.
3. Rick McKinney-Scott Pope Jr., 3,852.
4. Tom Wolf-Jay Ashbaugh, 3,727.
5. Dave DuPont-Matt Cabanski, 3,726.
6. Gene Rivers-Wes Richardson, 3,675.
7. Gary Dickinson-Casey Buller, 3,665.
8. Willie Jackson-Walter Markham, 3,659.
9. Steve McBride-Tam Wasson, 3,658.
10. John Martin-Jim Stephens, 3,655.
11. Maury Newman-Ted Pritts, 3,628.
12. Bob Freehauf-Allen Bueche, 3,578.
13. Jim Duck-Bill Alexander, 3,562.
14. Chuck Schwakhofer-Mike Kennerson, 3,548.
15. John Burns-Jack Zuniga, 3,547.
16. Tip Bullock-Justin Wyatt, 3,521.
17. Gary Pfeil-Joe LeCroy, 3,492.
18. Jamie Brooks-Chris Johnson, 3,490.
19. Bruce Michaelson-Rick Satterfield, 3,468.
20. Robert Gibbs-John Blake, 3,449.
21. Len Stephenson-Joe Tidwell, 3,437.
22. Jerry Hill-Jeff Janssen, 3,427.
23. John Precourt-Dan Precourt, 3,393.
24. Mario Colaluca-Larry Reynolds, 3,389.
25. Phil Prieto-Danny Inocencio, 3,379.
26. Charles Avant-Terry Taylor, 3,369.
27. Phil Bailey-Gary Robinson, 3,357.
28. Colin Kyle-Jason Tidwell, 3,340.
29. Jerry Beavers-Pete Thomas, 3,313.
30. Jesse Jackson-D.J. Merritt, 3,306.
31. Bob Kielich-Karl Kielich, 3,234.
32. General Whitfield-Vernon Smith, 3,231.
33. Jackie LeCroy-John Dodd, 3,175.
34. Harry Deter-Jeff Minnick, 3,082.