June 20, 2026 Jill Winters

Anderson, Ind. – Last week, Randy Weiss missed the 2026 PBA50 FireLake Classic to celebrate his daughter Rosalynn’s 9th birthday. Now, he is celebrating Father’s Day with her and his son Gavin after winning his first PBA50 title. 

Weiss won the David Small’s Championship Lanes Classic on Saturday by defeating No. 1 seed Mike Machuga, 203-191. Needing to get at least eight on his first shot in the 10th frame, Weiss immediately started walking out his shot to the right and clenched both fists triumphantly as the 10-pin stood. Rosalynn ran out on the lanes and jumped into his arms, and Gavin joined them.

“Finally feels great to get that monkey off my back. I only wish my mom was here to watch it. That is what she devoted her whole life to, helping me do this dream. I am sure she is up there (in heaven) pretty happy,” Weiss said. “She was the bowler. She was that one that took me to bowling every day, since I was born basically.”

Weiss led the entire championship match. He started by picking up the 3-6-10, struck, converted the 8-pin then rolled three straight strikes. Machuga began the match with three spares before a double. Machuga, who is in his rookie season, split leaving the 4-6-7 in the sixth frame. Weiss failed to convert the 3-10 split in the seventh frame yet struck for the eighth straight time on the right lane followed by a spare. 

After the open frame, Machuga sent back-to-back shots on the right lane too far right leaving the 2-4-5-8 in the seventh then the 2-4-5 in the ninth. He made both spares. Stepping up in the 10th, Machuga flushed his delivery, which resulted in the 7-pin still standing. He picked it up and got nine for 191.   

Weiss felt the key to getting his first title was trying to keep his emotions in check and focus on making good shots. Weiss made sure to praise his opponent.

“I even have to thank Chuga because my very first regular TV show, it was Chuga who gave me the advice about slowing it down in my mind to help me stay focused,” Weiss said. “So, thanks Chuga. What a tough competitor.”

Weiss was the 2024 PBA50 Rookie of the Year and the 2024 Regional Players Invitational champion. He also has 13 regional titles. Back in the late ‘90s he won the World Team Challenge Grand Championship along with Brad Angelo and Tommy Jones. He says this national title is probably his biggest bowling accomplishment. 

“This is something I have been trying to do my whole life. Hopefully, this is just the beginning,” Weiss said. “I feel like I am bowling pretty solid. Now that we have gotten one done, hopefully we can rack up a few more somewhere.” 

In the semifinal match, Weiss struck on his first three shots against Tom Daugherty. Daugherty, who won the 2026 PBA50 World Championship, picked up the 10-pin then the 2-4-10 split. In the third frame, Daughtery made a ball change, which resulted in a double. Weiss picked up a 7-pin before leaving a pocket 7-10 in the fifth for an open. 

Daugherty converted the 3-4-6-7 before leaving the 4-6-7-10 for an open in the sixth. Weiss spared in the sixth and struck. Daugherty, with a ball change in the seventh frame, struck three times before picking up the 6-10 and getting nine for 204. Weiss continued striking five more times for 246.

In the opening match, fourth seed Pete Dohan Jr. made his first-ever stepladder finals appearance. He was the No.17 seed in bracket match play before defeating Rolando Sebelen, Brad Angelo then Jack Jurek. In his match against fellow Floridian Dan Knowlton, Dohan started with a strike and two spares. Knowlton opened in the first frame, struck then split for an open in the third frame. 

Dohan rolled four straight strikes before leaving a split in the eighth frame. He responded with four final strikes for the 229. Knowlton struck on three of his final four shots for 179.

In match two, Daugherty opened with a double, while Dohan had four spares in a row before getting a strike in the fifth frame. Daugherty went spare, open and a spare for the one pin lead. Dohan opened in the sixth and followed that with strike, spare then strike through nine frames.

Daugherty struck in the sixth before making three consecutive spares. He struck on his first shot in the 10th and picked up the 2-8 for 190. Needing a double for the win, Dohan picked up the 6-10 and got seven for 178. 

Next up for the PBA50 Tour is the South Shore Classic beginning Tuesday in Hammond, Indiana.

PBA50 David Small’s Championship Lanes Classic Final Standings:

  1. Randy Weiss        $7,500
  2. Mike Machuga      $4,000
  3. Tom Daugherty     $3,200
  4. Pete Dohan Jr.      $2,500
  5. Dan Knowlton       $2,000

MATCH SCORES:

Match 1: Dohan Jr. def. Knowlton 229-179

Match 2: Daugherty def. Dohan Jr. 190-178 

Match 3: Weiss def. Daugherty 246-204

Championship match: Weiss def. Machuga 203-191

Final standings - 2026 David Small's Championship Lanes Classic

 

 

 

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