Dino Castillo Earns Day One Lead at 2024 PBA50 South Shore Classic
Hammond, Ind. – After finishing in 11th place at the inaugural PBA/PBA50/PWBA Jonesboro Trios on Saturday, Dino Castillo was ready for another chance on the lanes. The 2022 PBA50 Rookie of the Year admitted it is never easy to compete at Hijinx Entertainment Center in Jonesboro, Ark.
He averaged 208.6 for 10 games in Jonesboro and on Tuesday, his results were drastically different. He averaged 241.29 over his first seven games of qualifying at 2024 PBA50 South Shore Classic, ending the day in first place.
“When you come off of bowling at a place that is hard and scores are low, it basically sharpens your tools. Everything is so much easier, and it seems like a clear picture,” he said. “Coming here I felt sharp. I usually bowl well in this building, so I had confidence going in.”
Between operating multiple pro shops and being a ball rep on the PBA Tour, Castillo also tries to fit in competing on the PBA50 Tour. He enjoys doing what he loves, letting loose, and just being out there with the guys again. He uses his experience of seeing the same patterns laid down on the national tour and how those players attack them to his advantage.
Looking ahead to Wednesday's final seven games of qualifying on the 45-foot Dick Weber oil pattern, he expects to be starting further left on the approach and will be ready to go.
“Hopefully it doesn’t end up like last year when I was lofting the gutter caps over the top, but I am always prepared,” he said.
Behind Castillo is fellow Texan Chris Barnes followed by Tom Hess, John Janawicz, and Mario Quintero. Two perfect games were rolled on Tuesday. The first was by Larry Achten Jr. to start the day for A-squad then John Marsala added a 300 in the second game on B-squad. Currently, Walter Ray Williams Jr. is at the cut-line at +81.
Hess, Janawicz and the rest of B-squad will get things started at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday followed by A-squad at 2:30 p.m. ET. At the end of qualifying, 32 players will move onto the advancer round on Thursday. All qualifying pins will carry over. Watch the final day of qualifying on BowlTV.
Top 10 PBA50 South Shore Classic standings:
- Dino Castillo, 1,689 (+289)
- Chris Barnes, 1,683 (+283)
- Tom Hess, 1,666 (+266)
- John Janawicz, 1,659 (+259)
- Mario Quintero, 1,632 (+232)
- John Marsala, 1,628 (+228)
- Anthony Crews, 1,598 (+198)
- Mika Koivuniemi, 1,594 (+194)
- Brian LeClair, 1,585 (+185)
- Troy Stus, 1,580 (+180)