Brad Angelo Wins 2025 PBA50 The Villages Classic
The Villages, Florida – Two years ago, Brad Angelo had the chance to step up in the 10th frame to win the 2023 PBA50 The Villages Classic against Tom Adcock and he came up short. Last week, Angelo was the top seed at the PBA50 Fort Myers Classic, and he didn’t get the win. Angelo has put himself in a position to win so many times. On Tuesday, he had another opportunity to earn his second career PBA50 win and this time he delivered.
“It has been wearing on me to be honest. As I was walking up, I am thinking here we go again. I have ball in hand, and I have got to get it done,” he said. “I said, ‘Just throw the ball. How many times can you get all of these voices in your head? Fortunately for me, I was able to get it done.”
Angelo was able to regroup after an errant shot in the eighth frame resulted in the 6-7-10 split for an open. He looked down at the two bracelets on his left wrist his daughters Brielle and Ryleigh made for him years ago as lucky charms and he said to himself ‘I’ve got this.’ Another lucky charm was the jersey he wore designed by his wife, Michelle, with her favorite plumeria flowers on it.
After Adcock posted a final score of 206, Angelo’s first shot in the 10th was perfect in the pocket. He stood solid at the line, turned around and a smile came across his face as he exhaled in relief. For good measure, he struck his final two shots for 233. He and Adcock both smiled at each other and hugged. That was followed by even more hugs with his fellow competitors.
“I think the thing that went through my head was, ‘OK, am I going to wake up?’ I am glad to walk through that door again, and get it done,” Angelo said. “It will certainly free me up for the next time to where I just have to come out here and bowl. This is my 23rd stepladder.”
Angelo felt like this stepladder finals was a perfect example of things going his way. In the championship match, he and Adcock each split for an open frame, yet Angelo followed his up with four straight strikes to close out the match. In his semifinal match against defending champion Parker Bohn III, his opponent started and ended his game with a 7-10 split. After Bohn’s first split he followed it up with a double then he uncharacteristically missed a 7-pin. Angelo admits that the second open frame loosened him up, yet Bohn responded with a double and a ringing 7-pin. After the spare, Bohn struck on his next three shots before the second 7-10 for a 212 game. Bohn sat down shaking his head. Angelo struck his first shot in the 10th then picked up a 10-pin for 216.
The first match of the evening for Angelo came against Team Mexico bowler Francisco Peralta who was making his first stepladder finals appearance in just his second ever PBA50 tournament. The left-hander, who defeated fellow lefty Jason Couch in the opening match, started strong with a double then missed a 7-pin on the left lane. Angelo had a split for an open in the second frame and followed that up with a double. There would be no more doubles thrown again until Angelo was able to roll a four-bagger to end the match earning the 212-197 win.
“He left that stone 8-pin (in the seventh). It was a little high flush, but he threw it great then he left a ring 7,” Angelo said. “I got a light shaker strike and was able to get up and make a couple of good shots to shut him out.”
Difficulties on the left lane affected each bowler. There were 14 single-pin leaves and five reracks taken over the four games. In the Couch against Peralta match, Peralta came out rolling with five strikes in six frames. Couch unfortunately left the big four for an open in the fourth followed by back-to-back 7-pin spares twice. Couch finished by striking out in the 10th for 200 but Peralta was too much with a clean 245 game.
After taking more time to reflect on his first win since 2022, Angelo got emotional. When he used to compete on the PBA Tour, Brielle and his son, Dylan, would give him good luck charms before he left. Brielle made the first bracelet when she was around the age of five or six. He made the stepladder that week and he told her that he would wear it every day for the rest of his life and he has kept that promise.
Brielle is about to turn 22 and she will graduate from college later this week. Angelo hates that he won’t be there as instead, he will be competing at the Bud Moore PBA50 Players Championship for a major title in Virginia starting on Saturday.
“Brielle sent me a really nice text, and it said, ‘Dad, I know you sacrifice for us, and I want you to know how much I appreciate that, and it is OK if you can’t be there. Of course I want you there, but I know you have to be able to make money for our family,” Angelo said with tears in his eyes. “That is the stuff that gets me.”
Top 10 PBA50 The Villages Classic standings:
- Brad Angelo, $8,000
- Tom Adcock, $4,500
- Parker Bohn III, $3,500
- Francisco Peralta, $3,000
- Jason Couch, $2,500
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SCORES
Match 1: Peralta def. Couch, 245-200
Match 2: Angelo def. Peralta, 212-197
Match 3: Angelo def. Bohn III, 216-212
Championship match: Angelo def. Adcock, 233-206