March 23, 2023 Nolan Hughes

As the PBA Kokomo Classic converted to a true dual-pattern format, Packy Hanrahan grew stronger. The 27-year-old led the first day of competition at Heritage Lanes in Kokomo, Ind., and added to his lead on Thursday.

Hanrahan, averaging over 235 on the 41-foot Harry Smith and 37-foot Viper patterns, owns a total pinfall of 5,654 (+854). He leads the field by 164 pins.

Graham Fach, another southpaw, sits in second place at +690. Matt Ogle, Stu Williams and EJ Tackett round out the top five.

Anthony Simonsen has finished inside the top 10 at each tournament this season. Simonsen shot 980 the first four games on Thursday night, deploying a backup ball on the Viper pattern for the first two games, to keep his chances of continuing that streak alive.

Jason Sterner shot 235 in the final game Thursday night to edge DJ Archer, who shot 266, by a single pin for the final berth in Friday’s field.

The top 12 players will compete in the final round of qualifying, which begins at noon ET on Friday.

Leaders after Top-24 Round

  1. Packy Hanrahan, 5,654 (+864)
  2. Graham Fach, 5,490 (+690)
  3. Matt Ogle, 5,485 (+685)
  4. Stu Williams, 5,448 (+648)
  5. EJ Tackett, 5,428 (+628)
  6. Matt Russo, 5,425 (+625)
  7. Tommy Jones, 5,388 (+588)
  8. Sean Lavery-Spahr, 5,377 (+577)
  9. Tomas Käyhkö, 5,361 (+561)
  10. AJ Johnson, 5,358 (+558)
  11. Anthony Simonsen, 5,342 (+542)
  12. Jason Sterner, 5,334 (+534)

Full standings are available here.

Classic Series Points Leaders

The top eight point earners in the Classic Series, which concludes with this event, will earn spots in the PBA Skill Ball Challenge to be held in July.

Based on their point totals earned at the PBA Kokomo Classic — or the minimum possible point total for those in the top 12 — Tackett, Simonsen, Sam Cooley, Dom Barrett, Jakob Butturff, Tommy Jones, Jason Belmonte and Sean Lavery-Spahr would be the eight finalists.

Tackett and Simonsen have clinched spots in the field, while AJ Johnson, Stu Williams, Matt Russo, Ogle, Sterner, Käyhkö and Hanrahan could make the field with a win.

Tournament Schedule

Friday, March 24
12 p.m. — Top-12 Qualifying Round (six games) — top four players advance
6:30 p.m. — Stepladder finals

More information on the PBA Kokomo Classic is available here.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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