JEFFERSON TWP — When Kevin Hindman wins, he wins big.

The 2013 Knoch graduate won the Pennsylvania High School bowling singles championship two years ago.

Now he’s trumped that by claiming the all-events handicapped title at the 75th annual Pa. State Bowling Association Tournament in Erie.

The tourney concluded last weekend.

“I’m surprised my score held up, especially with the small handicap I was getting and the number of big scores being posted up there,” Hindman said.

Numerous 700-series were rolled throughout the tournament, but few showed the consistency of Hindman.

He rolled a 764 in singles, 777 in doubles and 751 in team.

His 2,292 scratch all-events score was good enough for second in that category. Shane Tetterton of Reading-Pottstown beat him by 14 pins.

“My handicap was only 63 pins,” Hindman said. “The guys right behind me got over 400 (handicap). That’s why I’m so shocked I got this.”

Hindman’s handicapped all-event score was 2,355. That was 18 pins better than runner-up Steve Callen of St. Marys, who had a 2,337 with a 711-pin handicap. Matthew Heck of Allentown was third with a 2,321 (492 handicap), Daniel Vogt of St. Marys fourth with a 2,320 (435 handicap).

This marked the first year Hindman even competed in all-events at the state tournament.

“I did singles and doubles last year, but that was it,” he said. “And that was the first time I ever bowled in the tournament at all.”

Hindman will receive a rather lucrative check from the PSBA as he finished among the top 20 in singles scratch and placed third in doubles handicapped.

“I’m pretty excited. That will probably be the most money I’ve had in my life,” he said.

His doubles partner was longtime family friend Mike McGinnis of Sarver.

“My parents have bowled with him forever,” Hindman said. “He’s a solid bowler, averaging 185 or so.”

Their handicapped doubles score of 1,576 was just 29 pins short of Mercer County’s Kenneth Clayton and Charles Rhodes, who won that category with a 1,605.

Hindman has rolled four perfect games in practice during his lifetime, but has never posted a 300 in a competitive situation. He rolled a 296 in state doubles in Erie.

“That last shot was the worst I threw in the entire tournament,” he said. “I dipped my shoulder way down and the ball never had a chance of coming back.

“I didn’t even hit the head pin. If there was one shot I’d love to have back, that was it.”

Hindman is coming off a freshman bowling season at CCAC that saw him reach the NJCAA national tournament near Buffalo, N.Y. He placed 22nd out of 150 bowlers there.

CCAC bowls its home matches at North Versailles Bowling Center.

“They change the shot there all the time for college matches,” Hindman said. “I average 220 on my house shot, 199 on that college shot.

“After experiencing that all season, the shot at the state tournament seemed like a piece of cake. There were some out of bounds areas on the lanes if you threw too wide, though.”

Hindman was one of only two male bowlers at CCAC this year. The program hopes to field a full team next season.

In the meantime, Hindman is preparing for a July 6 house tournament at Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum that pays $4,000 to win.

“Winning the high school title means a little more to me because you have to qualify to get there,” Hindman said. “But winning this (PSBA all-events) feels pretty good, too. I don’t think it’s totally sunk in yet.”