By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Ask the Professional Bowlers Association Tour’s newest teen sensation if he is surprised by his recent success during the World Series of Bowling, he just gives you a smile.
“Not really,” 19-year-old Edmond,Okla., two-handed left-hander Eric Jones said. “I was hoping to see myself in this spot at 16.”
Jones, who is the second youngest player to ever win a PBA regional title at 15 years old and 263 days, burst on the scene last weekend during the PBA World Championship in Allen Park, Mich., with a pair of national TV appearances.
After winning the play-in stepladder Saturday with victories over Packy Hanrahan (267-232) and Justin Knowles (215-202), Jones found himself in his first championship finals Sunday.
His opponent for his first match? Defending PBA Player of the Year EJ Tackett.
“My nerves were fine during the shows. I think it was about being fully confident and comfortable in what I was doing,” said Jones, who became a full-time professional in 2023.
“Just because of the pressure, there were some nerves, but it was the same as I would have in any regional. He’s just phenomenal and it was hard to be him. But, honestly, I was more nervous because I didn’t trust my ball reaction in that match. I had to focus more.”
Jones lost to Tackett, 246-205, as the latter went on to win his second straight PBA World Championship.
But Jones chalks it up to another learning experience along his journey.
“I was hoping all my weeks would be like that,” Jones said. “The lanes were friendly to the left, and I took advantage of it. I’m now sitting on a bed of confidence and bowling better and seeing things better.”
HEADING TO RIVIERA
Jones has bowled the pre-tournament qualifiers at every stop this season, getting into four events prior to this week’s Tournament of Champions at AMF Riviera Lanes. He got into the TOC field by winning Monday’s seven-game PTQ with 1,613 total pinfall to win by 35 pins to lead 12 advancers.
Currently, he sits 38th on the PBA points list with 5,380. He has four cashes through 15 events and is averaging 219.63 on the season through 247 games.
“This is what you want and hope to happen one day. I caught it kind of early and I’m just trying to ride on it,” Jones said. “I don’t want to get cocky … I just want to keep bowling good.”
He sits fifth after the opening six games of the TOC, averaging 225.17 and standing 38 pins behind leader Marshall Kent.
And he is learning every step of the way.
“These guys are just good. Not only are they good, but there is a culture out here with how the lanes are,” Jones said. “They play a certain way out here and there’s barely inches where it’s difficult to get into. But these guys have mastered it
“It’s its own type of bowling, and it takes awhile to figure it out. I’ve learned more in the last 10 weeks than in my 18 years of life. Every single day my brain is hurting. It’s just so much information constantly.”
GROWING UP
Jones, outside of a brief practice session with PWBA Hall of Famer Anne Marie Duggan, has learned his game on his own through consistent practice and watching YouTube videos. It also included he and his father, Heath, building their own bowling alley in his backyard to practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He bowled the PBA Jr. Tour, Junior Gold and the Teen Masters, calling the latter “a phenomenal experience … I learned more there than anywhere.”
But then came his PBA regional success, and plans changed.
“I came out here full-time last year. The goal was not going to be to lose every week and just show up,” Jones said. “I’m just happy to be having success, but I really imagined myself having it earlier.”
He still looks like a high schooler, with his thin frame, curly hair and glasses. This week, he finds himself among a field of 68 champions while trying to remain in the top 43 on the points list to qualifying for the PBA’s exempt tour in 2025.
“That’s really not my concern this week … it’s not weighing on my shoulders,” said Jones, who was surprised to learn he was fifth after the opening round. “If I bowl good, I’m going to make it.
“The center of the lanes here are kind of duck-winged .. down and up, up and down, on the low end it’s hard to figure out the gear for the ball to stay stable through the front part of the lanes. The high end scores better.”
Although he shot 233 the final game, he left a bit frustrated.
“I had a sick pair that last game and could have hit the 270s, but I only shot the 230s,” Jones said. “It was a good finish, but a little upsetting because I gave away a lot.”
But, for Jones, it’s all about continuing the learning process.
“It’s all mostly about what my ball is doing. I’ve focused on the mental game a lot,” Jones said. “It’s pretty easy to throw a ball, be accurate and strike anywhere else. But there is a lot more to it out here.
“It’s more about ball reaction than accuracy.”
And he has two more qualifying rounds to figure that out.