By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Steven Badovinac had never picked up the “big four” (4-6-7-10 split) in his bowling career.
But the 56-year-old Parker, Colo., right-hander, a former member of Team USA and currently on the Senior Team USA roster, did so during the Advancers’ Round of the PBA50 Tournament of Champions on Wednesday.
It made the difference between making — or missing — the cut to match play at AMF Riviera Lanes.
Chris Warren, a 60-year-old Plato, Texas, right-hander and 14-time PBA champion, will lead the remaining 16 players into Wednesday’s first match-play round, which begins at 5:30 p.m. with the first of eight games.
Warren, who stood third after 16 games of qualifying Tuesday, now leads the field with 5,368 total pinfall (a 223.67 average) heading into a total of 16 games of match play over the next two days.
Following Warren are Mika Koivuniemi (5,332), who was paired with Warren all three days of the event; qualifying leader Tom Hess (5,306); Brad Angelo (5,206), who moved up from 11th after qualifying by averaging 219.3 Wednesday; and left-hander Andrew Neuer and righty Dan Knowlton, tied at 5,196.
Warren admitted his best asset was crossing with Koivuniemi, a 57-year-old native of Finland and Traverse City, Mich., righty with 15 career PBA titles.
“I still don’t have a plan. I just kind of followed Mika again,” said Warren, who was third after qualifying and averaged 222.3 during the Advancers’ Round. “I didn’t bowl real good. They were tricky and I was not making the right moves at the right time the right way. I just got lucky today.”
Warren will not have the benefit of crossing with Koivuniemi during match play.
“The games I had it, I took full advantage of and the games I didn’t, I just kind of grinded it out trying to make due with what I had,” Warren said. “It was a huge benefit getting to watch certain people bowl … watching how Mika reads and plays the lanes correctly. That was a big deal.”
BADOVINAC’S MOVE
Badovinac remained an amateur until age 49, making Team USA in 2017 after a second-place finish in the U.S. Amateur. He will represent Senior Team USA along with John Janawicz, Tom Adcock and Dan Knowlton during the Senior PANAM Games.
Turning pro at age 50, he has bowled in about four events per season. He stands 102 on the PBA50 points list this season after bowling in just eight events.
“This is all pretty bizarre. I knew I had a chance … I always feel like I have a chance,” said Badovinac, who entered the round in 19th place after qualifying, averaging 208.75. “These guys have a ton more experience than me, but I have a ton of heart.
“I don’t see things as quickly as these guys do, but I do have some experience and I never quit.”
Badovinac, who averaged 213 during Wednesday’s round, was able to bounce back after a 157 in Game 3. Picking up the big split was a bonus.
“I’ve never picked that up before,” said Badovinac, who had wrist surgery in December 2023 and didn’t pick up a ball again until May 7 of this year, also moving from 15- to 14-pound equipment.
“For the last 2 1/2 months, I’ve been learning how to bowl again. All I wanted was a chance. I had to do a lot of work today, but I never quit.”
Badovinac was on the same pair with good friend Jack Jurek, who was the cut line heading into the final game.
“I was hoping we would both get through since we were a pin apart, but (James) Campbell (who shot 259 the final game) bowled an incredible game,” said Badovinac, who shot 212 the final game after a 233 in Game 7. “Our pair was completely different from the last pair we were on.
“I had to play differently, make a ball change on the fly and just keep grinding. It’s hard enough out here but I tried to calm the heart rate and just make good shots.”
Admittedly someone who loves match play, Badvinac admitted he didn’t scoreboard watch until the final game.
“I kind of knew where we were at,” he added.
The game plan for match play is simple: Get off to a quicker start.
“All you can do is listen to the lane, solve the mathematical equation and execute a good shot,” Badovinac said.
THE CUT
Three-time TOC champion Jason Couch was 31st after qualifying Tuesday, but was within 22 pins heading into the final game. The Hall of Fame left-hander shot 712 over his last three games.
But after a double to start the 10th frame, he had an eight-count on his final shot. He finished just one pin behind Badovinac for the final cut spot 5,041-5,040. Jurek, who shot 206 his final game, missed by seven pins.
Right-hander Mitch Beasley, who led qualifying after the first day, finished 19th overall, missing the cut by 47 pins.
NOTEBOOK: There are eight games of match play Wednesday night, starting at 5:30 p.m., with 30 bonus pins being awarded for victories in addition to scores. The second round of match play will be at noon Thursday, with the top five after that round advancing to the stepladder finals, set for 5:30 p.m. BowlTv will livestream all rounds. … The only other player advancing to the top 16 who was not in the cut after qualifying was Hall of Famer Chris Barnes (13th). Super senior Pete McCordic was No. 16 heading into the round, but finished 31st. Also dropping out was Troy Stus (14th), who finished 23rd. … Warren Eales had the high game of the day with 275, but finished 22nd.