Corey Kaughman, although only 37 years of age, has already had an illustrious career in bowling.

Consider that Cory has bowled not one but 17 perfect games.

In the Sunday Night Mixed League at Bowl East last week, he put the icing on his career cake, totaling 813 on games of 288, 278 and 247.

“I was bowling on lanes 31 and 32,” Cory said. “That’s the same pair where Justin (Brisco) rolled his 803 earlier this year.”

Cory’s big series toppled his previous best of 798.

A right-hander, Cory cranks his strike shot inside the third arrow, out to the fifth or sixth board and back to the 1-3 pocket. That shot produced 10 strikes each in the first two games.

In the first game, he left a solid 7 pin in the first frame before striking through the second ball in the 10th. He left another 10 pin on a pocket hit on his final ball for 288.

He started the second game with five in a row before a pocket hit left a solid 8 pin. Another five-strike spree carried him through to the final ball in the 10th where he left another 10 pin.

Were all the strike hits solidly in the pocket?

“I got away with a few shots that weren’t, but most of them were solid pocket hits,” Cory said.

David Brisco, who was bowling near Kaughman’s team, agreed. “He was pounding that pocket all night,” David said.

Cory, who bowls with wife Margaret and Rick and Jimie Banfield in the mixed league, said he carries an average around 212 in the league. He also competes in the Thursday Men’s City League at the Fourth Street Bowl.

Margaret and Cory are both members of Joplin’s USBC Association board of directors and serve as junior bowling coaches at Fourth Street Bowl.

“We probably have 40 kids participating in our youth leagues on Friday,” Cory said. “We have kids ranging in age from five and six up through high school.”

Other performances worth noting include a 300 game by Jamie Kohler at Fourth Street Bowl, a 290-794 by David Brisco at Bowl East, Renee Lisle’s 248-636 at East, a pair of 600s by Heidi Burggraf (one in each house), senior bowler J.R. Jones’ 255-635 at East and big series by senior women bowlers Linda Washington (576 at East) and Jackie Peterson (213-572 at Fourth Street).

In the youth leagues, Darrell Brisco shot 278-268-730 at East and Tyler Meyer posted 600 series in each house.

Last week’s highlights

Bowl East

Men—Luke Alexander 279-750, Gabe Attoun 729, Paul Beckham 759, David Brisco 290-794, Chad Browning 706, Layton Clark 706, Jake Dean 710, Justin Fullerton 289, Lonny Heath 277, Mark Howerton 704, Brad Kohlbusch 723, Jeremy Moffatt 707, Jim Noland 278, Harry Parrish 736, Johnny Vickers 279-749.

Women—Jimie Banfield 235, Heidi Burggraf 223-620, Teri Lankford 235-613, Tammy Little 235-622, Rose Puckett 223.

Senior men—Al Knaust 221, James Lack 624, Myron Sisk 225, Bill Byrd 590, Gene Elrod 224, Tom Fortson 238, Jack Trombley 596, Steve Wiles 599.

Senior women—Sue Colgin 205, Bev Cochran 514.

Juniors-majors—Tyler Meyer 248-213-660, Tadd Nichols 210, Katie Phillips 234-569.

Bantams-Preps—Zac Barbee 177-468.

Fourth Street Bowl

Men—Kevin Giddens 289, Larry Oxendine 710, John Richey 700, Chris Slates 290, Jonathan White 279, Frank Wiesler 701.

Women—Heidi Burggraf 601, Dixie Ferris 224, Tracy Richey 224.

Senior men—Bill Byrd 245-607.

Senior women—Billie Bilke 523, Bernice Cooke 500, Barb Eppard 527, Gert Kelly 506.

Youth juniors—Zack Fort 517, Quincy Dalton 500.

Youth majors—Tyler Meyer 221-613.

Joplin teams first, second

That’s the Rumor of Joplin won the women’s team championship in the Carl Richard Open held last month at the Fourth Street Bowl.

Team members were Sonya Fort, Margaret Kaughman, Cassie Walker, Angie Ryals and Heidi Burggraf. That’s the Rumor scratched 2718 and finished with a handicap total of 2964 to best runner-up Bring It On by 25 pins. Dazed and Confused was third, Tulsa Outskirts fourth and Coachlight Lanes fifth.

Another Joplin team, D & D Sexton, finished second in the men’s division. Members were Mark Howerton, Dale Bailey, Ted Barbee, Jeremy Clark and Jeremy Moffatt.

Roommates, a Wichita State University team, placed first with 3399, 64 pins in front of D & D Sexton. Jacob Peters led the Wichita team with 299-811. Peters teamed with Josh McBride to win doubles with 1428. Peters shot 289-728 and McBride 300-700. McBride also won the six-game combo event with a 1439 total.

Trailing the leaders in the men’s team event were B.Y.D., Bulls Trophy House #29 and K.C. #4.

Singles winners were Clint Owens in the men’s division with 767 and Linda Peterson with 640. Joyce Balentine and Jennine Kitchens won women’s doubles with 1257.

Roxane Jester captured the handicap all-events in the women’s division with 1707.

Address correspondence to Wendell Redden, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802, or e-mail sports@joplinglobe.com.