March 3, 2026 Nolan Hughes

Eight games of the marathon known as the Go Bowling U.S. Open are in the books.

With the season’s second major title and a $100,000 top prize up for grabs, the game’s top stars are locked in at Royal Pin Woodland in Indianapolis.

Anthony Simonsen, an annual fixture in the race for the coveted green jacket, led the 108-player field through the first round of qualifying.

Simonsen averaged more than 233 to reach a total pinfall of 1,871 (+271) for his eight games.

“Through the first two weeks of the season, I’ve struggled with putting together a good block to start,” Simonsen said. “With this block, I’ll be able to, not necessarily bowl different, but I won’t feel like I’ve got to chase a number. I can just bowl and see what (type of score) is out there without needing to bowl 230 every game to catch people.”

Dom Barrett ranks second with a score of 1,835, one pin superior to that of Jason Sterner.

Malaysia's Tun Hakim, who rolled the day’s lone 300 game, sits in fourth and Ethan Fiore rounds out the top five.

Simonsen, who bowled on C-squad, said he benefitted from watching how players on A- and B-squads attacked the day’s 40-foot oil pattern.

“The unique thing about this tournament is having three different squads each bowling on the same pattern every day,” Simonsen said. “Sometimes it's a good thing and sometimes it's a bad thing. For me personally, it was good to be on C-squad. I got to sit back and watch a little bit and see how some guys got some score and how some guys got into trouble. I know EJ (Tackett) didn’t get off to a hot start, but I really liked what he was doing on the lanes. I decided it was one of those things where I'm going to stand here and eventually (the lanes will transition to) where I need them to be.”

Simonsen has developed an impressive track record at Royal Pin Woodland.

The 29-year-old won the 2016 USBC Masters and 2022 U.S. Open in the venue. He has also made the finals of the U.S. Open each year since the tournament returned to Woodland in 2022.

“This place is pretty special,” Simonsen said of Royal Pin Woodland. “I met my girlfriend here a long, long time ago. I’ve won a couple titles here shortly after my parents’ passing. I don't really know if there's a place that will ever top the list of what Woodland means to me.”

 

Rafiq Ismail led A-squad with a total pinfall of 1,765, a 220.63 average. Also on A-squad, defending champion EJ Tackett (1,730) narrowly eclipsed the 2024 champion Kyle Troup (1,725).

Tackett and Troup are featured in the HBO original documentary series “Born to Bowl,” which premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Monday, March 16.

The trailer — which also features Simonsen, Jason Belmonte and Cameron Crowe — was released today.

U.S. Open qualifying continues on Wednesday and concludes on Thursday, setting the stage for the advancers round and match play on Friday.

Match play wraps up Saturday night, solidifying the five-player field for Sunday’s championship round.

The stepladder finals will air live at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8 on The CW.

 

 

Tournament Schedule

Wednesday, March 4 — Qualifying Round 2
8 a.m. — B-squad (eight games)
1 p.m. — C-squad (eight games)
6 p.m. — A-squad (eight games)

Thursday, March 5 — Qualifying Round 3
8 a.m. — C-squad (eight games)
1 p.m. — A-squad (eight games)
6 p.m. — B-squad (eight games)

Friday, March 6
8 a.m. — Official practice session — Oil Pattern #4
10 a.m. — Advancers/Cashers Round (eight games)
5 p.m. — Match Play Round 1 (eight games)

Saturday, March 7
10 a.m. — Match Play Round 2 (eight games)
5 p.m. — Match Play Round 3 (eight games)

Sunday, March 8
4 p.m. — Championship Round on The CW