By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Alexander Horton started Tuesday’s PBA Tournament of Champions pre-tournament qualifier with just one goal.
Make it into the main field and earn priority status for the remainder of the PBA Tour schedule by entering the top 75 in points.
He has exceeded that goal by plenty.
The 22-year-old Douglassville, Pa., two-handed righty, bowling in just his seventh career PBA event, has compiled the best match-play record of 12-4 heading into Friday’s final eight games at the TOC at AMF Riviera Lanes.
Four-time champion Jason Belmonte, with a 10-6 match-play mark, has the lead heading into the evening shift with 8,180 total pinfall. He is followed by Zach Wilkins, who earned his way into the field with his first PBA title last week in Maine, with 8,171.
Qualifying leader and rookie right-hander Brandon Bonta, who won the season-opening PBA Players Championship, is third (8,169), followed by Andrew Anderson (8,142), who threw the lone 300 of the morning shift and just the third overall in the event.
Next, comes Horton, who made it into the field by just two pins by being one of the top 12 during Tuesday’s PTQ.
“It’s really me against the lanes. But there were moments, especially against EJ Tackett, when it hit me. He’s the best in the world,” said Horton, who is averaging 228 over 30 games in the TOC.
“But now that I’m bowling out here for sure, I know that if I execute good shots, I’ll be there at the end of the day.”
The former Indiana Tech college bowler lost to Tackett 234-232 in his opening match Friday, but then won five of his next seven, falling only to Kevin McCune 226-183 and former 2024 champion Marshall Kent 223-221.
“Early, I had a really good look with urethane, and I told myself just to execute good shots to start. It loosens up my arm swing to start the day,” Horton said. “Then, it was just trusting my moves when I went to reactive and keep throwing It good.”
Horton still can’t believe how far he has come in such a short period.
“To be honest, I just have to keep executing. I really don’t think about it,” Horton said. “I just have to keep going out there and enjoy the game.
“It’s an honor to be here honestly. This is far beyond my dreams to be in a situation like this, but I don’t want to make it bigger than it is. I just have to go out and enjoy the moment.”
A good start on the night shift, when he faces Bonta in his opening match, would be a benefit.
“Going out and executing good shots at the start would be huge for me to shake off those jitters,” Horton said. “Just throw the best shots I can, take the pressure off and then move on from here.”
OLIVER GOING PRO
A friend of Horton, Cuyahoga Falls two-handed lefty and Team USA member Bryce Oliver, has watched from the sidelines as three rookies have won this season on the PBA Tour — a Tour record.
He wants to be part of that list next season.
The former University of Pikeville player, a three-time NBCA and NAIA All-American and two-time NAIA Player of the Year, plans to bowl full-time on the PBA Tour in 2027. He will receive his master’s degree in strategic communications next week.
A PBA rule that allows collegiate bowlers to compete and cash in as many PBA events as they wish helped pave the way to the decision. It allows college players to bypass PTQs in PBA events.
“But I think my game is officially ready. Winning (Team USA) team trials set the precedent that I’m kicking this into high gear,” the 24-year-old Woodridge High School graduate said. “I needed another tell tale sign of why I can compete out here other than just people and sponsors telling me.”
Oliver participated in two PBA Tour events this season — the U.S. Open and USBC Masters — failing to make the cut in the latter by just a few pins after going 280 over the final two rounds. He has bowled at least one PBA regional event a season since he was 16 years old.
He will participate in the PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles in late July in Houston and plans to bowl “a lot of regionals this summer that stand out to me.”
“I’ve gone through every level of bowling, but this is the one I’ve always dreamed of. The fact that I get to do it is incredible,” Oliver said. “Obviously, my main goal is to win out here. That’s been the dream since I was 5.
“My main goal is to be successful at this level. But the biggest goal right now is to get a regional title so I can bowl this event. I want to be bowling, not watching.”
Oliver, who also just completed his first year on Brunswick’s staff, is undecided when he will become a full member.
“I want to get through graduation first, then move back home and get settled,” Oliver said. “Then, we’ll see where it goes after that. It’s onward and upward from here.”
FILMING FOR FUTURE
Filming continues this week at AMF Riviera for next season’s edition of the HBO docuseries “Born to Bowl,” which featured PBA pros Kyle Troup, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, Cameron Crowe and Jason Belmonte this season.
According to the film crew, players to be added next season include Tim Foy Jr. and Chris and Ryan Barnes. But others players associated with these players will also play roles, including Bonta, who rooms with his former college teammate at Wichita State, Ryan Barnes.
There are signs posted on the entrance doors to the center alerting fans to the fact that they could be used as part of the series. Crews also are following the same four players as this season. The series had five episodes this season, with the last one airing April 13.
Filming will continue through the World Series of Bowling in Minnesota, including following Chris Barnes in the PBA50 version of that event. Barnes is making the TOC his final regular tour event.
NOTEBOOK
SEEING THROUGH LEFTY’S EYES: The left-handers struggled all week at AMF Riviera, with two-time PBA winner Graham Fach being the high finisher in the 72-player field in 40th place. What did fellow lefty Oliver see? “Graham did about the best that he could … it was just so hard,” Oliver said. “I probably would have put some plastic in play closer to the gutter, but pair-to-pair on the left side this week was just so touchy. I talked to Spencer (Robarge) abut it and he said he could get through two pairs, but the third was just so hard. Getting doubles and triples was just so hard. Being a lefty, I just want to be as consistent as I can on my side of the lanes. I want to be a consistent competitor.”
PRO-AM RESULTS: Monday’s pro-am, a handicapped event which featured competitors getting free strikes in the third, sixth and ninth frames, drew 69 adults and 51 youth competitors with bowlers scores combining with their pro partner. Each bowled with three different pros. In the adult division, Joel Lempicki led the way with 755 to earn $500, with Brent Barwick and Jason Starkey (694) tying for second. The final cash spot was 10th place at 656. In the youth division, Tristin Allocco took first place with 781, good for a $300 scholarship. The final cash spot was in seventh place at 683.
NOTEBOOK: Chris Via and Anderson have the lone 300 games in match play, with Anthony Simonsen also shooting 299 and Zach Wilkins 297. … Wilkins, who led most of Friday’s early round, left a 7-10 split in the 10th frame of his final match against Sean Lavery-Spahr to fall to second. He is 9-6-1 in match play. He shot just 154 and 194 his final two games — both losses. … Hunter has improved his average the most through match play, raising it 3.52 pins. … Bonta, who was 100 percent on spare conversions during qualifying, is down to 91 percent through match play, but has 95 percent clean games. … The evening shift begins at 6 p.m., with seven match play games followed by the position round to determine Sunday’s top five for the 4 p.m. finals. Admission fee is $10 for the final shift; the Sunday show is sold out.
See complete scores here: https://www.leaguepals.com/league-info?id=69320bcc8ba2fdb0125045fe
Great article, Bill! I appreciate your attention to detail! My sisters and I were there today and enjoyed watching Alex Horton!