Jack Jurek Wins PBA60 Webb Championship
Columbus, Ohio – Jack Jurek has been a PBA member for 40 years and on Saturday, he won his third PBA60 title at the 2026 PBA60 Webb Championship. He defeated good friend Amleto Monacelli in a roll-off 10-8 after each finished with a 226 game.
“To get a chance to win a title against him; he is a PBA and USBC Hall of Famer. Any time you beat someone of that caliber, it is definitely rewarding, and makes you feel like maybe you do belong. Maybe not on the same level, but on a level close,” Jurek said. “Over the last few years, I have had more than one opportunity to finish a game off to win. I have had more success stories in those situations than I have had in the past. Now, I have fresher things to look back on. I don’t have to look back on all the times I missed out on those opportunities. I do feel a little more confident in those situations than I was.”
As the top-seed, Jurek came out looking comfortable and confident. He started the match with four consecutive strikes. Monacelli went spare, strike, back-to-back spares then struck in the fifth. Jurek picked up a 10 pin and struck in the sixth for a 21-pin lead.
Monacelli struck in the sixth then watched a messenger fly across the lane in front of the 10-pin without knocking it over. He picked it up. Jurek then picked up another 10-pin yet missed a 10-pin on the left lane. Monacelli made a 7-pin then struck in the ninth. Finishing first, Jurek’s shot in the ninth was high yet the 4-pin fell into the 9-pin for a strike. Jurek struck again before leaving a 10-pin and making the spare for 226.
Needing to strike out for the win, Monacelli doubled before his last shot went through the nose and left the 4-pin standing for the 226 tie. As the higher seed, Jurek elected to start the roll-off on the left lane, where he had struck four times and Monacelli twice. Jurek struck. Monacelli’s delivery went through the nose for an 8-count and the loss.
“You don’t get that many kicks at the can anymore, so my brain was getting a little funky there for a minute. I was fortunate to get a couple of extra opportunities that I wasn’t expecting,” Jurek said. “I have been stuck on the 2s. I had two regular titles. I had two 50 titles, two 60’s titles and I had two Steve Nagy’s. Now when they announce me at the pro-am, they can say three on something.”
This was Jurek’s second stepladder finals, after finishing in second at the PBA50 Monacelli Championship earlier this season. These long, grueling formats can take a toll, but Jurek has had no issues. He has admired Monacelli’s dedication to taking care of himself for decades.
“In the last 15-20 years or so, I have been much more diligent about my fitness. I have been very fortunate. I have not had to deal with too many physical injuries of any kind,” Jurek said. “I have always had great respect for him (Monacelli) as a player. He was inspirational in trying to make sure that I take better care of myself. He was always fit and has never stopped.”
The semifinal match featured Bill Rowe against Monacelli. Rowe struck on his first three shots before making a spare and striking again in the fifth. Monacelli rolled five straight strikes playing the lanes completely different. The Venezuelan was playing straight on the right lane and hooking it on the left lane.
Monacelli missed a 7-pin. Rowe failed to cover the 6-9-10 then missed a 10-pin. Both players rebounded with doubles. Monacelli ended the match with a spare and three straight strikes for 246, as Rowe shot 202.
In the opening match, Darryl Bower had four strikes through the first five frames holding the lead over John Burkett. Burkett, who won the PBA60 Roth Championship last year, responded with four straight strikes in the sixth through ninth frame. He ended the match picking up a 10-pin and striking for the 226-204 win.
In match two, Burkett began the match with three straight strikes. His opponent, Bill Rowe went spare, double then split for an open frame in the fourth. Burkett converted a 4-pin then split for an open in the fifth frame. Rowe picked up the 10-pin then rolled four strikes-in-a-row. In the 10th, he got a spare and strike for 224. Burkett bounced back from his open frame with three straight strikes. He picked up a 10-pin before rolling a strike and converting the 4-pin also for 224. In the roll-off, Rowe elected Burkett to start. Burkett went through the nose for an 8-count, as Rowe delivered a strike to advance.
Next up at the PBA60 World Series of Bowling is the Roth Championship. The field will bowl eight games of qualifying on the 43-foot Roth oil pattern starting at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The top 16 players after qualifying will advance to bracket match play best-of-five matches scheduled to start at 11 a.m. ET on Monday followed by the Round of 8 best-of-five matches starting at 3 p.m. ET. The four undefeated winners and the highest seeded eliminated bowler in the Round of 8 will be in the stepladder finals set to start at 6 p.m. on Monday.
The top 18 overall bowlers after 16 games of qualifying across the Webb and Roth Championship will advance to the PBA60 World Championship. All qualifying pins carry over into match play rounds scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The final round of match play will begin at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday followed by the stepladder finals at 6 p.m. There are two more PBA60 titles available this week. You can watch the entire PBA60 WSOB on BowlTV.
Jurek is happy with his latest win, but he knows it is right back to work. He is the defending champion of the PBA60 World Championship.
“At the (2024) Super Senior Classic when I won and came back the next year as defending champ, I didn’t defend very well. I am hoping to be a better defending champion this year,” Jurek said. “Step one is there. Now we have to take step two. I would love to make another top 16 and get another shot at a show.”
PBA60 Webb Championship Final Standings:
- Jack Jurek $5,000
- Amleto Monacelli $2,500
- Bill Rowe $1,800
- John Burkett $1,400
- Darryl Bower $1,200
MATCH SCORES:
Match 1: Burkett def. Bower 226-204
Match 2: Rowe and Burkett tie, 224-224. Rowe wins the roll-off 10-8.
Match 3: Monacelli def. Rowe 246-202
Championship match: Jurek and Monacelli tie, 226-226. Jurek wins the roll-off 10-8.
Final standings - PBA60 Webb Championship
For information on the WSOB II, click here.
