By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Tom Hess calls himself “a dream chaser.”
This week during the PBA Tournament of Champions at AMF Riviera Lanes, the 54-year-old Granger, Iowa, right-hander will see a dream reaching fruition.
Hess will join Steve Jaros, John Weber and Bill and Barbara Christman as inductees into the PBA Hall of Fame. Ceremonies are set for Friday at the Hilton Akron-Fairlawn.
Asked how he will be Friday, the former PBA50 player and rookie of the year (winning both in 2021) said simply “a babbling mess.”
“I don’t know … I can’t even win a tournament without crying,” said Hess, who was inducted in the PBA50 category and owns one major PBA title (the 2011 USBC Senior Masters).
“I might be OK until I start thanking my family. I might start crying during Parker’s (Bohn III) speech.”
Bohn will introduce Hess for enshrinement Friday, something not lost on Hess, who was involved in the construction industry before bowling full-time, delivering sod and also serving as a salesman for a hydraulics repair company.
“When some of the legends of the game and people you look up to like Norm Duke one for you and Pete Weber says it was a ‘hell, yes’ from him,” Hess said. “Parker is going to induct me and Lenny Boresch, who got in last year … it’s just awesome to have this opportunity.”
Hess didn’t become a full-time bowler until the age of 51 on the PBA50 Tour. The fact that he achieved Hall of Fame status so soon surprised him.
“There’s criteria on the PBA50 Tour, and it includes two majors and five titles,” Hess said. “I completed it this fall, but I didn’t know I would go right in. There has to be a vote.
“Just because you’re eligible, doesn’t mean you’re in. To happen that quickly … that was a surprise.”
Hess said the real hall of famer is his wife, who raised their children while Hess was off pursuing his dream.
“I missed a lot of stuff with the kids. It’s just so hard on my wife. They had to give up having their dad,” Hess said. “She allowed me to chase my dreams.
“If you’ve got dreams, make sure to chase them because they just might come true.”
But this week also will probably bring the curtain down on one phase of Hess’ career.
Due to the rules changes for the 2025 season, only 43 players will make the exempt PBA Tour. Hess stands 77th on the points list.
“Unless I go out and make the show, this will be my last event as a full-time touring player,” Hess said. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for me. I’m not going to to bowl the (PBA) Tour Trials.
“I’m going to apply for some commissioner’s exemptions for some events and the hall of fame will add to those opportunities. I’m still going to bowl the majors as long as I’m eligible.”
But he still has one more big week before the start of the PBA50 season next week.
“It’s going to be an unbelievable week. It’s just going to be surreal,” Hess said.
Doubles partner Tom Daugherty, who won Sunday’s doubles event Clutch Lanes and Sports Center in Cuyahoga Falls with Hess, knows how his partner will be that day
“He’ll start crying,” Daugherty said, “as soon as he gets up there.”
JONES TOPS PTQ
Eric Jones, the 19-year-old two-handed lefty who finished fifth Sunday during the PBA World Championships, led a field 49 players during Monday’s pre-tournament qualifier (PTQ) to gain one of 10 available spots for this week’s TOC.
Jones finished with 1,613 total pinfall for the seven-game qualifier, an average of 230.43, to top the field.
Among others earning spots were Goshen, Ind., right-hander Michael Schlabach, who captured Sunday’s one-day PBA Central Region event at Rebman Recreation in Lorain.
Anthony Lavery-Spahr earned the final spot with 1,498, just 27 pins in front of his brother, Sean Lavery-Spahr (1,471). Six other players earned their entry fees back with cash spots, with the final one going to Cody Shoemaker with 1,432.
This will mark Jones’ first TOC appearance. He finished 39 pins ahead of Nathan Bohr (1,574).
See complete PTQ scores here:
https://www.r2sports.com/website/standings.asp?TID=41839
NOTEBOOK: The TOC field will include 68 players, short of the capacity of 72. Two more positions came out of the PTQ in order to get to an even number for the lane positioning. … Action will begin with the first six-game qualifying round on the Don Johnson 40 oil pattern at 10 a.m. Tuesday, followed by the second qualifying round at 6 p.m. There will be a third round at 10 a.m. Wednesday before the field is cut to the top 24 for match play. … Tickets are available by calling AMF Riviera Lanes. … More will be on the line than just a title this week as players seek to qualifying for the PBA Tour Playoffs, which will include the top 16 players on the points list. EJ Tackett leads the race, followed by Bill O’Neill. Holding down the No. 16 spot is Tom Smallwood. Also, the race for the season-long points list for next year’s PBA Tour continues, with the top 43 players earning automatic exempt spots.