Red Dirt Diaries: Edmond Teen Rises From Backyard Project To Pro Ranks

We first learned about the bowling talents of young Eric Jones this past spring.

The high school sophomore and his father built a 48-foot bowling alley in the backyard of their Edmond home.

“I can work on the hand coming off the ball,” said Eric about his backyard alley.

Those lessons learned in the backyard paid off when a Professional Bowlers Association Tour event recently came to the metro.

“I was going to see if Eric wanted to bowl in their Pro-Am and he said, ‘No I want to bowl in the tournament,’ I was like man I don't want to see him get beat by pros,” said Eric’s father Heath.

Eric calmed his nerves to beat two-time National Champion Stu Williams in the early rounds.

“I thought he was going to blow me out of the water, and he didn't. It was weird that was the weird part,” said Eric.

Eric was in the zone during his first ever pro tournament and won.

“I couldn’t sleep the next night. I was like a kid on Christmas,” said Heath.

“He's freaking out, I'm freaking out. I don't think its sunken in for either of us,” said Eric.

At 15 years old, Eric Jones is the youngest person to win a PBA tour event.

His prize money goes into a college scholarship fund.

Meanwhile the father and son plan to fix and improve their backyard bowling lane after a lane oil mishap.

“We were using Pam, but Eric put Canola oil on it. The Canola oil kind of turned to glue,” said Heath.

We’re told a Formica surface is next for the backyard lane.

“It’s pretty cool. I’m happy that he supports me through it,” said Eric about his father.