Ryan Barnes Takes Lead in PBA Indiana Classic
As the PBA Indiana Classic field heads into the final day of qualifying, Ryan Barnes holds the pole position.
Barnes paced the field through 24 games of qualifying at David Small’s Pro Bowl West in Fort Wayne, Ind.
He led the 96-player field with a total pinfall of 5,910 (+1,110) on the 39-foot Mike Aulby oil pattern.
The reigning PBA Rookie of the Year has averaged more than 246 through 24 of 36 games.
“My ball strikes a lot,” Barnes said. “I matched up pretty well. I had a pretty good game plan, and really figured out this morning to get balls in the right order with a pretty good ball progression. I'm sure the lanes will transition a lot differently tomorrow, so we'll play it by ear, but I’ve got to keep bowling well.”
Marshall Kent, Wednesday's leader Dom Barrett, Nick Pate and Zach Wilkins round out the top five.
Indiana native EJ Tackett sits in sixth place, looking to win his 28th career title just 45 minutes north of his hometown of Bluffton.
Kyle Troup, who won the 2024 Just Bare PBA Indiana Classic, rose from 39th place to 13th on Thursday.
On the same day Barnes took the lead of a PBA Tour stop, he relinquished a PBA Tour record.
Barnes set the PBA single-season rookie earnings record of $113,502 during his Rookie of the Year campaign last season.
That record now belongs to his former college teammate and current tour roommate, Brandon Bonta.
Bonta cashed in to the tune of $110,000 with his major championship victory and televised perfect game during the PBA Players Championship.
His advancement to the top 32 in this event will push his single-season total north of $115,000.
“It’s pretty crazy to think that like (five) weeks in, you already beat that,” Bonta said. “Obviously, it’s awesome, but we’re going to try to keep making that earnings record go up and up.
“Everyone gets lucky, man,” Barnes said jokingly. “It's actually super cool that my former teammate beat it the following year. I couldn't be happier.”
Wes Malott, a 49-year-old PBA Hall of Famer, only bowls a few PBA Tour events each season. With this week’s tournament being in his current hometown of Fort Wayne,
Starting the day in 53rd place, the tournament had all the makings of one in which an aging veteran shakes a few hands, signs a few autographs, and heads home early.
And then Malott reminded everyone why he’s still known as “the Big Nasty.”
Malott averaged more than 238 for the day’s 12 games. He shot 300 in Qualifying Round 3 and added 258, 279, and 258 in his last three games to handily leap inside the cut.
“I’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain,” Malott said. “There was no pressure on me whatsoever. I just went out to make the best shots that I can and that my body will allow. Now I get to go home and put those leg compressions on, ice the elbow, and be here in the morning (to compete) again.”
The top 32 players will move on to Friday morning’s first Advancers Round.
Nolan White secured the final berth in the field with a pinfall of 5,501 (+701). He held off Eric Jones by two pins, Andrew Anderson by 13, Indiana native Zac Tackett by 14, and Kyle Sherman by 15.
Six more games on Friday afternoon will determine the top 16 for the final Advancers Round.
After the tournament’s 36th game is completed on Friday night, the top five players will secure berths in Sunday’s championship round.
The stepladder finals will air live Sunday, March 22 at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT) on The CW.
Tournament Schedule
All times Eastern
Friday, March 20 — BowlTV
11 a.m. — Advancers Round 1 (six games)
6 p.m. — Advancers Round 2 (six games)
Sunday, March 22 — The CW
4 p.m. — Finals