MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- In a three day tournament that would decide which branch of the Armed Forces would be crowned bowling champions, one member of the All-Marine Team rose above the rest to lead his team to victory.

Gunnery Sgt. James M. Hall, Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 38 maintenance management chief, was the highest scoring bowler on the winning team.

Hall has been bowling for more than 25 years and credits that to his success.

"After the first day of qualifications at the championships, I was the highest single qualifier for all the branches," said the 38-year-old Bay Minette, Ala, native. "But by the end of the day I had injured my shoulder and had to really deal with the pain."

Technical Sgt. Ricky Beck, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., said they were surprised that the Marine team won the tournament.

"(The Marines) do not get half as much time on the lanes as we do because our jobs are so different," he said in an interview with the United States Army Community and Family Support Center.

Hall and his teammates have played together in league games in the past and used this cohesion to help them win the tournament.

Gunnery Sgt. Robert Fleck has bowled with Hall for four years on the All-Marine Team and hopes to continue to do so.

"He is a very consistent bowler," Fleck, a 28-year veteran of the sport said. "National average for men is about 175-180 and he has over a 200 average."

Now that this years tournament has ended, Hall has started preparing for next year.

"Every year the team would try to start picking up  our game about one month away from the trials," he said. "I will bowl at least three hours a week, not including league games. This equals about 50 games for me."

Although Hall has had an interest in bowling since an early age, his true love for the sport did not flourish until he started playing for the Corps.

"As a child bowling was only a hobby," he said. "But when I joined the Marine Corps and started playing for them it became a competitive sport.

"I guess I am just a natural athlete," he continued. "I just picked up golfing about three years ago and my handicap is already a 13."

The team's final score was 9,199 points, with Hall contributing 1,617 to his team's victory. With this score the All-Marine team defeated the Air Force by three points with the Army trailing behind by 95. For more information go to http://www.dod.mil/armedforcessports and click in the bowling icon.