Dave Davis

Dave Davis (April 28, 1942 – December 29, 2022) was an American professional ten-pin bowler who was a member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). He grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and resided in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in his later life before moving to Lake Placid, Florida. Davis is a member of the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame. Professional career Beginning his PBA career in 1964, the left-handed Davis won 18 PBA Tour titles, including four majors. He was known for his smooth yet powerful delivery and impeccably straight arm swing, which TV analysts Nelson Burton Jr. and Randy Pedersen have called one of the greatest in the game. In 1965, he became the first left-hander to win a PBA major, taking the title in the PBA National Championship at age 23. Davis won multiple titles in a season four times, including six titles in the 1967 season alone. The 1967 season would see him win his second PBA National Championship on his way to PBA Player of the Year honors. The following season (1968) Davis won the PBA Tournament of Champions for his third major title. This title made Davis the youngest player in history (age 25 years, 343 days) to earn three PBA major championships. His record stood until 2022, when Anthony Simonsen won his third PBA major at age 25 years, 31 days. After a long drought from 1971 to 1974, Davis came roaring back with three titles in the 1975 season, including his fourth and final major at the Tournament of Champions. He had a chance to win his third PBA National Championship in 1976, but lost the final match in heartbreaking fashion. After tying Paul Colwell 191–191 in the regulation ten frames, Davis was defeated by Colwell 49–48 in a ninth/tenth frame frame roll-off. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1978.