An 800-series had never happened for Mike Menges.

A bowler for 40 years and a state tournament competitor for 20, the New Oxford resident had never even bowled a 700 in PSBA competition.

“I told my partner this was going to be the weekend I got that 700 ... then I fell flat on my face,” Menges, 54, said.

Carrying a 223 average, Menges rolled a 546 series in singles last weekend at Family Bowlaway. Then he put together an 803 series during doubles competition at the 73rd annual Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Tournament.

Singles and doubles sets take place at the Butler facility while Zelienople’s Freeway Lanes is housing the team competition.

Menges, from the York-Adams bowling association, rolled games of 246, 279 and 278 in doubles. He and partner Chris Mobley are fifth in doubles handicapped, sixth in doubles scratch.

“I’ve never placed in the top five in any event at states,” Menges said. “I really struggled in singles, then we switched lanes for doubles and the conditions were totally different.

“I threw a split on my first ball in doubles, but the ball broke high at the last second. I told my partner,. ‘I can adapt to this.’”

And he did. Of his next 34 shots, 31 were strikes.

Menges’ previous high series was 795, that set occurring five years ago.

“I dreamed of being a pro bowler when I was a kid,” he admitted. “But as I grew older, I realized there’s a lot of awfully good bowlers out there.

“I’ll settle for this. That was a lot of fun.”

The tournament concludes next weekend. Entries are now closed.

Current leaders in the PSBA tourney follow:

Team, Handicapped: Imperial Lanes #1 (Milton) 3,761; Rochester Turners #1 (Beaver Valley) 3,613; Holy Rollers (York-Adams) 3,610; Imperial Lanes #4 (Milton) 3,599; Edinboro Lanes #1 (Erie) 3,591

Team, Scratch: Imperial Lanes #1 (Milton) 3,761; Imperial Lanes #4 (Milton) 3,599; All Seasons Pools #4 (Wyoming Valley) 3,581; Bauer Pro Shop #5 (Reading-Pottstown) 3,496; Satch’s Pro Shop (Reading-Pottstown) 3,493

Doubles, Handicapped: Justin Pisarski-Josh Malanoski (Greater Pittsburgh) 1,546; Joseph Knodle-Brian Chec (Greater Pittsburgh) 1,534; Terry Kuhnhein-Scott Ream (Greater Pittsburgh) 1,514; David Czebotar-Daniel Knittle (Seven Mountains) 1,458; Christopher Mobley-Mike Menges (York-Adams) 1,457

Doubles, Scratch: Justin Pisarski-Josh Malanoski (Greater Pittsburgh) 1,546; Joseph Knodle-Brian Chec (Greater Pittsburgh) 1,534; Joseph Hirsch-Brett Reigh (Greater Harrisburg) 1,414; Jason Ricker-David Gerhart (Lancaster) 1,399; David Schley-Tomas Trout (Milton) 1,398

Singles, Handicapped: Rodney Bashline (Greater Oil Region) 793, Jon Norlin (Seneca Highlands) 792, Joe VanNess (Brownsville) 785; Steven Harkay (Greater Pittsburgh) 783; Ronald Jellison (Greater Pittsburgh) 774

Singles, Scratch: Mark Everette (Beaver Valley) 765; Don Stanyard (Erie) 755; Justin Pisarski (Greater Pittsburgh) 748; Brett Rearick (Erie) 742; Brandon Beck (Danville-Bloomsburg-Berwick) 741

All Events, Handicapped: Brian Chec (Greater Pittsburgh) 2,271; Corey Balog (Greater Pittsburgh) 2,271; Josh Malanoski (Greater Pittsburgh) 2,229; Charles Stepp (Washington) 2,202; Douglas Schwenk (Lancaster) 2,192

All Events, Scratch: Brian Chec (Greater Pittsburgh) 2,271; Josh Malanoski (Greater Pittsburgh) 2,229; James Tomek Jr. (Milton) 2,148; Michael Harpster (Altoona) 2,129; Troy Lint (Lancaster) 2,129

High Series (June 1-3): Mike Menges 803, Joseph Hvozdovic Jr. 795, Thomas Biniek Jr. 790, Tod Sentz 765, David O’Kane 764

High Game (June 1-3): Thomas Biniek Jr. 300, Todd Klinko 300, Joe Hvozdovic Jr. 288, Joe Hvozdovic 288, Eric Trinkle 287