Raised in an environment full of bowlers, psychology sophomore and LSU Bowling Club President Justin Bui was born to shoot strikes.
But now that many of his family members have stopped playing, it has fallen to him to continue the legacy.
“[Bowling] used to be a family affair, but that has tapered off in recent years,” Bui said. “My uncle dabbled a bit in the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association), so I just took after him.”
His uncle, Jimmy Every, sidesteps any credit attributed to him for Justin’s success.
“[Justin] has taken bowling beyond any level I ever did,” Every said. “I can’t tell you why [the ball] did what it did. … I’m a caveman compared to him.”
Every said it was clear from an early age that Justin had a knack for the game, and that natural talent was aided by a thirst to understand everything about the nuances of bowling.
“As a kid, he would watch every single tournament on TV, and then spend the rest of the day walking around the house pretending to bowl with whatever he could find,” Every said. “A balled up piece of paper, a pair of socks — you name it. He was pretty much self-taught.”
All of that practice culminated in the flash point of his competitive career: At age 14, Bui shot his first 300.
Bui set his sights on competing in professional tournaments and pursued that goal with the laser-beam like focus that Every said he has always had.
Bui’s drive was strong enough to attract the attention of current professionals. Ryan “Rhino” Page, winner of three PBA titles and known for his fiery demeanor, saw Bui compete at a recent PBA regional tournament and was blown away.
“I had never seen as much passion as [Bui] had that day,” Page said.
With the help of Page, who is now a close friend, Bui has won numerous awards, including Louisiana Youth Bowler of the Year in 2012 and Conference Player of the Year as a freshman.
Though his early achievements make for an impressive resume, he is most proud of the success of his cousin, Every’s 11-year-old daughter, Katelynn. Every said his daughter could not ask for a better teacher.
“It is very gratifying to pass something along [to Katelynn],” Bui said. “It is nice to see her succeeding and having fun.”
As a 6-year-old, Katelynn started to show interest in bowling but quit soon after. When Katelynn renewed interest, Bui took a different approach to teaching.
“I was easier on her and tried to make sure she enjoyed it,” Bui said. “I bought her some balls, she joined a league, and she started to have success. Now she enjoys it as much as I do.”
Katelynn is now one of the best bowlers in her age group in New Orleans, and Bui continues to work on his own game with the goal of playing as a full-time professional.