By Cynthia Scott

Mark Rohde is happy to talk about bowling. He will begin by assuring you that he is definitely not passionate about it. Golf, he says, now thatís a different story. Heís absolutely passionate about golf. But not bowling.

True, he will fetch a small, dusty trophy from a shelf in his den that is littered with trophies and tell you it was the first bowling trophy he ever won, almost 30 years ago, when he was in high school. And heíll propound ñ fiercely ñ his view that bowling has become less a sport and more a game in the past 30 years; and he will disclose that, at age 54, his body is such a wreck from arthritis, and from a torn rotator cuff, that he really canít compete like he used to; and he will even show you the soft vacuum inserts that fit in the holes in his bowling balls to give his finger joints some relief from pain.

But he insists heís not passionate about bowling. ìI bowl because I need to do something. But Iím not passionate about it. I could quit today and I wouldnít miss it,î he says.

Frankly, thatís a tough sell. The affable Rohde exudes passion ñ for bowling, for competing, and for the sheer joy of participating in sports.

On Nov. 14 Rohde, of North Branch, will be in Milwaukee to compete in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters Tournament, a berth he earned by virtue of winning the Actual All Events Championship at the 77th annual Minnesota state bowling tournament earlier this year.

In Milwaukee he will have the opportunity to compete against the worldís top bowlers, amateurs as well as professionals. That prospect clearly delights him, even though he claims he has not a whit of a chance to win.

ìIt will be like standing in the batterís box against a 25-year-old Nolan Ryan,î he says.

Most people would probably pale at the specter of going up against the Hall of Fame pitcher, but when Rohde says it, his face lights up. Then he confesses why.

ìI actually like the pressure. I like to perform when you have to perform,î he says. ìSome guys play to have fun and sometimes win. I play to win and I have fun.î

Indeed, Rohde is an accomplished bowler. He was the first bowler to score 300 at JJís Bowl in North Branch, and in all he has 13 300 games under his belt; he has rolled two 800 series (which requires getting 32 strikes out 36); he has six 299 games and five 290. His highest average was 228, and he did that twice.

Rohde began bowling as a kid. His dad was a semi-pro bowler, but it was his mom who really nurtured his interest at the sport. They would go together to the Rose Bowl in Roseville, where they played ñ and won ñ a lot of tourneys together.

Rohde is self-taught in the sport; he has honed his skills by competing and paying attention to what works and what doesnít. He enthusiastically explains what kind of grip is required to achieve a certain hook, or what kind of ball works best on a particular lane. Heís a student of the game in every sense of the word, but he is also quick to say that his abilities are primarily God-given. ìItís a gift. God blessed me in a lot of good ways,î he says.

Rohde is eager to test his mettle in Milwaukee next week. He will be one of 192 bowlers to compete. His goal is to ìknock off two or threeî world class bowlers on his way to placing high enough to win some cash.

After all, he says, ìOne of the reasons I bowl is to help me pay for golf, my first love.î

Yeah, right.

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