By BILL SNIER
FAIRLAWN — Not one of them expected to be in this position coming into the week.
But four Northeast Ohio bowlers have made the cut to the 37-player Advancers Round of the PBA50 Akron Classic on Tuesday at AMF Riviera Lanes.
Two of the four — North Olmsted right-hander Michael Clark Jr. and Hudson right-hander John Brockway — are competing in their first regular PBA50 Tour event. Clark owns a pair of regional titles while Brockway has competed in nearly 20 regionals both as a junior and senior player and still is seeking his first win.
Joining that pair is 71-year-old Wadsworth right-hander Dale Csuhta, one of two super duper seniors (along with Pete McCordic) to make the cut. Csuhta also is seeking his first regular PBA50 Tour win to go with 10 regional titles.
Finally, there is 57-year-old Akron right-hander Don Hogue, owner-operator of North Star Pro Shop inside AMF Riviera Lanes, who has cashed in three of six PBA50 Tour events this season and also is seeking his first title.
Ask them all and they will tell you the same thing — they are playing with house money at this point as they roll four more games in hopes of advancing to Round of 24 match play after their Monday finishes.
Admission to today’s full-day of play — from the Advancers Round to the stepladder finals — is free for fans.
CLARK’S RUN
Clark had the strongest showing of the quartet, finishing third in qualifying overall after averaging 238 over 14 games. He had just one game under 200 — a 191 in Game 13 of qualifying with a high of 268.
“No chance at all did I think this would happen. My goal is to compete and try to win, but the main goal is to make the cut and cash,” said the 54-year-old Midland Hardware Co. project manager. “This is playing with house money now.”
Using the same two balls he used Sunday — a Hammer Black Widow Dynasty and Storm Bionic — Clark said he was a bit nervous after his strong performance during the first round Sunday.
“As the day went on, I got more and more relaxed and more and more comfortable,” said Clark, who had his family and doubles partner, Jason Johnson, watching his run.
“I told my mom and dad I probably wouldn’t talk to them much. But with Jason, we can discuss things and he knows when I need a pep talk and when to let me just go about my business.”
He will add one ball to his arsenal Tuesday — a newer Dynasty with fresh cover stock.
“I just want to have something there if the lanes do get tighter,” said Clark, who captured the PBA50-PBA60 Doubles title with Dean Billings at Park Centre Lanes in North Canton in 2024. “I expect the pattern to hold up a little longer with less traffic. I just want to make sure I keep the ball in front of me. Top eight is the goal … that’s where I want to be.”
CROSSING WITH A LEGEND
Brockway, a teacher and coach at Hudson High School, decided to take the plunge into his first regular Tour event because it was close to home. He has bowled in seven regional events this season, making the cut in three.
“I just wanted to compete. I bowled well last week at Bowling Green and I bowled well last year in Lorain, so I felt I had a shot,” Brockway said. “I was just hoping to make the cut and see what happens.”
Brockway averaged 220 over his 14 games, bouncing back after a big opening despite games of 192, 202 and 196 in Games 2 through 4 of the evening shift. He finished with 3,082, good for the 20th spot overall. His low game of 191 came Sunday.
Brockway also used predominantly a two-ball approach, throwing the Bionic exclusively during Sunday’s opening round, then using a combination of the Bionic, 900 Global Viking Conquest and Ion Pro Solid on Monday. The middle ball, “gifted” to him by Hogue, produced a 276 out of the gate to set up his day.
“It was a long pattern, but it didn’t play that way. Toward the end it did, but early, it played shorter,” Brockway said. “I felt like they were hooking earlier in the fronts so I started with the stronger ball. Then I had to grind through a bit, ball down and move a little right and jam it in there.”
Although Brockway has bowled a few times in the past at AMF Riviera, this was a different feeling.
“I thing the first time I bowled here was in 1988 in the pro-am (for the PBA Tournament of Champions) with Pete Weber. (Tuesday) I’ll be bowling against him,” Brockway said. “When you walk through these doors for a PBA event it’s different then walking in for high school.
“Making the cut here really means a lot.”
Brockway also admitted crossing with PWBA Hall of Famer Liz Johnson, who became the first woman to win a PBA50 Tour event earlier this season, also was beneficial.
“Sometimes, you’re star struck when you bowl with people like this. She’s the GOAT for a reason,” Brockway said of Johnson, ,who also made the cut. “I was able to talk with her in practice and just watching her go about her business. She is the consummate professional.”
But Brockway also did some self-improvement work over the past few weeks, reading a book on bowling psychology.
“I’ve been struggling with spare shooting and I needed to develop a pre-shot routine, and I’ve improved on that,” Brockway said. “From bowling with the high school kids on the (OHSAA) sectional pattern here, I did learn some things. You have to be able to get the ball to the spot because the fronts hook here.”
FINDING A WAY
Csuhta had to wait out the evening shift to see if his scores would hold up. His worst game of the event came in Game 14 when he shot 184 — one of only two games under 200 en route to 18th overall and 3,089 total pinfall.
He entered after cashing in the SDS category in all three events at the PBA60 World Series of Bowling in Columbus.
“I’d been practicing and throwing it like crap. But I know I’ve been to tournaments where I haven’t been throwing it good and still bowled good I the tournament,” said Csuhta, who continues to battle knee problems after having arthroscopic right knee surgery two years ago.
“I never look at the scoreboard unless it’s right in front of me,” Csuhta said. “I bowl as good as I can regardless of score. Consistency and hitting the pocket are the keys for me.”
ZERO EXPECTATIONS
Hogue is doing double duty during the week, also serving as a Storm ball representative, which means helping his competitors during the event. That includes Clark and Brockway.
“I’m a helper … I’ve always been that way,” said the native Canadian who won the 2024 Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award on the PBA50 Tour. “I enjoy being in the background, helping when I have a chance to drill a ball or get a spec sheet for someone. It makes me feel better.”
Did he have any expectations coming into the event at his home center?
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to make the cut. Bowling in my hometown is a lot harder where you know all the people and you’re familiar with everything,” said Hogue, who had games of 238, 244 and 258 to finish qualifying Monday and get to 26th overall with 3,053.
“In the back of your mind, you know people think when he bowls league here all the time and he knows all the pairs so he should do well. It’s puts a lot of undue pressure on myself.”
So Hogue entered with “zero” expectations.
“Just stay the process and do the best that you can. Del Ballard always told me the key to winning is making cuts. All the years I’ve been doing this, I’m starting to figure out my place,” Hogue said. “You have to pay your dues before you can win.”
He pointed to Bill Rowe, who has turned in strong performances so far in 2026.
“He was bowling well the last couple of years, but not quite making shows,” Hogue said. “This year, he’s making shows. I feel like I’m seeing gyms place where if I can get a good look, I can just bowl.”
Reaching the top 24 for match play becomes the goal for Tuesday.
“As we all know from being here for so long,” Hogue said. “In this place, literally, anything can happen.”