Mike Fagan

Last updated
Mike Fagan
20111129MikeFagan-Qatar-byVinodDivakaran.jpg
Fagan in 2011
Personal information
Full nameMichael Todd Fagan
Nickname(s)King of Swing, Argyle Assassin
Born (1980-11-04) November 4, 1980 (age 43)
Westbury, New York, U.S.
Years active2002–2016
SpouseEmily Maier
Sport
Country United States
Sport Ten-pin bowling
League PBA
Turned pro2002
Achievements and titles
World finals5 European Bowling Tour
National finals5 PBA Tour (2 majors)
Medal record
Men's bowling
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 Cali Mixed doubles

Michael Todd Fagan (born November 4, 1980) is an American former professional bowler on the PBA Tour. He has also participated in World Bowling Tour (WBT) and European Bowling Tour (EBT) events, and as a member of Team USA in international competitions. Known for his high backswing, he was given the nickname "King of Swing". He has a high RPM rate, but also has a smooth release, so his style can be classified as either a cranker or a power stroker.

Contents

PBA career

Fagan began his PBA career in the 2002–03 season, and owns five PBA Tour titles, including two majors. He captured his first PBA title in his 108th career event, winning the PBA Exempt Doubles Classic with partner Danny Wiseman in the 2007–08 season. He earned his first singles title at the 2010 One-a-Day Dick Weber Open, defeating all-time titles leader Walter Ray Williams, Jr. in the final match. [1] [2]

Having lost to Chris Barnes in his first TV appearance at the semifinals of the 2003 Empire State Open in Latham, New York, Fagan won against Barnes in the 2012 USBC Masters, overcoming a 30-pin deficit after five frames to win his third title and first major championship. [3] Fagan narrowly missed winning a second consecutive major in that season's U.S. Open, when Pete Weber rolled a strike on his final ball of the tenth frame to defeat Fagan by a single pin, 215–214. [4] His next victory came at the 2012 Brunswick Euro Challenge, a World Bowling Tour event, where he was credited with his fourth PBA Title. [5] Marking his first (and so far only) season with multiple titles, Fagan won a career-high $116,950 in 2011–12.

Fagan won his fifth career title and second major at the PBA World Championship on January 11, 2015, defeating Wes Malott in the final match, 252–212. [6]

PBA Tour titles

Major championships are in bold text.

  1. 2008 PBA Exempt Doubles Classic w/Danny Wiseman (Las Vegas, Nevada)
  2. 2010 One-A-Day Dick Weber Open (Fountain Valley, California)
  3. 2012 Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters (Henderson, Nevada)
  4. 2012 Brunswick Euro Challenge (Sainte-Maxime, France)
  5. 2015 PBA World Championship (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Other career highlights

Personal life

Originally from Patchogue, New York, Fagan now resides in Las Vegas with his wife, Emily, who bowled collegiately for Wichita State University and also for Team USA 2010. [9] The two were married in 2013. Mike, who got his undergraduate degree in Finance at St. John's University, announced during the 2015 season that he would be reducing his appearances on the PBA Tour to pursue his MBA at the University of California, Berkeley. [10] He only entered three PBA Tour events in the 2016 season and did not make an appearance in the 2017 season. By 2020, he had become Director of Business Development for a company that owns bowling centers in Minnesota. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Mike Fagan | PBA". www.pba.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  2. ↑ "Fagan wins Dick Weber Open". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  3. ↑ Vint, Bill. "Mike Fagan Tops Chris Barnes to Win First Major Title in Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters." Article at www.pba.com on January 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ Vint, Bill. "Pete Weber Wins Record Fifth U.S. Open to Surpass Father Dick Weber and Don Carter." Article at www.pba.com on February 26, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Results for Brunswick Euro Challenge 2012". brunswickeurochallenge.com. March 26, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  6. ↑ Schneider, Jerry (January 11, 2015). "Mike Fagan Wins PBA World Championship for Fifth Tour Title and Second Major". PBA.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  7. ↑ PBA Tour Bowlers bio at www.pba.com
  8. ↑ "Mike Fagan wins his fifth career EBT title in 3rd Track Dream-Bowl Palace Open." Article at bowlingdigital.com on April 30, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "All-Time Team USA". Bowl.com. Retrieved April 30, 2020. Note Emily is listed as "Emily Maier"
  10. ↑ "Mike Fagan (bowler profile at StormBowling.com)". StormBowling.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  11. ↑ Manzione, Gianmarc (May 5, 2020). "Former PBA Champ Turned Proprietor Mike Fagan on How Bowling Industry Might Adjust to Post-Pandemic World". Bowlers Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
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