PATTY COSTELLO

Rising from one of the most active and talented Washington, D.C. area youth bowlers in the early 1960s to one of the greatest left-handed professional women bowlers, Patty Costello can easily be called the greatest woman bowler this area has ever produced.

Born in Washington, D.C., Patty entered the championship ring at the age of 15 when she was the Maryland State Junior Girls Champion for 1962. The following year, she bowled the highest women's game in the area with a 277. That year, she also bowled in three junior leagues, with a high average of 175. Patty switched to adult leagues in 1964 at the age of 17 when she bowled in five leagues that included two Metropolitan Washington Bowling Proprietors' Association (MWBPA) travel leagues. While bowling locally, Patty won the MWBPA Invitational Tournament twice, had a high average of 205, high game of 299, and a high series of 791.

She turned professional in 1969, and the rest is in the bowling record books.

In 1972 and 1976, Patty was selected professional Bowler of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America. She was on the Women's International Bowling Congress All-American team in 1976, 1977, and 1986. And, she has been named to the National Bowlers Journal All-America Team nine times.

In 1971, Patty became a charter member of the Women's All-Star Association (WASA). Over a span of 15 years, Patty has won a record 28 WASA tour tournaments and is a five-time WASA Bowler of the Year.

Most recently, Patty was elected Pro Bowler of the Year in 1985 by her fellow Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour (LPBT) members.

Patty's accomplishments continue to dot the record books. She has won a record 25 pro tournaments, including the 1985 LPBT Tournament of Champions. In 1976, Patty won the United States Open with a 226.27 average — highest in the history of the tournament. She is also the only woman professional bowler to twice win three consecutive LPBT tournaments.

Patty's career earnings total more than $214,000. She has bowled a perfect game to her credit and a high series of 791.

Though starting out as one of our own, Patty has brought fame to the Washington, D. C. Area Women's Bowling Association by continuing to nationally prove her bowling ability time and time again. She has left the WDCAWBA amateur bowling circuit, but not the hearts of those who grew up with her as leaguemates. She is an outstanding addition to the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.