By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Marshall Kent says playing this week’s oil pattern for the PBA Tournament of Champions requires having “an open mind.”
“The lanes were tricky pair-to-pair. Everyone was kind of playing them all over the place, so you had to treat each pair as a different pattern basically,” the 31-year-old Clarkston, Mich., right-hander said after the end of Tuesday’s first six-game qualifying round.
But Kent, who ended his title drought in February by claiming the PBA Illinois Classic with a 214-180 win over AJ Johnson, found enough to hold the lead after the round on the Don Johnson 40 pattern at AMF Riviera Lanes.
Kent averaged 231.50 during the opening block to hold a 25-pin lead over Chapin, S.C., right-hander Dick Allen 1,389-1,364. O’Fallon, Mo., right-hander Kyle Sherman sits third with 1,363, followed by Langhorne, Pa., righty Bill O’Neill (1,362) and 19-year-old Edmond, Okla., two-handed lefty Eric Jones (1,351).
How tough was the opening round?
The field of 68 champions averaged just 202 overall, with a 49-percent strike percentage. The high game was 299 (Carlos Granados) and the low was 131 (Steve Jaros).
Kent had a 67-percent strike percentage, with 89 percent of his shots leaving nine pins or better.
But the former Washington resident, who moved to Michigan and rededicated himself to his craft in the offseason after being winless since 2017, admitted he was a bit lucky also.
“I had this whole building mapped out in my notes … what lane did what … and I lost them all,” Kent said. “They’re up in the cloud somewhere. So I have to retake my notes.”
Kent, who sits sixth on the PBA points list, knows it’s going to be a mental grind the rest of the way.
“Scores are not going to be high. You just have to be patient, make spares and keep an open mind,” Kent said. “I feel like this building and this pattern allow for some creativity on how to play the lanes.
“There are a few ways to play it right, but a hundred ways to play it wrong. Hopefully, I keep playing them right.”
ON THE LINE THIS WEEK
The field for two postseason title events will be set after this week’s point totals are solidified.
The Tour Finals features the top eight players in points over the past two seasons. EJ Tackett, Anthony Simonsen, Jason Belmonte, Bill O’Neill and defending champion Kyle Troup have essentially clinched berths in the event.
Kent, Packy Hanrahan and Jakob Butturff currently occupy the sixth through eighth berths, but a host of players could usurp them with a strong TOC performance.
Jesper Svensson, Chris Via, Matt Russo and Matt Ogle each sit within 3,000 points of the top eight; a win, worth 7,500 points, would almost certainly get them into the field.
The playoffs will feature the top 16 players in 2024 points. Zach Wilkins, ineligible for the TOC, will be score-watching all week as he hopes to hang onto a playoff berth.
Ohio native Chris Via and past TOC champions Dom Barrett and Kris Prather occupy the first three positions outside the playoffs.
And for those outside the Playoff and Tour finals race, the number that looms large is 43: the number of players who will secure exemptions for the 2025 PBA Tour following the TOC.
And there’s plenty of action around the pivotal No. 43 spot.
AJ Chapman and Zac Tackett, who sit 36th and 37th in points, did not qualify for the main field via the pre-tournament qualifier. Those two will have to sit and wait on the host of PBA Tour champions on the outside looking to crash the party.
Among them: Matt Sanders (44th), DJ Archer (46th), Chis Barnes (47th), Sherman (49th), Kevin McCune (53rd), François Lavoie (54th), Darren Tang (55th), Shawn Maldonado (57th) and Allen (60th).
For those who ultimately finish outside the top 43, PBA Tour Trial in August will award 12 more exempt berths.
GOING OUT, COMING IN
Connor Pickford and Ryan Ciminelli withdrew from the TOC on Tuesday, opening two more spots for players from the PTQ. Joining the field in their places were Sean Lavery-Spahr and Brad Miller, who finished 11th and 12th, respectively, during Monday’s PTQ.
NOTEBOOK: There is a field of 68 players competing, including eight international players, seven senior players and one super senior (Amleto Monacelli). … Ticket prices for Wednesday and Thursday’s sessions are $15 each or a full-day pass for $25. Tickets for Saturday’s PBA Elite League event are $20, with a $5 fee for pro-am events that day. TV show tickets for Sunday range from $5 (standing room) to $50. Contact AMF Riviera Lanes for details. … Wednesday’s final round of qualifying begins at 10 a.m., with six games determining the cut to the top 24 following that round. The first round of match play begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday with eight games.
PBA communications contributed to this report
Here are the scores after Round 1: