By CURTIS DUFFIELD
FAIRLAWN — Thomas Larsen recently made some changes to his game, going into the PBA’s third major of the season.
And so far it’s paid off, as Larsen sat atop the leaderboard after the first 18 games of qualifying at the KIA PBA Tournament of Champions at AMF Riviera Lanes on Thursday.
Larsen, a 32-year-old right-hander from Denmark, had a total pinfall of 4,126, averaging just under 230 (229.22) for 18 games.
“A lot of changes since last week,” said Larsen about his success after the first two days of the TOC. “Getting my hand in a better position. Seeing my ball motion a little different. Also figured out some physical things to repeat shots.”
Larsen, who is chasing his second career major after winning last year’s USBC Masters in Reno, Nev., shot 255 and 277 his last two games to lap Bill O’Neill, Dick Allen, Kyle Sherman, Andrew Anderson and Kristopher Prather to enter as the top seed into Thursday night’s match play.
“I basically knew I was in a good position to make the cut, ” said Larsen. “I was just trying to bowl well and try and get as many pins as I could get the last two games. Apparently that was enough. I wasn’t even thinking about where I was going to finish.”
The top 24 players advanced to match play, where the bowlers will bowl 24 more games over the next day and a half. After Friday night’s last eight games of match play, the TV finals will be set, which will be aired on FOX at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Other notable bowlers who advanced include Jason Belmonte, who is looking to become the first four-time champion of this event. He also is looking for his third win of the year in just five events and career major number 15. Last year’s TOC winner Francois Lavoie, E.J Tackett, Dom Barrett, Anthony Simonsen, Kyle Troup, Tommy Jones, Wes Malott, Sean Rash, Osku Palermaa and Tom Daugherty are all part of the top 24.
Parma’s Patrick Dombrowski finished 25th, missing the cut by 15 pins but gaining the final cash spot as the alternate. Other big names who missed the cut included Marshall Kent, Tom Smallwood, Norm Duke, Jesper Svensson, Ronnie Russell, Chris Barnes, Chris Via, Darren Tang and Parker Bohn III.
Senior PBA champion Tom Hess was seventh after averaging 226.17, with six games over 240.
“Just believing in myself,” Hess said about what’s been the difference so far this week. “Also having a lot of support from Robert Lawrence, who I crossed with all week, Don Hogue, who runs the pro shop here and is taking care of me. Combining that with just staying in the moment has played a huge role for me.”
Out of the 24 bowlers, who made match play, 23 are right handers, including five two-handers. The lone left-hander is Jakob Butturff, who is 14th at +409 (223.83 average).
“The left side was pretty difficult this afternoon and I was just trying to play them as safe as I could,” said Butturff. “Being the only lefty, I feel like it’s a bit of an advantage cause I’m the only one that I have to worry about on my side.”