Patrick Dombrowski Wins Go Bowling U.S. Open for First Career Title

After 56 games in the 2026 Go Bowling U.S. Open, the most taxing challenge in professional bowling, a major title hinged on the result of one, final shot.

The top seed Anthony Simonsen stood on the approach of Indianapolis’ Royal Pin Woodland — a venue in which he has won two major championships and made five straight U.S. Open finals — with needing a strike to force a roll-off against Patrick Dombrowski.

A moment every athlete dreams of turned into a nightmare as Simonsen left a pocket 7-10 split and Dombrowski won the match by those two pins, 197-195.

In the aftermath of the chaos, Dombrowski, for the first time, rose from his seat as a PBA Tour champion.

The 47-year old native of Parma, Ohio claimed his first career title, winning the major championship, the coveted green jacket and the illustrious eagle trophy.

The upcoming tax season will become more interesting for Dombrowski, a former full-time accountant until two years ago, after securing the $100,000 top prize.

“I’m at a loss for words right now,” Dombrowski said. “Simonsen’s résumé speaks for itself. I was preparing myself for a roll-off. Luckily it didn’t come down to it.

“No more PTQs (pre-tournament qualifiers) at the Tournament of Champions!”

Simonsen and Dombrowski earned the top seeds for the championship round, alongside Chris Via, Tim Foy Jr. and Andrew Anderson on Saturday night.

In the first match of the stepladder finals, Anderson overcame an ugly open frame in the third in which he knocked over just seven total pins. He rallied with eight consecutive strikes to shoot 250 and defeat Tim Foy Jr., who left four 10-pins and a 7-pin in a clean 226 game.

Anderson had a similarly poor third frame in the second match against Chris Via. This time, Anderson followed up the open frame with two more — each a pocket 7-10 split.

Via, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, cruises to a 246-159 victory.

Via and Dombrowski exchanged spares in their semifinal match, then went strike-for-strike in the second half. Via trailed by three pins entering the 10th frame, where he left a match-ending pocket 7-10 split himself.

Dombrowski closed the match with seven straight strikes to advance to the title match.

The championship match pitted the runners-up in each of the past two USBC Masters. Dombrowski fell to DeeRonn Booker in 2024, then Simonsen lost to Gary Haines last season.

Both players started slow with open frames in the third: Simonsen left a 7-10 split, while Dombrowski left a Greek Church. For the next six frames, the players only struck or converted single-pin spares.

Simonsen considered changing balls on the left lane before a pivotal shot in the ninth frame, but elected to stick with the same ball. The decision appeared to have cost him the match as he left another 10-pin, adding to the 10-pin and 7-10 split he previously left on that lane.

However, Simonsen would be given another chance.

After converting a spare in his 10th frame, Dombrowski needed nine pins to shut out Simonsen. He left the 2-8 and gave Simonsen a chance to throw three strikes to force a roll-off.

Simonsen struck on his first shot, then his second. On the third, he left another pocket 7-10 split — his second of the game and the sixth overall of the show.

This marks Simonsen’s eighth career runner-up finish in a major championship, the most of any player since Simonsen joined the tour in 2015.

The 29-year-old sought to become the youngest player to win six major titles, already owning the records for youngest to win one through five majors.

Dombrowski, meanwhile, notched the pinnacle achievement thus far of his career.

He competed part-time on the PBA Tour for about two decades before committing to professional bowling full-time two years ago.

Dombrowski lost his job as an accountant mere weeks before his 2024 USBC Masters run. That performance proved to him that he was capable of contending for titles and led to him earning an exempt berth for the tour in 2025.

This title secures Dombrowski status on the PBA Tour for at least the next decade.

The 2026 PBA Tour powered by Go Bowling season continues this week with the Groupon PBA Illinois Classic. Qualifying begins on Tuesday, leading to the finals on Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) on The CW.

More information on the 2026 Go Bowling U.S. Open is available here.

Championship Round Matches

Match One: No. 5 Andrew Anderson def. No. 4 Tim Foy Jr., 250-226
Match Two: No. 3 Chris Via def. No. 5 Andrew Anderson, 246-159
Match Three: No. 2 Patrick Dombrowski def. No. 3 Chris Via, 248-211
Championship: No. 2 Patrick Dombrowski def. No. 1 Anthony Simonsen, 197-195

Final Standings

1. Patrick Dombrowski, $100,000
2. Anthony Simonsen, $50,000
3. Chris Via, $25,000
4. Andrew Anderson, $15,000
5. Tim Foy Jr., $10,000

Complete standings are available here.