Ernie Schlegel

Ernie Schlegel of Vancouver, Washington, is a retired professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), who competed on both the PBA Tour and PBA Senior Tour. While on the PBA Tour, Ernie won seven titles (including two majors) along with six runner-up finishes plus an additional 26 appearances in the top-five. Schlegel was interested in joining the pro tour as early as 1964, but then-PBA Regional Director Frank Esposito (who also owned Paramus Bowl in New Jersey) did not officially approve his membership until 1968, with Esposito saying "I approved him then because he had straightened himself out."

Schlegel's second major title (also his final PBA Tour title) was conquered almost six months later at the 1996 ABC Masters. Ernie earned the tournament's #1 seed going into the finals and then beat defending champion Mike Aulby 236–200 in the title match.

In 2001, Ernie surpassed $1 million in career earnings, by finishing 15th at the 2001 U.S. Open. He went on to win two titles on the PBA Senior Tour (now known as the PBA50 Tour).

Schlegel is a member of both the USBC's and PBA's Hall of Fame.

PBA titles

PBA Tour Major championships are in bold text. 1980 King Louie Open (Overland Park, KS) 1980 City Of Roses Open (Portland, OR) 1984 Long Island Open (Garden City, NY) 1985 Lite Beer Open (North Olmsted, OH) 1989 ARC Pinole Open (Pinole, CA) 1995 Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship (Harmarville, PA) 1996 ABC Bud Light Masters (Salt Lake City, UT)

PBA Senior Tour 2003 PBA Senior Northern California Classic (Brentwood, CA) 2007 PBA Senior Epicenter Classic (Klamath Falls, OR)