Gary Faulkner Jr. facts for kids

Gary Faulkner Jr. is an American professional bowler from Memphis, Tennessee. He was born on October 18, 1990. Gary plays on the PBA Tour, which is a big league for professional bowlers. Before that, he was part of Junior Team USA, a team for young talented bowlers. In 2015, he won his first major PBA championship.

Early Life and Bowling Beginnings

Gary Faulkner Jr. grew up in Whitehaven and Germantown, areas in and near Memphis, Tennessee. He finished high school at Germantown High in 2009. Gary learned how to bowl at local places like Winchester Bowl and the Strike Zone Bowling Lanes in Memphis. It was there that he earned the nickname “300” because he was so good. His father, Gary Faulkner Sr., is a pastor at Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church.

Amateur Bowling Career

Gary started bowling very young, joining The National Bowling Association (TNBA) Junior Bowling Program when he was just five years old. As he got older, he even helped teach other young bowlers.

In 2011, Gary won the Junior Gold Championship, which is a big competition for young bowlers. This win helped him earn a spot on Junior Team USA. He then went to Webber International University. In 2012, he was a key player for his college team, helping them win the Intercollegiate Team Championship. The next year, in 2013, he was named the most valuable player for the men's team at the same championship. He also won the TNBA Veronica L. Green Junior Singles Scratch Tournament Masters title.

Professional Bowling Achievements

Gary Faulkner Jr. became a professional bowler and joined the PBA in 2013. In 2015, during his very first time on professional television, he won a major title. This was at the Rolltech PBA World Championship. In 2016, he finished ninth in another competition, the PBA Xtra Frame Lubbock Sports Open.

Gary became only the second African-American bowler to win a PBA Tour championship. The first was George Branham III, who has now retired. To celebrate Gary's achievement, Steve Cohen, a Representative from Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives, invited Gary to bowl at the White House. On March 4, 2016, Gary bowled on the lanes located beneath the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Some of his family members, staff from Representative Cohen's office, and White House staff joined him.

Major PBA Tour Wins

• 2015 – Rolltech PBA World Championship (Reno, Nevada)

Personal Interests

Gary Faulkner Jr. studied at Webber International University and earned a bachelor's degree in computer information systems. When he's not bowling, he enjoys computer programming, working out, and playing basketball.