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Ryan Burks, 15, practices Saturday morning at the Belt Bowl. Ryan received an award from the United States Bowling Congress for a 300 game he posted at the Kansas City Open Tournament.

Ryan Burks’ takeaway is high, his bowling ball curves left down the lane and oftentimes, he leaves no pins in his wake.

The 15-year-old has bowled two 300 games this summer, one of which occurred at the Kansas City Open Tournament and helped him to a first-place finish in his age division. It’s a rare achievement for a bowler his age.

“He’s had two 300 games in the past month, two perfect games,” said Tim Tucker, owner of Belt Bowl. “I’ve had four in my life.”

Ryan received an award from the United States Bowling Congress Saturday morning for the 300 he posted at the Kansas City Open, and another is on its way for a three-game score that exceeded 800 at that same tournament.

Lori Gage, St. Joseph USBC association manager, presented Ryan with the award after the teen had spent 10 minutes in a corner lane, calmly bowling strikes as he warmed up for his youth league.

“He’s dedicated to his practice,” Ms. Gage said. “He doesn’t just come out here and throw the ball and play games. He comes out and practices, true practice.”

Ryan has been bowling since he was 7 years old. He said it seemed like the logical thing to do since his mom works at the bowling alley.

“I practice almost every day, up to 15 to 20 games a day,” he said.

The thin, brown-haired teenager is about to be a junior at Benton High School and said next year will be the year he branches out from St. Joseph. If all goes well, Ryan said he hopes to be able to bowl in tournaments around the country, including Detroit and Florida. He plans to attend a bowling camp at Wichita State University during the summer, and the school also sits on his list of possible places to pursue a bowling scholarship while in college.

Sitting on a growing amount of scholarship money from the bowling success he’s already seen, Ryan said the possibility of bowling professionally is still far in the future.

“I’m more worried about school first,” he said.