July 17, 2024 Nolan Hughes

As the 115-player field of the Bud Moore PBA50 Players Championship is trimmed to 24 for round-robin match play, Michael Haggitt finds himself in pole position.

With a total pinfall of 4,118 (+518) for 18 games, Haggitt leads the third major and eighth title event of the 2024 PBA50 Tour at Bowl America Bull Run in Manassas, Va. 

Jon Rakoski, Todd Kjell, Mika Koivuniemi and Liz Johnson round out the top five.

Haggitt, a southpaw, said he has stuck to urethane equipment on the 38-foot Wayne Webb oil pattern. Across three rounds of qualifying on fresh, burn and double-burn lane conditions, Haggitt averaged more than 228 and still feels he has room for improvement.

“I just want to continue what I’m doing now and try to make some spares, because I’ve missed a few more 7-pins than I’d like to,” Haggitt said.

The tournament is not yet halfway finished in terms of games, a fact of which Haggitt is well aware. Twenty-four games of round-robin separate players from a chance to compete in the stepladder finals, which will take place Friday on the private lanes inside Bill Moore’s home.

That opportunity and a first career major title is what Haggitt is in pursuit of this week.

“That's the goal,” Haggitt said. “I always wanted to bowl in the basement. I've been over there several times, but never thrown a ball down the lane yet.”

Rakoski (+499) led A-squad, averaging just under 228. He earned his second career title and first major earlier this season in the Senior Masters. This week, the Floridian looks to double his major title count.

“That would be unbelievable. They always say the first one is the hardest, and I got that,” Rakoski said. “I’m a really calm guy and I don't show any emotion. Hopefully I'll keep everything in check, make some good shots out there, win some matches and stay up at the top. I'm going to give it my best and see what I can do.”

Rakoski finished just shy of the lead on Tuesday as a missed 10-pin in his final frame cost himself the opportunity to pass Koivuniemi.

Kjell did the opposite, overcoming a 110-pin deficit to Koivuniemi in their final game to lead C-squad. He summarized his qualifying performance in a single word: relieved.

“It's been a struggle the last couple of years, so it was nice to finally see the lanes the right way, make correct ball choices and actually execute,” Kjell said.

Kjell said he feels confident heading into three eight-game rounds of match play.

“I’m usually better heads-up than in qualifying,” said Kjell, recalling a PBA60 event in which he went 10-2 in match play to make the stepladder finals. “We'll see what happens, you never know. The talent out here, with all the Hall of Famers, it's crazy to think that I'm there competing with them.”

Randy Weiss, who led the PBA50 Morgantown Classic earlier this month, earned the final berth inside the cut. Weiss staved off Player of the Year candidate Tom Hess by a single pin for 24th place.

Competition continues on Thursday with the first two of three rounds of round-robin match play. Thursday’s rounds begin at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern. Match play concludes Friday starting at 9 a.m with the top five players after 42 games advancing to the championship round.

The stepladder finals will be held Friday evening at 7 p.m.

All rounds will be livestreamed on BowlTV.

Round 3 Leaders

  1. Michael Haggitt, 4,118 (+518)
  2. Jon Rakoski, 4,099 (+499)
  3. Todd Kjell, 4,067 (+467)
  4. Mika Koivuniemi, 4,060 (+460)
  5. Liz Johnson, 4,055 (+455)
  6. Brian LeClari, 4,039 (+439)
  7. Dennis Rakauskas, 4,014 (+414)
  8. Dan Knowlton, 4,010 (+410)
  9. Michael Hartter, 4,010 (+410)
  10. Dan Long, 4,005 (+405)

More information on the 2024 Bud Moore PBA50 Players Championship, including complete standings, are available here.