Teenage bowling sensation chases dream to represent SA on world stage

A 16-year-old boy from Eldoraigne in Centurion is working hard to fulfil his dream of representing South Africa as a junior bowler abroad.

Thomas Muller is one of the youngest bowlers to win a major ten-pin bowling event in the country and is set to participate in the SA Singles Competition, scheduled for the end of April at Koko’s Bowling Alley.

This follows his recent participation in the SA Doubles Championship on March 21 at Northcliff Bowling Alley.

Reflecting on the energy of the competition, Muller shared that the atmosphere was filled with excitement.

“I was really excited because I had not played in a tournament for a while and had been working very hard for it,” said Muller.

Although he did not compete in the division with the top players, he found inspiration in watching them.

“Watching them was a crazy experience as I learnt so much from them, including their personal tips and tricks.”

Muller secured eighth place in the tournament with an average of 183.2.

He explained that he aimed to achieve an average of 200, but 183.2, the second-highest, is good enough to maintain his confidence.

His rigorous training regimen has played a crucial role in his development as a bowler.

“Every morning, I was in the gym from 06:00 to 06:45 at school, then practised at the bowling alley three to four times a week from 15:00 to 18:00,” he said.

While he found that none of his opponents were particularly tough to beat, he acknowledged the challenge of facing competitors with a significant handicap advantage.

“Beating opponents who have a 30+ higher handicap than you is a difficult task to overcome,” he admitted.

Despite the challenges, Muller expressed satisfaction with his performance.

“I feel quite happy with my performance, but in the future, I definitely think I can improve on my spares, which will be a game changer for the next tournament.”

Looking ahead, he is preparing for the SA Singles Competition, scheduled for April 26-27 at Koko’s Bowling Alley.

“We are still looking for sponsors who could support me on my road to success, but I am sure that will come through,” he added.

He also expressed gratitude to the North Gauteng bowlers who advanced to the finals and to his coach, who won gold in the masters division.

Last year, Muller bowled an outstanding 170 average in the round-robin final to win gold at the TBASA SA Singles Championship at Koko’s Bowling Centre in Brakpan.

He competed against 96 bowlers from across the country and battled it out in four divisions of the championships from May 3-5.

At that time, he described his experience as one of intense focus.

“I was absolutely speechless; I did not know how to feel or what to say,” he recalled.

He added that he had been “laser-focused” throughout the tournament.

His father, Henno, expressed immense pride in Thomas’ achievements and dedication.

“To achieve his goal of representing South Africa as a junior bowler abroad, he has to play from his scratch score, like in golf.”

He explained that playing from scratch means competing against bowlers who have played for over 30 years.

Henno highlighted the challenges that come with competing against seasoned bowlers and emphasised the importance of experience in navigating the complexities of the sport.

“Every lane has its own challenges; only through years and hours of bowling in different conditions can a bowler navigate his game through difficult times,” he added.

He also reflected on his son’s journey and shared how proud he is of him.

“When Thomas sets his mind to a challenge, he usually achieves it. We have all the faith that his dream to play for South Africa is not far away.”

Henno fondly remembered how Thomas began his bowling journey two years ago, starting with a 60 handicap and quickly improving through hard work and dedication.

“He has worked very hard to be where he is now,” he added.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.