By NOLAN HUGHES
PBA Communications
RENO, Nev. — The PBA Shark Championship, the fourth and final standard title event PBA World Series of Bowling (WSOB) XVI, is underway at the National Bowling Stadium.
Packy Hanrahan led the 199-player field with a total pinfall of 1,427 (+227) for his first six games on the 47-foot Shark oil pattern.
Ahmad Muaz, defending champion EJ Tackett, Cam Crowe and Justin Knowles round out the top five in the PBA Shark Championship.
Hanrahan finished between 92nd and 105th in the first three events, but righted the ship Monday morning.
“I pieced it together day by day, and have bowled a little bit better throughout (the WSOB),” Hanrahan said. “Some people handle it differently than others, but I know (the struggles) can’t last forever. For me, knowing that my strategy of attack could be a little better helps; eventually, you’re going to match up. With the scoring pace being as high as it was last tournament, I had to reset my mindset for a new pattern. (Shark) seems a little friendlier on the left side.”
“Having a good group of friends around you that never get too low or too high helps a lot,” Hanrahan added. “Guys like Boog (Krol), BJ (Moore) and Keven (Williams) keep my spirits light no matter how it’s going. It helps when Boog and BJ are tied for third in the PBA World Championship, too.”
The final round of qualifying before the PBA Shark and World Championship cuts is set for Tuesday. A-squad takes the lanes at 9 a.m. Pacific/local time, followed by B-squad at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Canada’s Jordan Jung (+153) sits 24th in the PBA Shark Championship. The top 24 players after Tuesday’s second six-game round of qualifying will advance to elimination match play, beginning with Round of 24 will begin at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
The PBA Shark Championship Rounds of 16 and 8 will take place on March 19, leading to the championship round that day at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.
WORLD BATTLE
Two-time defending PBA World Championship victor EJ Tackett (+1,562) seized the lead in the PBA World Championship after 42 games, which includes qualifying games from the PBA Scorpion, Viper, Chameleon and Shark Championships.
Jason Belmonte, Boog Krol, Tim Foy Jr. and BJ Moore round out the top five in the major championship.
The top 50 players after those 48 combined games will advance for 16 games of advancer rounds. Then the top 16 players will bowl an additional 16 games of round-robin match play.
All rounds of PBA WSOB XVI qualifying and match play will be livestreamed on BowlTV.
Tournament Schedule
National Bowling Stadium | Reno, NV
All times Pacific/local
Tuesday, March 11
9 a.m. — PBA Shark Championship – A-Squad Qualifying Round 2 (six games)
2:30 p.m. — PBA Shark Championship – B-Squad Qualifying Round 2 (six games)
Top 24 players advance to elimination match play
Top 1:4 of field advance to PBA World Championship advancer rounds
7 p.m. — PBA Shark Championship – Match Play Round of 24 (best-of-five games)
Wednesday, March 12
12 p.m. — PBA World Championship – Practice
Thursday, March 13
10 a.m. — PBA World Championship – Advancer Round 1 (eight games)
Friday, March 14
10 a.m. — PBA World Championship – Advancer Round 2 (eight games)
Top 16 players advance to PBA World Championship round-robin match play
3 p.m. — PBA Jr. National Championships – Meet and Greet
4 p.m. — PBA Jr. National Championships – Practice
6 p.m. — PBA Jr. National Championships – Match Play
Saturday, March 15
9 a.m. — PBA Jr. National Championships – Match Play
12:30 p.m. — PBA Jr. National Championships – Stepladder Finals (MIXED, U18 Boys and U18 Girls)
3 p.m. on FS1 — PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic pres. by Pilgrim’s – Finals
7 p.m. — PBA Jr. National Championship – Finals taping
Sunday, March 16
9 a.m. — PBA Scorpion Championship – Match Play Round of 16 (best-of-five games)
11:30 a.m. — PBA Scorpion Championship – Match Play Round of 8 (best-of-five games)
Four winners and highest-seeded loser in Round of 8 advance to PBA Scorpion Championship Finals
5 p.m. on FS1 — PBA Scorpion Championship – Finals
Monday, March 17
9 a.m. — PBA Viper Championship – Match Play Round of 16 (best-of-five games)
11:30 a.m. — PBA Viper Championship – Match Play Round of 8 (best-of-five games)
Four winners and highest-seeded loser in Round of 8 advance to PBA Viper Championship Finals
4 p.m. on FS1 — PBA Viper Championship – Finals
Tuesday, March 18
9 a.m. — PBA Chameleon Championship – Match Play Round of 16 (best-of-five games)
11:30 a.m. — PBA Chameleon Championship – Match Play Round of 8 (best-of-five games)
Four winners and highest-seeded loser in Round of 8 advance to PBA Chameleon Championship stepladder finals
4 p.m. on FS1 — PBA Chameleon Championship – Finals
Wednesday, March 19
9 a.m. — PBA Shark Championship – Match Play Round of 16 (best-of-five games)
11:30 a.m. — PBA Shark Championship – Match Play Round of 8 (best-of-five games)
Four winners and highest-seeded loser in Round of 8 advance to PBA Shark Championship stepladder finals
4 p.m. on FS1 — PBA Shark Championship – Finals
Thursday, March 20
10 a.m. — PBA World Championship – Round-Robin Match Play Round 1 (eight games)
5 p.m. — PBA World Championship – Round-Robin Match Play Round 2 (eight games)
Top five players advance to PBA World Championship stepladder finals
Saturday, March 22
12 p.m. on FOX — PBA World Championship Finals