August 4, 2022 Nolan Hughes

Southpaws devoured the 2021 PBA Jonesboro Open. Four left-handers made the stepladder finals as Matt Russo collected his first career PBA Tour title.

While Russo won’t be gunning for No. 2 in his return this weekend, he is super excited returning to Hijinx Entertainment in Jonesboro, Ark. for the PBA Jonesboro Super Southwest Open.

“Jonesboro will forever be on the top of the list of my favorite bowling centers because it has created one of my biggest accomplishments in my bowling career,” Russo said. “Regardless of it being a national title or a regional title, I will always be excited heading to Jonesboro.” 

Russo said while Hijinkx Entertainment is infamous for its difficult lanes, he learned which pairs are good enough to score and which pairs are for grinding during his run last year. He said the key to his 2021 win was solving the left lane during the title match.

Perhaps a different oil pattern, with 42' Mark Roth replacing last year’s 38' Marshall Holman, could curry favor back to the right-handers this year.

In the PBA Jonesboro Super Southwest Open, Russo will be joined by fellow 2021 finalists Mykel Holliman and Eric Jones, the ubertalented 18-year-old from Oklahoma.

Ildemaro Ruiz Jr., who took home the first super regional of 2021 back in Lubbock, Tex., will look for back-to-back wins in Tornado Alley.

Also in action will be PBA major champions Tom Daugherty, Gary Faulkner Jr., François Lavoie and EJ Tackett.

On Saturday, players will bowl eight games of qualifying. The top third of the field will move on to the cashers round.

Advancers will bowl five more games on Sunday morning before a cut to the top-24. Players will bowl four more games then cut to the top-12. Four more games will determine the five stepladder finalists.

The finals are scheduled for 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local time) on Sunday afternoon. Tune in on the PBA’s YouTube channel.

View the full PBA Jonesboro Super Southwest Open roster here.

More information on the tournament is available here.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, August 6

10 a.m ET | 9 a.m. local time — A-squad qualifying, 8 games

3:30 p.m ET | 2:30 p.m. local time — B-squad qualifying, 8 games (cut to top 1/3)

Sunday, August 7

9 a.m. ET | 8 a.m. local time — Cashers round, 5 games (cut to top-24)

Eliminator Finals

12:30 p.m. ET | 11:30 a.m. local time — 4 games (cut to top-12)

20 minutes after previous round — 4 games (cut to top-5)

5 p.m. ET | 4 p.m. local time — Stepladder finals live on the PBA's YouTube channel

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