Luke Doyle bowls 300, sets record and breaks 20-year championship drought at Intercity competition

Luke Doyle is now a part of Mackay’s bowling history, finishing his junior career with a perfect frame to help secure the Intercity championships for Mackay’s first win in 20 years.

Luke Doyle uses rivalries built on friendships and family bonds to push himself to develop his craft, with the extra training paying off in recent competitions.

The 18 year old, who attends Holy Spirit College in Mackay, bowled his third perfect game at the North Queensland Intercity Tournament.

In doing so Doyle helped Mackay claim a two-point win in the championships after a 20-year drought.

Doyle said it was “surreal” to win the championships on a 300 game.

“It’s all you can think about, not messing it up, it’s important to keep calm but the nerves are crazy,” he said.

“You get up on the last shot and your legs are shaking, there’s no way of bowling it exactly where you want to, but luckily for me it managed knock them all down.”

Doyle has regularly competed against his father Bob and childhood friend Connor Raines, with the two elite bowlers in their own right.

He said the competitions he had with his dad and friend helped push him to be better.

“Dad’s been bowling for about 20 years and he was the reason I got into it,” he said.

“I got my first 300 game before him, it was the first thing I said to him was that I beat him, but we’ve always had a bit of a rivalry like that.

“Connor and I have always been good friends off the lanes, but we’re our biggest competitors on the lanes, we’re always trying to beat each other and that’s why we bowl together.

“We push each other and it’s good to have someone who’s willing to compete with you and make you better.”

Doyle now owns a piece of Mackay bowling history, becoming the first two-handed bowler to score 300 for the region.

He said it was amazing to own a record for Mackay, but bringing home the region’s first tournament win in 20 years was the better prize.

“It’s crazy to think we’re a part of Mackay’s bowling history, you look at some of the best bowlers coming through here,” Doyle said.

“Brendan Muscat is a very accomplished bowler for the region, and he was a member of that team 20 years ago.

“To have my name up there alongside some of Mackay’s best bowlers is something I’m very proud of.”