Jason Belmonte Leads First Round of USBC Masters Qualifying
When the first round of USBC Masters qualifying wrapped up at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., the player with an unrivaled track record in the event stood atop the standings.
Jason Belmonte, who owns a record four Masters titles, shot a five-game series of 1,264 during C-squad on Monday evening to take the tournament lead.
Jakob Butturff, the 2019 Masters champion, and Cody Shoemaker led A-squad at +228. A- and C-squads competed on fresh lane conditions, while B-squad bowled on the burn (following A-squad.)
Patrick Dombrowski and Jake Rollins round out the top five, while PBA stars Marshall Kent, Ronnie Russell and EJ Tackett sit inside the top 10. Phillip Watson, the B-squad leader, is 13th at +168.
Competing on the day’s final squad, Belmonte came out firing on all cylinders. He shot 258, 279 and 276 his first three games (813) to charge up the leaderboard.
“Coming to the Masters, even though it’s the top 64 (who make the cut), you don't want to be in that bottom tier, trying to fight for it from the first day,” he said. “It's probably more important than any other tournament to put a few games together (early) because you just don't have that sixth, seventh or eighth game with other formats that allows you to pop off a big one a little bit later.”
Belmonte’s first three games demonstrate his strong understanding of how to attack the fresh, 46-foot pattern. But he said that does not prove much of anything with two rounds of qualifying remaining and three-game total pinfall matches looming on Thursday.
“I've never bowled this tournament, or any other tournament for that fact, and have played the lanes exactly the same Day 1 as I do late in the tournament,” he said. “You get them while you can, and then when you come across the next day or the next lane pattern with the variables that are in play, you play with what's in front of you.”
However, the fact that his lane-play strategy and ball sequence worked as he hoped does reaffirm his decision-making process. He will compete on the burn squad during Round 2.
“For me, that is the confidence of strategizing,” Belmonte said. “When you (are correct) and it pays off, every decision you make thereafter you've got confidence that if this is the right one, you’re going to make a big run.”
A three-way tie exists between Brandon Novak, Ryan VanHecke and Tomas Käyhkö (+94) for the final spots inside the cut.
Anthony Simonsen (+77), the defending champion, is guaranteed a spot in match play.
Competition resumes at 8 a.m. ET Tuesday morning with B-squad.
Round 1 Leaders
- Jason Belmonte, 1,264 (+264)
- Jakob Butturff, 1,228 (+228)
- Cody Shoemaker, 1,228 (+228)
- Patrick Dombrowski, 1,196 (+196)
- Jake Rollins, 1,195 (+195)
- Zach Wilkins, 1,190 (+190)
- Marshall Kent, 1,189 (+189)
- Justin Veitch, 1,187 (+187)
- Ronnie Russell, 1,178 (+178)
- EJ Tackett, 1,178 (+178)
Full standings are available here.
Tournament Schedule
All times are listed in Eastern time. The full schedule is available here.
Tuesday, March 28 | BowlTV
8 a.m. — B-squad Qualifying Round 2 (five games; fresh oil)
12:30 p.m. — C-squad Qualifying Round 2 (five games; burn)
6:30 p.m. — A-squad Qualifying Round 2 (five games; fresh oil)
Wednesday, March 29 | BowlTV
8 a.m. — C-squad Qualifying Round 3 (five games; fresh oil)
12:30 p.m. — A-squad Qualifying Round 3 (five games; burn)
6:30 p.m. — B-squad Qualifying Round 3 (five games; fresh oil)
Thursday, March 30 | BowlTV
10 a.m. — Match play Round 1 (left side of bracket)
12:30 p.m. — Match play Round 1 (right side of bracket)
2:30 p.m. — Match play (all winners)
5 p.m. — Match Play (two contenders rounds)
Friday, March 31 | BowlTV and FS1
8 a.m. — Match play cont.
2 p.m. — Match play cont.
7 p.m. — Match play on FS1
Tickets are available for Friday night’s show here.
Sunday, April 2 | FOX
1 p.m. — Stepladder finals
More information on the tournament is available here.