March 4, 2026 Nolan Hughes

KR Strikeforce announced as title sponsor of 2026 PBA Junior Tour

The 2026 PBA Junior powered by KR Strikeforce season will feature a host of new additions.

Youth bowlers will be able to compete in up to 13 regional qualifiers across the country, a schedule that includes eight new locations.

The season is headlined by the second annual PBA Junior KR Strikeforce World Series of Bowling, which will take place June 8-12 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich.

"The future of bowling is on the lanes right now, and KR Strikeforce is proud to invest in it,” said Brad Handelman, President of KR Strikeforce. “Sponsoring the PBA national youth tour is about more than brand visibility — it's about showing up for the young athletes who are putting in the work every day. We want every kid who laces up their shoes and steps on that approach to know that the bowling community has their back."

There will be four divisions at the PBA Junior level in 2026. The U18 Boys and U18 Girls divisions will continue, while the U15 Mixed division has been split into U15 Boys and U15 Girls.

Regional qualifiers offer youth bowlers the opportunity to earn a berth in the PBA Junior National Championships, which will be held in early 2027.

This past weekend, Anna Antony became the first repeat national champion since Jillian Martin in 2022. Kaeden White prevailed over Jake Bockstie to win the U18 Boys national championship, while Kristofer Wagner captured the U15 Mixed title.

The PBA Junior program is designed to give youth bowlers an opportunity to compete like the pros. Several former PBA Junior players are now competing on the PBA Tour.

Spencer Robarge, the inaugural champion in the boys division, made the PBA Players Championship finals in his PBA Tour debut last month. 

Eric Jones and Nate Purches, who won the PBA Rookie of the Year award in 2024, have been touring professionals for multiple seasons.

Learn more about PBA Junior membership options here.

The 2026 PBA Junior powered by KR Strikeforce Regional Qualifier schedule is available below.

Entries will open on Friday, March 6. 

2026 PBA Junior Regional Qualifier Schedule

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce South Region Qualifier
April 10-12
Bowl America Southwest
Midlothian, VA

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce Midwest/Central Region Qualifier
April 10-12
AMF Hall of Fame Lanes
Canton, OH

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce Midwest/Central Region Qualifier
May 1-3
Sun Valley Lanes & Games
Lincoln, NE

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce East Region Qualifier
May 15-17
Hall of Fame Silver Lanes
East Hartford, CT

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce South Region Qualifier
May 29-31
Smyrna Bowling Center
Smyrna, TN

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce World Series of Bowling II
June 8-12
Thunderbowl Lanes
Allen Park, MI

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce South Region Qualifier
June 19-21
Bowl America Bull Run
Manassas, VA

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce West Region Qualifier
Aug. 7-9
Forest Lanes
Lake Forest, CA

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce Southwest Region Qualifier
Aug. 21-23
Bowlero Northrock
Wichita, KS

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce Midwest/Central Region Qualifier
Aug. 28-30
Strike N Spare II
Lockport, IL

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce South Region Qualifier
Sept. 11-13
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Myrtle Beach, SC

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce Southwest Region QualifierOct. 9-11
Astro Super Bowl
San Antonio, TX

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce West Region Qualifier
Nov. 6-8
Bowlero Kyrene
Chandler, AZ

PBA Junior KR Strikeforce East Region Qualifier 
Dec. 4-6
East Providence Lanes
East Providence, RI