Andres Gomez Leading PBA50 The Villages Classic
The Villages, Florida – Andres Gomez is looking for a bit of revenge inside Spanish Springs Lanes this week. Last year’s PBA50 The Villages Classic was the only tournament where he did not finish in the top 24. He cashed in 48th place and he was disappointed in his results. After the first six games of qualifying Monday at the 2024 PBA50 The Villages Classic, he is leading the way at 1,420, a 236.67 average.
Gomez and the rest of A-squad took to the lanes first and he posted a 223 followed by a 159. He admits he didn’t change balls fast enough, but he was able to rebound after that with games of 258, 245, 266 and 269.
“The lanes at the beginning were pretty tough the first game or two but once the lanes started to settle, my look was good,” Gomez said. “I was having a nice smooth release and letting it roll. It was just automatic mode.”
He feels the 38-foot Holman oil pattern matches up well with his game and usually when he does good on the fresh oil, he admits he bowls pretty well the rest of the tournament. He knows there is still a long way to go.
“Everyone has to appreciate how good these guys are. What Tom Hess does week-to-week, Parker, Walter, Chris Barnes and Brad Angelo, if you don’t stay on top of your game they are going to beat you every week,” Gomez said. “I am trying to do that. I am working hard on my game and feel that I am bowling good. I still got to do my job.”
This is his first full season out on the PBA50 Tour, and his goal is to keep bowling well week after week. Gomez is leading Chris Barnes by just 7 pins. Russell Hunt led C-squad and sits in third at +158 followed by Ron Hurt and Christopher Keane, who rolled the only perfect game so far.
The B-squad will be on the lanes first starting at 9 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday followed by C-squad at 1 p.m. and A-squad at 5 p.m. Watch day two of qualifying on BowlTV.
Top 10 PBA50 The Villages Classic standings:
- Andres Gomez, 1,420 (+220)
- Chris Barnes, 1,413 (+213)
- Russell Hunt, 1,358 (+158)
- Ron Hurt, 1,355 (+155)
- Christopher Keane,1,352 (+152)
- Bob Learn Jr., 1,350 (+150)
- Tom Hess, 1,346 (+146)
- John Burkett, 1,346 (+146)
- Jeff Szymanski, 1,344 (+144)
- Kirby Allen, 1,339 (+139)