Tom Daugherty Beats Mika Koivuniemi for PBA50 World Championship Title
Lakeville, Minnesota – Tom Daugherty is a two-time World Champion.
Five years ago, he shined at the 2021 PBA World Series of Bowling XII in his hometown of Tampa, Florida, winning his third standard title at the Scorpion Championship followed by his first major at the World Championship. On Tuesday, he won the PBA50 World Championship, for his second major title on the senior tour.
It was a match that most avid bowling fans hoped they would see again. Daugherty against Mika Koivuniemi. The Finland native who Daugherty has been tied to for 15 years now after Koivuniemi beat him 299-100 on national television at the PBA Tournament of Champions in 2011. The performance is in the PBA record books as the largest margin of victory on national TV and the lowest score on national TV.
“We have that connection. He definitely had the upper hand, and he let me know it on a regular basis. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get a rematch against Mika of all people,” Daugherty said, smiling. “It affected me the first game a little bit because it was something that I wanted more than the title. I just wanted to bowl Mika because who knows if we will ever get this opportunity again. I just wasn’t going to let him win.”
“We have bowled some matches in match play, but I wanted to bowl him on TV. My friends back home, I know they were watching. If I would have lost to him again, I could not have gone home,” he joked.
Daugherty delivered in the 10th frame. Needing a mark to win, he struck for the 227-216 victory. He is now the second player to win the World Championship on both tours.
“That’s pretty cool. I was hoping to be the first one, but I guess (Chris) Barnes beat me to it,” Daugherty said. “It is just the format. I feel like the more games I get, the better I am going to do.”
In the opening match, Daugherty defeated Michael Machuga 210-208. On his final shot aiming at the 10-pin, Daugherty said, “Let’s dance, Mika. Come on.” Machuga turned 50 less than a month ago and quickly made his presence felt during the World Series of Bowling IV. In addition to Daugherty’s title at the World Series, John Janawicz won the Ballard Championship, Jason Couch won the Monacelli Championship and Tom Hess won the Petraglia Championship.
The next stop for the PBA50 Tour is a chance at another major title at the PBA Senior U.S. Open in Greeley, Colorado. Qualifying rounds will begin on May 20, and you can watch that tournament on BowlTV.
“You can’t win every major in one season if you don’t win the first one,” Daugherty said.
PBA50 World Championship Final Standings:
- Tom Daugherty $25,000
- Mika Koivuniemi $13,000
- Michael Machuga $7,000
MATCH SCORES:
Match 1: Daugherty def. Machuga 210-208
Championship match: Daugherty def. Koivuniemi 227-216