June 13, 2021 Regional Director

Cabazon, Calif. – After six months in the United States, Sam Cooley of Australia, captured his first career PBA Regional Title at Canyon Lanes in Cabazon, Calif. Cooley, who bowls on the National PBA Tour, most recently finished as runner-up in the 2021 Kia PBA Playoffs. Cooley’s Regional win, solidifies his breakout year after four full-years on Tour.

In the opening match of the stepladder finals, former US Open Champion and seven-time National Champion, Robert Smith, took on veteran Regional player, Eddie VanDaniker Jr. Both players had trouble with the left lane early on in the match, but Smith figured it out quicker, stinging together a five-bagger to advance, 250-188.

In the semi-final match, Smith took on Cooley. After four frames, the match was shaping up to be a barn burner, but then Cooley rang off eight consecutive strikes to end the game and defeat Smith 260-239.

In the title match, Cooley took on the number one seed and quite possibly the most dominant player in PBA Regional Tour history, Jakob Butturff. Both players started with an early five-bagger, but Butturff opened in the sixth frame after he failed to convert a pesky seven pin. Cooley never let his foot off the gas and continued his string of strikes, starting the game with the first 10, to shut Butturff out 287-256.

Stepladder Results

Quarterfinal
Smith def. VanDaniker 256-192

Semi-Final
Cooley Def. Smith 260-239

Championship
Cooley def. Butturff 287-256

PBA Casino Morongo Open
Cabazon, California

Final Match Play Standings (16 games, including match play bonus pins):

  1. Sam Cooley, Australia, 243.39 4,014 $2,700
  2. Jakob Butturff, Tempe, AZ, 243.94 4,131 $1,700
  3. Robert Smith, Oxnard, CA, 238.22 3,973 $1,350
  4. (N) Eddie VanDaniker Jr., Chatsworth, 237.06 3,988 $1,100
  5. PJ Haggerty, Roseville, CA, 234.56 3,933 $900
  6. Darren Tang, Las Vegas, 235.88 3,924 $850
  7. (N) Eric Hatchett, Henderson, Nev., 237.69 3,923 $800
  8. Marshall Kent, Las Vegas, 233.13 3,910 $775
  9. Deo Benard, Las Vegas, 231.81 3,829 $750
  10. Tim Cagle II, Hercules, CA, 234.75 3,816 $725
  11. Buddy Lucas, Montclair, CA, 225.38 3,726 $700
  12. Greg Thompson Jr., Tempe, AZ, 220.06 3,581 $680
  13. Steve Smith, San Diego, CA, 221.44 3,573 $660
  14. (N) Ramsey Basurto, Lancaster, CA, 214.44 3,521 $640
  15. Beau Peterson, McPherson, KS, 213.31 3,473 $620
  16. JJ Newell, San Tan Valley, AZ, 203.44 3,255 $600

N-denotes non-PBA member