Following the death of his father John Hinkle Sr., son John Jr., a two-time NCAA bowling champion, laced-up to play one of the luckiest games of his life on April 12.
Using a ball that had been custom made with the ashes of his late dad, the 39-year-old Western Illinois University bowler set out to bowl the perfect game as tribute, bringing his brother Joe with him to their hometown alley, Landmark Lanes in Peoria, Illinois.
After the elder Hinkle died in 2016, John decided to honor his father by having the thumb hole of his ball filled with his dad’s ashes. (His two-hand technique allows for only two fingers in the ball.)