By NOLAN HUGHES
PBA Communications
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Jason Sterner leads the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic through two rounds of qualifying in large part due to his spare shooting.
Sterner has achieved a total pinfall of 2,794 (+394) through 12 games on the 45-foot Dragon pattern at Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield, Mo.
On Valentine’s Day, Sterner discovered a newfound love for the spare game. Before this week’s tournament, the fourth title event of the 2024 season, Sterner recalibrated his spare-shooting angles.
“I found some things in my own spare game that I needed to adjust and got to apply this week and, so far, I’m almost 100% on splits,” Sterner said. “To me, that’s huge. I just want to improve the little things that I can make better. I’m making better decisions, doing things strategically that allow me to be where I need to be and comfortable. So all in all, I feel pretty good with the direction we’re going.”
Sterner came out firing to start the evening round, shooting 269 and 267 his first two games. His plan was to play farther right and straighter than most players on the longer pattern.
“The field usually goes left when they don’t feel hold or they feel (the pattern) is too flat,” Sterner said. “With my ball roll, it lets me use that to my advantage versus being kicked out to the left. I didn’t know if I could commit to it, but I definitely wanted to see it through the first block and I felt like it was there. Tonight, that’s what I did to the fullest and it paid off tremendously.”
Graham Fach, EJ Tackett, Jesper Svensson and Zach Wilkins round out the top five.
Wilkins, sitting eighth on the PBA Tour points list through three events, is in the midst of a potential breakout season. He said he committed to bowling year-round in January 2021 and the long-time Canadian national team player added the one thing missing on this résumé is a PBA Tour title.
With the top 43 players earning exemptions for the 2025 PBA Tour, Wilkins has his sights on securing an exempt spot before the season finale at the PBA Tournament of Champions.
“I’m focused on getting as many points as possible because I know the last event is the TOC,” said Wilkins, who is not eligible to compete in the TOC until he wins a PBA Tour or PBA Regional Tour title. “I need to be well in the top 43 to even have a chance because so many people can pass me because they’re all champions.”
One six-game qualifying round remains before the field is trimmed to the top 32 players.
Then three six-game elimination rounds, with cuts to the top 24, 12 and five after each respective round — will determine the five players advancing to Sunday’s stepladder finals.
The current cut is Tom Smallwood at +131, a 210.92 per game pace.
The third round of qualifying begins at 10 a.m. Central (11 a.m. Eastern) time on Thursday.
All qualifying and elimination rounds will be livestreamed on BowlTV.
See full standings here:
https://www.r2sports.com/website/standings.asp?TID=41826
WEBER BACK HOME TO COMPETE
When Weber learned the PBA Missouri Classic would be renamed in his honor, he was speechless.
“To have a tournament named after you is probably the highest honor you can get,” Weber said in November. “I’m thinking this ranks up there with the fifth U.S. Open and second Triple Crown. It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”
Weber retired from full-time PBA Tour competition in 2021, but scratches the competitive itch a few times per season.
The Missouri legend has won 37 PBA Tour titles (fourth all-time) and 10 major championships (tied for second all-time). Following a title-clinching strike for his record-fifth U.S. Open crown, Weber delivered perhaps the most iconic moment in bowling history.
When Sam Cooley won the PBA Springfield Classic last season — and defeated Springfield native Keven Williams in the title match — he declared Enterprise Park Lanes to be his house. Cooley, who ranks 19th in points through three events, will look to defend that title this week.
Williams, who moved to California this offseason, won’t be the only Springfield native in the field.
David “Boog” Krol advanced through another pre-tournament qualifier and looks to continue his breakout season. The 28-year-old finished 15th in the PBA Players Championship presented by Snickers and a career-best sixth in the U.S. Open presented by GoBowling.
Spencer Robarge, another Springfield native, also advanced through the PTQ. The Wichita State star finished 24th in the U.S. Open earlier this month.