December 14, 2025 Nolan Hughes

In the grand finale of the PBA Regional Tours, left-handers Deo Benard and Michael Haggitt put on a show in Reno.

Benard captured the BowlTV PBA Regional Players Invitational title over Jeff Mann, while Haggitt prevailed over defending champion Randy Weiss in the PBA50 division final.

Benard is steadily mounting a résumé that could place him among the all-time greats.

Ten days shy of his 22nd birthday, Benard already owns 15 PBA Regional Tour titles, one PBA Tour title, two Southwest Region Player of the Year honors, a West Region Rookie of the Year award and a PBA Steve Nagy Sportsmanship award.

His latest achievement earned him a $15,000 top prize.

Benard qualified 21st among the 99-player field for match play. He defeated Ryan Speer, Kris Koeltzow, DeeRonn Booker, Christopher Tuholski and Jeff Mann to bring home the title.

He won the Southwest Region’s RPI qualifier tournament in September with a 278 in the title match. Sunday in Reno, Benard once again shot 278 in the title match.

After struggling this season on the PBA Tour, finishing 79th in points, Benard said he studied what went wrong. He said he felt like he wasn’t bowling like himself, comparing himself to others instead of doing what he does best.

Benard, who has made a career out of his slower ball speed, also knew he needed to be able to throw the ball faster, more consistently, to elevate his game. He utilized the new tool in his bag to bring home the RPI title, firing rockets to eliminate his opponents.

PBA Division — Match Play Results

Round of 8
No. 6 Jeff Mann vs. No. 14 Cam Crowe, 3-0
No. 15 Kevin Bienko def. No. 7 Matt Taylor, 3-1
No. 21 Deo Benard def. No. 13 DeeRonn Booker, 3-1
No. 24 Christopher Tuholski def. No. 16 Andrew Hall, 3-0

Semifinals
No. 6 Jeff Mann def. No. 15 Kevin Bienko, 2-0
No. 21 Deo Benard def. No. 24 Christopher Tuholski, 2-1

Championship
No. 21 Deo Benard def. No. 6 Jeff Mann, 278-228

In the PBA50 division, Michael Haggitt qualified as the top seed among 52 players for match play. The top seed earned a one-round bye, then defeated Blaine Weninger, Eric Adolphson and Randy Weiss to capture the title and $10,000 top prize.

Haggitt turned his dream into reality with a win in the National Bowling Stadium.

“This is you bowl all your life to get to this place,” he said. “It's the greatest. When you come here for nationals or any tournament, you just want to do your best. When you don't bowl, it really hurts. But when you win, it's unbelievable.”

Haggitt did not lose a single game in match play. In every crucial moment, he came up clutch.

Haggitt converted the 4-7-10 in the 10th frame to shut out Adolphson in the semifinal, then struck four times in the ninth and 10th frames to shut out Weiss in the championship.

PBA50 Division — Match Play Results

Round of 8
No. 1 Michael Haggitt def. No. 8 Blaine Weninger, 3-0
No. 4 Eric Adolphson def. No. 12 Michael McHugh, 3-1
No. 7 Dan Knowlton def. No. 2 Kyle Bigelow, 3-2
No. 11 Randy Weiss def. No. 3 Michael Clark Jr, 3-1

Semifinals
No. 1 Michael Haggitt def. No. 4 Eric Adolphson, 2-0
No. 11 Randy Weiss def. No. 7 Dan Knowlton, 2-1

Championship
No. 1 Michael Haggitt def. No. 11 Randy Weiss, 231-217