January 2, 2025 Nolan Hughes

The PBA career of Mike Aulby began with a Christmas gift. He said his parents paid his expenses to compete in the 1979 Showboat Invitational. 

The 18-year-old soon made the long trek from his home in Indiana to Nevada for his first PBA Tour event, commencing what would become a Hall of Fame career.

This spring, Aulby, now 64, will again make the cross-country trip to Nevada — this time for the Mike Aulby PBA Nevada Classic in Reno.

“It's quite an honor,” Aulby said. “I appreciate Tom (Clark)’s faith in me. I don’t have the skills to bowl anymore, so it will be great to watch and be part of it.

“Mike’s remarkable accomplishments and dedication to the sport both on and off the lanes make him a living legend,” PBA Tour Commissioner Tom Clark said. “His presence and name on the trophy will add an immeasurable level of prestige to this event.”

The Mike Aulby PBA Nevada Classic will be held Feb. 25-28 at Coconut Bowl at Wild Island. The finals will be held March 15 at 6 p.m. Eastern time at Reno’s National Bowling Stadium and air live on FS1.

Aulby did not win the 1979 Showboat Invitational, but his first win didn’t come long after. 

He won the Showboat PBA National Championship later that year, which was also held in Las Vegas, and became the youngest player to win a major championship. That record stood for more than 35 years until Anthony Simonsen broke it in 2016.

Aulby’s 29 career PBA Tour titles rank ninth all time; his eight major victories place fourth. He was the first of five players to win Rookie and Player of the Year honors during their career. He was also the first player to complete the Super Slam by winning all five major championships.

In total, seven of the legend’s 29 titles came in the Silver State.

“I’m not a gambler by any means but I’ve always enjoyed the big centers and my success in Nevada,” Aulby said. “It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”

For the latest information and updates about the 2025 PBA Tour, visit www.PBA.com and follow the PBA on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and YouTube.

About the Professional Bowlers Association

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the world’s premier organization dedicated to the sport of bowling and its professional competition. The PBA has thousands of members from over 30 countries, competing in events including the PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour, and PBA50 Tour. The PBA also serves casual and league bowlers through its membership programs, offering access to statistics, awards, and certified tournaments. With millions of fans worldwide, the PBA continues to grow the sport of bowling and inspire the next generation of bowlers.