Groveland Officer Ties Candlepin Bowling World Record

HAVERHILL, Mass. (AP) -- A Groveland police officer has tied the world record for the highest single-string score in candlepin bowling history.

Chris Sargent of Haverhill bowled a 245 last Friday at the Metro Bowl Lanes in Peabody.

The 40-year-old Sargent told The Eagle-Tribune he was "in a zone and feeling good" but didn't realize he was nearing the record until the end of the string because he doesn't like looking at his score. He said he realized he was getting close when the other team started cheering him on and a crowd gathered around his lane.

The record was set in 1984 by Ralph Semb of Erving.

Semb, now president of the International Candlepin Bowling Association, told The Associated Press on Wednesday the organization has accepted the record and thinks "it's great."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)