CANTON — Rootstown’s Dean Billings averaged 237.88 to take the qualifying lead during the PBA50 Strike Zone Lanes Central Classic on Saturday at Strike Zone.
Billings finished with 1,903 total pinfall during the eight-game qualfier, just four pins ahead of Silver Springs, Md., player Jay Davis Jr. (1,899). Davis had a pair of 300 games during the round and Michael Haggitt also had one.
The top 16 players return Sunday morning for 12 games of match play to determine the champion. Play begins at 9 a.m. and admission is free.
Indianapolis’ Mark Sullivan was the cut line at 1,794, with Youngstown’s Bob Eckenrode missing by just three pins in 17th place.
Among area players, non-members Tony Varn of Uniontown (1,824) and Jim Bowen 9f Massillon (1,806) finished 10th and 14th, respectively, to earn spots in the match-play round. Defending champion Eugene McCune finished 36th.
The tournament drew an 85-player field.
During match play, players receive bonus pins for match victories and ties.
See the complete score list below: