By JILL WINTERS
PBA Communications
GREELEY, Colo. – Tom Hess absolutely dominated the stepladder finals Sunday at the 2026 PBA Senior U.S. Open, averaging 252.5 while putting up a combined score of 1,010-838 to win his fifth major title.
“Those four games might be the best four games I’ve bowled all year,” Hess said. “I really worked on being solid at the foul line and getting that push away in the right spot. It all just fell together.”
After outscoring his opponents 761-641 in his first three matches, Hess continued to strike in the title match against top-seeded Chris Barnes. Hess converted the 10-pin in the first frame before rolling four straight strikes.
Barnes, who took over the tournament lead in Game 17 of match play, started off by picking up the 3-10 and 5-7 splits. He missed the 2-4-5-8 combination for an open frame in the third before making a ball change. That led to three strikes in a row before picking up the 7-pin in the seventh frame.
Hess, who had a 14-10 match play record, stayed the course picking up a 10-pin in the sixth, struck then spared again in the eighth. Barnes only struck once more for 197 as Hess finished strong with 249. With his second title already this season, Hess now has 13 career titles and the $15,000 first place prize. He has a few connections with that number.
“It was my daughter’s number playing softball. My wife’s favorite baseball player was Mike Piazza, so her email has 3113 in it,” Hess said. “I hope I don’t get stuck on it. I would like to get off of it really quick. My first year when I won the Senior U.S. Open the very next week I won the Senior Masters. And we have the same opportunity coming up. That would be pretty cool.
In the opening match Hess took on Colorado resident Ricky Schissler. They combined for just one strike through three frames. That one strike belonged to Hess when he made a ball change in the third frame. From there, the two-handed Schissler struck three times and Hess had two spares.
The match changed when Schissler couldn’t pick up the 2-4-5 in the seventh frame. Hess responded with seven straight strikes to earn the 246-209 win.
Hess kept striking in Match 2 over Andres Gomez, the qualifying leader and defending champion.
After missing a 4-9 split in the first frame, Hess threw five straight strikes. Gomez started spare, double, spare, strike and a spare, falling behind by 18 pins. Gomez doubled in the seventh and eighth but ended up with 218. After a spare in the seventh, Hess added five straight strikes for 257.
Hess continued to stay hot in the semifinal match against 2025 PBA50 Rookie of the Year Tom Daugherty. Hess, who won the Senior U.S. Open in 2021, started off with four straight strikes. Daugherty, who was Hess’ doubles partner for three junior-senior doubles events wins at Clutch Lanes and Sports Center n Cuyahoga Falls and has won two PBA50 majors, went spare, double, spare, strike, spare through six frames.
After a spare by Hess in the fifth, he put together three strikes and went on to win 258-214.
Two more major titles are up for grabs when the USBC Super Senior Classic begins May 28 in Las Vegas followed by the USBC Senior Masters June 3 through 7, both held at Sam’s Town Bowling Center.
MATCH SCORES:
Match 1: Hess def. Schissler 246-209
Match 2: Hess def. Gomez 257-218
Match 3: Hess def. Daugherty 258-214
Championship match: Hess def. Barnes 249-197
- Tom Hess $15,000
- Chris Barnes $8,000
- Tom Daugherty $6,000
- Andres Gomez $5,000
- Ricky Schissler $4,000
Here are the final standings: https://www.leaguepals.com/league-info?id=69a8cbce8dea03f466c281b4
CROWE WINS REGIONAL
Cameron Crowe shot 300 during the semifinal match and went on to defeat Jeff Hammonds 211-180 to claim the 2026 PBA Celeste Walker Midwest-Central Open on Sunday at Strike and Spare 2 in Lockport, Ill.
It marks Crowe’s first regional title and makes him eligible for the PBA Tournament of Champions pre-tournament qualifier next season.
See complete results here: https://www.leaguepals.com/league-info?id=696fe8a180ecf1477d7e7314