About Us

Tom Kelley Sr. built the business on the belief that every bowler deserves equipment that is properly fit to their hand and matched to their style of play. That commitment continues today through decades of hands-on experience, ongoing industry education, and a careful approach to fitting and drilling every bowling ball.

While Tom Kelley’s Bowling Pro Shop has grown into one of the largest in the nation, the way we treat customers has never changed. Every bowler receives the personal attention, expert guidance, and hometown service that have defined the shop since 1980.

Tom Kelley, Jr. has been part of the bowling industry since 1980, when he got his start as a porter at a bowling center while working part time at Tom Kelley’s Bowling Pro Shop. What he enjoys most is helping bowlers achieve a proper fit, improve their game through instruction, and ultimately enjoy bowling more. One of his proudest professional accomplishments has been creating and designing what he considers one of the best pro shops in the country.

Tom began bowling at age six and has compiled an extensive list of accomplishments. He has rolled more than 80 sanctioned 300 games and more than 50 sanctioned 800 series, with a career-high series of 856. His titles include a 1993 PBA Regional win in Lincoln, a National Team Challenge Championship in Fort Worth, and 11 state championships between Nebraska and Iowa. In 1991, he became the first Nebraskan to bowl a 300 at Nationals. Tom was inducted into the City Hall of Fame in 1995 and the State Hall of Fame in 2005.

Born in Omaha, Tom credits his father as the greatest influence on his bowling journey. Away from the lanes, he enjoys fishing and grilling, and his favorite time of year is spring. His advice to new bowlers reflects the approach he has taken throughout his career: learn the basics, develop your game, and be determined.

Sydney Kelley grew up around Tom Kelley’s Bowling Pro Shop but officially joined the business in 2020 at age 20. She began by working the register and assisting customers before learning to drill her own equipment in 2021 and later learning how to measure bowlers for a custom fit. She especially enjoys introducing newer bowlers to properly fitted equipment and seeing young bowlers’ excitement as their first bowling ball is measured and drilled.

Sydney began bowling around age four and returned to the sport more seriously at age 20. Her tournament accomplishments include the 2022 CSM Fundraiser Tournament Championship, 2023 TNBA Omaha Mixed Team Championship, and 2024 TNBA Omaha All Events Championship, along with several team, doubles, and singles finishes. One of her proudest experiences in the pro shop has been working with a two-handed bowler named JP to experiment with layouts and find combinations that matched his game, contributing to some exceptional performances.

Born in Omaha, Sydney credits both of her parents and her husband, Kolton, as major influences on her bowling journey. Outside the pro shop, she enjoys walking her dogs, riding horses, cooking, and reading. She has two Labs, Lux and Mia, and a horse named Gold. Her advice to developing bowlers is to remember that progress isn’t always linear: You can’t out bowl a bad fit.

Donnie Rowe III entered the bowling industry in 2019 after his father referred him to Tom Kelley’s Bowling Pro Shop. He enjoys helping bowlers find the right equipment, fine-tuning their measurements, and getting to know customers throughout the local bowling community. One of his favorite moments in the pro shop is placing a newly drilled ball into a customer’s hand and seeing that it fits perfectly.

Donnie started bowling at age 17 and has recorded a high game of 282 and a high series of 775. His most memorable bowling experience was competing at Nationals with his father, who, along with Tom Kelley, Jr., has had the greatest influence on his bowling journey. His favorite bowling ball is the Brunswick Scorchin’ Inferno, and he’d someday like to bowl at Milwaukee’s historic Holler House.

Born in Omaha, Donnie enjoys spending his time away from bowling attending his children’s sporting events and proudly describes himself as a “Girl Dad.” If he weren’t working in a pro shop, he could see himself behind a microphone as a play-by-play radio announcer. His advice for someone beginning in bowling is straightforward: keep your aspirations reasonable, continue working toward your goals, and practice, practice, practice.