March 6, 2026 Nolan Hughes

U.S. Open standings through 40 games

Anthony Simonsen has placed himself one day away from his favorite place on Earth: Competing for the U.S. Open title on Sunday at Indianapolis’ Royal Pin Woodland.

Simonsen seized the lead of the 2026 Go Bowling U.S. Open heading into Saturday’s final rounds of match play.

Tim Foy Jr., Chris Via, Patrick Dombrowski and AJ Johnson round out the current top five, while eight more players — including defending champion EJ Tackett — sit within 200 pins of fifth place.

Through 40 games, Simonsen has averaged more than 226.23 to tally a total pinfall of 9,199 (+1,199). He went 5-3 during the night’s opening round of match play, securing 150 bonus pins.

Simonsen previously led after the first round of qualifying on Tuesday and has remained in the top five for the duration of the major championship.

“You want to be in the show going into the last day, I think that's better than having to try to chase the show,” Simonsen said. “I've been fortunate enough this week that I've never really had to chase any of the numbers. I've been comfortably in the top 36, comfortably in the top 24 the whole time. The main thing is keep coming in, trying to make good shots and see what happens from there.”

Foy Jr. (63 pins behind Simonsen) and the 2021 champion Via (76 pins) also sit in prime position to make Sunday’s championship round, which airs at 4 p.m ET on The CW.

Dombrowski and Johnson, each more than 200 pins behind Simonsen, rank fourth and fifth, respectively.

Last year’s runner-up Andrew Anderson ranks sixth, followed by Tun Hakim, Dylan Jablonski, TJ Rock and Ethan Fiore.

Hakim struck on his final six shots of the fourth qualifying round to advance to match play. He then averaged more than 241 and went 7-1 in match play to rise from 23rd place to seventh.

“This is my first U.S. Open,” Hakim said. “I’m very excited, but at the same time, it is still a long run to go with 16 games.”

Rock was the final player to qualify for the 36-player advancer round after qualifying on Thursday. He rose to 16th place after the advancer round and briefly put himself in the top five during match play before setting the night in ninth place. 

Rock is looking to become the latest member of the lauded 2023 Wichita State collegiate national championship-winning team to make a PBA major championship final. 

Ryan Barnes and Alec Keplinger each made the PBA Players Championship finals in 2025, then Brandon Bonta and Spencer Robarge made the finals in this year’s season-opening major.

Rock said Bonta’s historic victory in the PBA Players Championship last month inspired Rock’s performance on Saturday.

“It made me feel like I can compete (on the PBA Tour), too,” Rock said. “We grew up bowling in college with each other. Having his support helps as well, and that's the best part about it.”

EJ Tackett, the 2023 and 2025 U.S. Open champion, ranks 12th and sits 150 pins behind fifth place.

Jason Belmonte, pursuing a second U.S. Open title, which would make him the first player in history to win all five PBA major championships twice, is in 18th place. He is 290 pins outside of the show with 16 games (and up to 480 bonus pins) remaining.

Match play concludes Saturday night with rounds at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET to solidify the five-player field for Sunday’s championship round.

All qualifying and match play rounds will be livestreamed on BowlTV.

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

Tournament Schedule

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