Bowler Plays Perfect Game With Ball Containing Father's Ashes

PEORIA, IL —An Illinois man bowled a perfect 300-point game earlier this month, and it was nothing short of a family affair. John Hinkle Jr. of Peoria had a little help from his first-ever bowling teacher, his dad.

Hinkle's dad, who taught him to love the game as a very young child, did not witness the victory in person, but he was involved in a more impactful way: The ball Hinkle used to score 300 contains his dad's ashes.

"Put my dad’s ashes in a bowling ball and bowled a 300 with it," Hinkle wrote in an Instagram post. "My pops never had a perfect game until now."

Hinkle told ESPN he was inspired to preserve his father's remains in a bowling ball after his death in 2016 because he wanted to memorialize their relationship. He said his friend, who owns a bowling pro shop in town, filled the ball's thumbhole with ashes and sealed it closed.

Hinkle considers the win his dad's first ever perfect game, he told Central Illinois Proud.

"It’s special. Dad shot 298, 299, never had a 300. I had goosebumps, chills,” Hinkle said. “He was there. This is the best (300 game), and definitely the hardest. I was shaking."

According to 247 Sports, Hinkle's father taught him and his brother to bowl at a young age. Hinkle went on to win two NCAA bowling championships at Western Illinois University.

"Bowling was a big part of my whole family. Growing up, my twin and I lived in the bowling alley waiting on mom and dad to finish their league nights. Every Saturday morning, they would take us to bowl in our league, starting at the age of 4," he told ESPN.

He's now going on to play the PBA Tour of Championships in May. He told ESPN he plans to retire the ball following the championship.

"I will no longer throw this bowling ball, because I accomplished what I wanted to do for my father," he told ESPN. "His bowling ball and scores will be displayed at my house next to all my other accomplishments."