Mike Fagan

Mike Fagan
Personal information
Full name Michael Fagan
Nickname(s) King of Swing
Born (1980-11-04) November 4, 1980
Westbury, New York, U.S.
Occupation Ten-pin bowler
Years active 2002–2016
Spouse(s) Emily Maier
Medal record
Men's bowling
Representing  United States
World Games
2013 Cali Mixed doubles

Michael "Mike" Fagan (born November 4, 1980 in Westbury, New York) is an American professional bowler on the PBA Tour. He has also participated in World Bowling Tour (WBT) and European Bowling Tour (EBT) events, and as a member of Team USA in international competitions. Known for his high backswing, he is sometimes known as the "King of Swing". He has a high RPM rate, but also has a smooth release, so his style can be classified as either a cranker or a power stroker.

PBA Career

Fagan began his PBA career in the 2002–03 season, and owns five PBA Tour titles, including two majors. He captured his first PBA title in his 108th career event, winning the PBA Exempt Doubles Classic with partner Danny Wiseman in the 2007–08 season. He earned his first singles title at the 2010 One-a-Day Dick Weber Open, defeating all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams, Jr. in the final match.

His next victory came at the 2012 Brunswick Euro Challenge, a World Bowling Tour event, where he was credited with his third PBA Title. Having lost to Chris Barnes in his first TV appearance at the semifinals of the 2003 Empire State Open in Latham, New York, Fagan won against Barnes in the 2012 USBC Masters, overcoming a 30-pin deficit after five frames to win his fourth title and first major championship.[1] Fagan narrowly missed winning a second consecutive major in that season's U.S. Open, when Pete Weber rolled a strike on his final ball of the tenth frame to defeat Fagan by a single pin, 215–214.[2] Marking his first (and so far only) season with multiple titles, Fagan won a career-high $116,950 in 2011–12.

Fagan won his fifth career title and second major at the PBA World Championship on January 11, 2015, defeating Wes Malott in the final match, 252–212.[3]

Other career highlights

  • Prior to 2012, Fagan's best finish at a major was third place at the 2006 U.S. Open. He defeated 2000 U.S. Open champion Robert Smith, 216–214, in the first match of the finals (his first career match win on TV) before losing to Tommy Jones.
  • Had a career-high four perfect 300 games during the 2007-08 season, tied for second on Tour. Through the 2016 season, he has racked up 21 perfect games in PBA events.
  • His career PBA Tour earnings are over $892,000 (through 2016). He also owns two PBA Regional titles.[4]
  • Was the victim of Liz Johnson in the finals of the 2005 East Region Kingpin Lanes tournament, the first PBA tournament ever won by a female bowler.
  • Lost to Jack Jurek in a sudden death rolloff in the 2009 Shark Championship, giving Jurek his first title in 14 years.
  • Has won five European Bowling Tour (EBT) titles as of April 30, 2012.[5]
  • He is a five-time member of Team USA.
  • Fagan has also serveed as PBA Player Committee Chairman and is on the USBC Board of Directors.

Personal

Originally from Patchogue, New York, Fagan now resides in Las Vegas with his wife, Emily, who bowled collegiately for Wichita State University and also for Team USA. The two were married in 2013. Mike, who got his undergraduate degree in Finance at St. John's University, announced during the 2015 season that he would be reducing his appearances on the PBA Tour to pursue his MBA at the University of California, Berkeley.[6] He entered only three PBA Tour events in the 2016 season and entered none in the 2017 season.

References

  1. ↑ Vint, Bill. "Mike Fagan Tops Chris Barnes to Win First Major Title in Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters." Article at www.pba.com on January 29, 2012.
  2. ↑ Vint, Bill. "Pete Weber Wins Record Fifth U.S. Open to Surpass Father Dick Weber and Don Carter." Article at www.pba.com on February 26, 2012.
  3. ↑ Schneider, Jerry (January 11, 2015). "Mike Fagan Wins PBA World Championship for Fifth Tour Title and Second Major". PBA.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  4. ↑ PBA Tour Bowlers bio at www.pba.com
  5. ↑ "Mike Fagan wins his fifth career EBT title in 3rd Track Dream-Bowl Palace Open." Article at bowlingdigital.com on April 30, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Mike Fagan (bowler profile at StormBowling.com)". StormBowling.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
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