March 1, 2023 Chase Kaufman

The PBA Tour is in full swing, but the PBA and PBA50 Regional Tour still bring in some big names along the way. South Carolina, Kansas and Colorado hosted events to add regional titles to three competitors' résumés. 

PBA50 Paradise Lanes Spartanburg Open

Chris Johnson started things off in Spartanburg, S.C., with a 300 in Game 4 to propel him to the lead after eight games of qualifying at +284. He held onto the lead after the advancer round to earn a double-bye, but he fell in the semifinals to Michael Painter 204-198.

In the lower half, the No. 14 seed, Scott Thomsen, took a W in his first three matches to earn himself a matchup with Walter Ray Williams Jr. in the semifinals. He kept the momentum going, defeating the all-time great, 235-210, thanks to a late five-bagger. In the finals, Painter started with two splits, while Thomsen began with a three-bagger on his way to earning his first career title.

PBA50 Paradise Lanes Spartanburg Open Final Standings

  1. Scott Thomsen, 2,500 points, $2,000
  2. Michael Painter, 1,500, $1,300
  3. Chris Johnson, 1,150, $950
  4. Walter Ray Williams, Jr., 950, $950

PBA50 Paradise Lanes Spartanburg Open Full Results

PBA Starlite Southwest Open

 

After the PBA Wichita Classic wrapped up on the PBA Tour, a handful of guys packed up their things and headed towards McPherson, Kan., for regional action. Dylan Burns led the field at +264 for eight games, but Jake Peters, Zach Wilkins and Arturo Quintero sat right behind him. Peters took the lead after the first advancer round and held onto it to claim the top seed for the stepladder.

In the first match, Andres Villarreyna defeated Wilkins 239-233, and then defeated Tomas Käyhkö 247-223 in the second match. Villarreyna continued his run in the finals, taking down Peters 213-164 for his first career title.

PBA Starlite Southwest Open Final Standings

  1. Andres Villarreyna, 2,500 points, $2,800
  2. Jake Peters, 1,500, $1,800
  3. Tomas Käyhkö, 1,150, $1,400
  4. Zacharay Wilkins, 950, $1,200

PBA Starlite Southwest Open Full Results

PBA50 Loveland Southwest Open

 

Sweetheart Ten Pin Bowling in Loveland, Colo., brought in 51 competitors on the Mike Aulby pattern, where PWBA Hall of Famer Tish Johnson took the lead after the first round of eight games at +246 in her home state.

Tom Hess smoked the field in the first advancer round, averaging almost 250 for his six games. He held onto the No. 1 seed for the stepladder, with Ricky Schissler, Bryan Pogor and Tony Franklin joining him.

Franklin barely slid past Pogor in the first round, 229-225, and then beat Schissler 234-193. Just as the No. 4 seed ran the table in McPherson, Franklin did the same in Colorado, defeating Hess 238-226 for his ninth regional title and first since 2002.

PBA50 Loveland Southwest Open Final Standings

  1. Tony Franklin, 2,500 points, $2,400
  2. Tom Hess, 1,500, $1,500
  3. Ricky Schissler, 1,150, $1,200
  4. Bryan Pogor, 950, $1,000

PBA50 Loveland Southwest Open Full Results

Regional Tour Points Leaders