PBA Communications
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Two professional bowlers with a lot of belief in themselves and solid game plans coming into Central Regional 3 earned titles Sunday.
Urbana left-hander Graham Fach averaged 242.3 during the advancers round and match play to get his 20th regional victory in the standard division. Forsyth, Ill., right-hander Tom Adcock finished strong to win his second senior regional title in the senior division.
Fach, who was a 2026 Chris Schenkel Player of the Year nominee, carried his positive momentum from the PBA Tour season finishing eighth in points into David Small’s Pro Bowl West. He relied heavily on urethane, which he thinks is the best part of his game, en route to a 6-2 match play record and $7,500 pay day in the 66-player field.
“Any regional is really special. These ELITE Regionals really up the expectations. The fields are a lot stronger, you are bowling for more money and there is more pressure,” Fach said. “Believing in myself was a big part of my success today. I felt comfortable the whole time, my execution was good and I was able to be confident in my ability and that never wavered.”
He has really focused on staying on course and accountability this year, which he feels is paying off. He was excited to get home to his wife and kids after the win.
“I am going to really celebrate with them. It was my oldest kid’s birthday on the 28th, so we celebrated once and I think we can celebrate again,” Fach said.
He has been impressed by the PBA ELITE Regional Tour and the bowlers in the field.
“It takes me back to when I was first doing it and how exciting it was. You get to see all of these talented young bowlers trying to pursue their dreams and they are having success while they are doing it, which is really important because that is going to translate into national success,” Fach said. “I think it’s a really cool time on the PBA Regional side. The younger it gets, the more talent it is, you sprinkle in the guys that still do it like B-Rob (Brian Robinson) and me. The game always evolves.”
Ryan Burton, who won the Central Regional 2, finished with a 279 to jump into second place. He was followed by Brian Robinson, Hayden Hale and Zac Tackett in the top five. Tackett, Willowick’s Dean Vargo, Emmanuel McPherson, Jorge Rodriguez and Will Vidulich earned their spots to compete in the Regional Players Invitational in December based on their results. As did Ron Hurt and Larry Verble in the senior division.
Non-member Hayden Tarris finished sixth overall after compiling a 3-5 match-play mark, and PBA Tournament of Champions winner Alex Horton, another PBA Player of the Year finalist, finished ninth.
Burton was the qualifying leader, averaging 232 for seven games, followed by DJ Archer. Fach was fourth after qualifying.
On the senior side, Adcock was extra motivated by his third-place finish at the Midwest Regional 1 to come in more committed to his plan and to follow his instincts.
“I got caught up watching the kids and thinking maybe that is where I should be playing. I told myself that I am better than this and there is a better way. When I went home, I pulled up a couple of videos of (Norm) Duke playing the gutter off of a short pattern. He moves right and tries to roll it up the gutter,” Adcock said. “Then you have Eugene (McCune). He is going to do it with ball speed. I have the package to do both and that is what I concentrated on.”
He felt great immediately in practice on the 37-foot oil pattern and knew he could do it and be competitive. He was able to outlast a surging Mike Machuga, who finished in second, followed by Mika Koivuniemi, Tom Daugherty and Ron Hurt.
“The field was murderer’s row. An unbelievable amount of talent in the field between Mika, Machuga, Daugherty and me. This one is very special to beat that field,” Adcock said, who won $3,150.
Adcock got emotional talking about the win because he had several things on his mind. He was able to do this in front of close friends and tournament host David Small and Josh Solomon. This was the 112th professional tournament Small’s has hosted.
“To do this in their center, Dave has been a great friend. Coming to take our bowling center over and to redo it. It was a special moment winning it in that house in front of him,” Adcock said. “It’s a little bit of everything. Belief that I can and can’t do it kind of situation. I’m at a crossroads here where I probably will not be full-time next year on the senior tour. Pretty much my body hurts all of the time. I plan on bowling the Senior Masters and the Super Senior Classic. If things change, maybe I will turn around and come back out.”
Before turning the calendar to 2027, Adcock will be in the senior division next weekend at South Point Bowling Plaza for the West Regional 3.
“I am chomping at the bit now to see if I can back it up. That field is going to be just as strong if not stronger because there are so many of us out there,” Adcock said. “It’s the same pattern, so I am looking forward to going after this. I have a very good track record in the building, and I don’t have a flag in that region, so that would be special as well.”
Machuga was the qualifying leader, averaging 228 for seven games, finishing 47 pins ahead of Adcock.
Also among the cashers was Lewis Center’s Dan Higgins Jr., finishing eighth with a 4-4 match-play mark.