Andres Gomez Earns Day One Lead at PBA50 The Villages Classic
The Villages, Florida – After a fourth-place finish just a few days ago, Andres Gomez is leading after the first day of qualifying at the 2025 PBA50 The Villages Classic. Gomez averaged 244.5 over six games shooting 278, 269, 243, 239, 245 and 193.
This is a victory for Gomez, who also led the first day of qualifying at this tournament last year but injured his Achilles on the way to a 15th place finish. After that, he endured physical therapy and ultimately a doctor advised him to take time off to let it heal. He did that for about four months, eventually progressing from bowling a couple of games a week to bowling in league.
“That was all I had been doing because I was afraid to bowl six, eight or 10 games until now. A little soreness but I am taking it day-by-day because I feel very rusty,” he said. “I am still trying to figure things out in my own game.”
The 180-player field gets to bowl on the fresh 37-foot Wayne Webb oil pattern, the burn and the double burn during their 18 games of qualifying inside Spanish Springs Lanes through Monday. From there, the top 60 players will move into the Advancers Round on Tuesday.
“It is my forte I would say to keep going left and when I can do that, I usually score pretty good, which is what I did today,” he said. “If I am good physically (on Sunday) and I find my rhythm, I should be able to have a decent score.”
Rakoski, who led A-squad and won the 2025 PBA50 Fort Myers Classic on Wednesday, was happy with a solid qualifying start, averaging 237.17.
“I am throwing the ball the best I have ever thrown it in Fort Myers and starting today. I am going to ride this heater as long as I can,” Rakoski said. “There are a lot of people watching in the stands here. It is always great to have stops in Florida and close to home.”
Tom Adcock, who won this tournament in 2023, shot 235, 235, 256, 259, 268 and 212 for 1,465 to move into second place. Adcock led C-squad. Brian Leclair is third with 1,430 followed by Rakoski then Bill Watson in fifth place.
Gomez and B-squad will take to the lanes first at 9 a.m. Eastern on Sunday followed by C-squad at 1 p.m. and A-squad at 5 p.m. You can watch day two of qualifying on BowlTV.
Top 10 PBA50 The Villages Classic standings:
- Andres Gomez, 1,467
- Tom Adcock, 1,465
- Brian Leclair, 1,430
- Jon Rakoski, 1,423
- Bill Watson, 1,419
- Charlie Tapp, 1,414
- Tom Hess, 1,408
- Brian Dennis, 1,407
- Mike Preston, 1,401
- Pete Dohan Jr., 1,393