February 9, 2023 Nolan Hughes

Two rounds into the PBA Springfield Classic, a pair of players familiar with Enterprise Park Lanes find themselves atop the leaderboard.

Anthony Lavery-Spahr and Springfield’s own Keven Williams each averaged over 236 across 12 games to lead the field.

The scoring pace is significantly higher than at last week’s U.S. Open, but Lavery-Spahr’s resurgence after a 101st place finish is noteworthy. He said conversations with his brother Sean, who sits in seventh place, and close friend AJ Chapman helped put him on the right track physically.

The Texan averaged more than 245 to lead the first six-game round of qualifying and maintained his lead through Round 2. He is no stranger to the southwestern Missouri center, even winning a doubles tournament with Packy Hanrahan last fall.

But for Williams, this is personal: He’s competing in his home center.

“This morning, I will say I was a little nervous and I’m not one to get too nervous whenever I bowl,” Williams said. “Knowing that I have high expectations for (myself), it’s hard to live up to that sometimes. I’m glad I’m holding to that right now at least.”

Ildemaro Ruiz Jr., Anthony Simonsen and Bill O’Neill round out the top five, while Chris Via closed Round 2 with a 279 game to climb into the top 10.

After six more games on Friday morning, the field will be cut to the top 22 players. Tom Daugherty occupies the last spot inside the cut at 2,648, averaging over 220.

Advancers will bowl six more games on Friday evening to determine the 12-player field for round-robin match play on Saturday.

Qualifying resumes at 12 p.m. ET on BowlTV. Full standings are available here.

Tournament Schedule

Friday, Feb. 10
12 p.m. ET — Qualifying Round 3 (six games) — cut to top-22 players
6 p.m. ET — Top-22 Qualifying Round (six games) — cut to top-12 players

Saturday, Feb. 11
11 a.m. ET — Round-robin Match Play Round 1 (six games)
3 p.m. ET — Round-robin Match Play Round 2 (six games) — cut to top 4 players
7 p.m. ET — Stepladder finals

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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