John Janawicz Leads PBA50 Monacelli Championship and World Championship
Jackson, Michigan – John Janawicz fired his way to the top of the standings at the 2025 PBA50 Monacelli Championship. During qualifying on Saturday, the reigning PBA50 Player of the Year rolled games of 254, 171, 246, 300, 289, 278, 216 and 202 for 1,956. He ended his block with 60 clean frames to reach +356.
“I was lined up the first game. The second game, I had a no-strike game for 171. I am still upset about that because I chopped the 3-6-10 (in the 10th), otherwise it would have been a clean 180 game,” Janawicz said. “After that, I realized I was not deep enough. I made a ball change and moved then I started to get lined up. I kept chasing it left from there the next three games.”
During Wednesday’s Monacelli practice time, he didn’t feel like he had a great look. This has not been one of his favorite patterns over the past couple of years. He finished 22nd in last year’s tournament. He continues to collect more information and find better ways to attack the 40-foot Monacelli oil pattern.
“I always feel like I am stuck in the middle because it is a little too tight down lane to throw urethane balls yet to throw bigger stuff, it forced my angles to be too open at least for my A-game,” he said. “I got stuck in Game 2, in that dead zone and it was just operator error. Once I got far enough left, the picture became very clear.”
After his block, Janawicz moved into the lead for the World Championship, as well, in the 2025 PBA50 World Series of Bowling III. The top five in the major championship after 16 games of qualifying are Janawicz, Chris Barnes, Brian LeClair, Mark Clark and Tom Daugherty.
“When you have the opportunity like today to get a bunch of pins you have to do it. Barnes got a lot of pins yesterday, so it was kind of my turn today,” he said. “You try to hit it as hard as you can when those windows are open because you are going to need those pins. There are a lot of games left. I’d love to make David’s Smalls 100th show.”
The Monacelli Championship is the 100th professional tournament hosted by JAX 60 proprietor and WSOB III tournament host David Small. Janawicz said this is his favorite event because of the multiple patterns, but also because Small’s “does a great job hosting us.”
Mark Clark is bowling with a heavy heart while competing for more than just himself at the WSOB III. He, and the rest of the close-knit PBA50 bowling family and many others, are still thinking about the loss of one of their own. Brian Dennis, who finished second in the 2025 PBA Senior U.S. Open on June 16, unexpectedly died on July 7, at the age of 52.
Clark and Dennis were great friends and tour roommates. Prior to the start of practice for the WSOB III on Wednesday, Clark was asked to throw the ceremonial first shot in honor of Dennis. The moment was not captured on BowlTV, instead, it was respected as a private tribute and opportunity for everyone on tour to take a moment to remember their friend and fellow competitor.
“I tried to do it in Brian Dennis fashion with some small steps and some twinkle toes to try and honor him. I threw the Black Hammer Urethane because he wanted to drill a Black Hammer,” Clark said. “I got so many hugs and had great, meaningful conversations. It has shaped the way I have been thinking about things. It has helped immensely.”
Clark debated on whether to withdraw from this event, but those close to him talked him out of it. That included his wife, Kristie, Dennis’s wife, Reneé, and several close friends.
“I know in my heart Brian would want me here. The whole reason we were doing what we were doing was because that was our dream. Our dream was to win some titles, have a good year and just see what it was all about,” he said. “I am doing it for Curt Guinn, his wife, Peggy, and Brian’s wife, Reneé. I am doing it for the few people that I know who are really hurting.”
While on B-squad Saturday, Clark shot 237, 258, 222, 201, 258, 257, 204 and 268 for 1,905. He had only two opens – a split and a washout – and finished with 42 clean frames, along with nine straight strikes. He is in second behind Janawicz and will bowl against Chris Barnes in his first match.
“Nice bowling is all he (Dennis) would have said but the job is not done. It would be great to be able to cap it off, but I have to come in tomorrow and take care of business,” Clark said. “Bowling has helped heal and take my mind off of it for a few hours. Knowing I am doing something he would want me to do. Also, knowing I have everyone in the bowling center pulling for me; every day gets a little bit better.”
Behind Clark in third is Rolando Sebelen at +238, Dino Castillo at +216 and Steve Gagnon is fifth at +201. The final player to make the cut was Stephen Krywy at +150. He will face Janawicz.
The top 16 players will advance to bracket match play best-of-five matches in the Round of 16 scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Eastern on Sunday then the Round of 8 will start at 2 p.m. ET. The four undefeated winners and the highest seeded losing bowler in the Round of 8 will be in the stepladder finals set to begin at 6 p.m.
Looking ahead, qualifying for the PBA50 Petraglia Championship will begin with B-squad then A-squad on Monday. Bracket match play and the finals will all be on Tuesday. Qualifying pins from the Ballard, Monacelli, Petraglia and Holman Championships carry over to determine the top 18 bowlers who will compete in the PBA50 World Championship match play, scheduled to begin next Fri., July 18.
There are four PBA50 titles still available in the WSOB III. You can continue to watch the action only on BowlTV.
PBA50 Monacelli Championship Match Play Advancers:
- John Janawicz, 1,956 (+356)
- Mark Clark, 1,905 (+305)
- Rolando Sebelen, 1,838 (+238)
- Dino Castillo, 1,816 (+216)
- Steve Gagnon, 1,801 (+201)
- Ron Hurt, 1,800 (+200)
- Pete Weber, 1,797 (+197)
- Brian LeClair, 1,794 (+194)
- Mika Koivuniemi, 1,774 (+174)
- Paul Fleming, 1,770 (+170)
- Tom Hess, 1,761 (+161)
- Tom Daugherty, 1,761 (+161)
- Carleton Chambers, 1,759 (+159)
- Tony Oliva, 1,757 (+157)
- Chris Barnes, 1,752 (+152)
- Stephen Krywy, 1,750 (+150)
Full standings - PBA50 Monacelli Championship
More information on the WSOB III is available here.