August 22, 2024 Nolan Hughes

Round 5 Standings

Brandon Runk and Hayden Stippich continue to excel this week during PBA Tour Trials. The southpaws are in first and second place, respectively, through five rounds.

Runk paces the 90-player field with a total pinfall of 7,109 (+1,109) through 30 games, while Stippich (+1,061) is not far behind.

Tim Foy Jr., Bailey Mavrick and Chase Nadeau round out the top five.

Mavrick rose from 11th place to fourth with an outstanding fifth round on a 44-foot pattern at Bowlero Mount Prospect. The Indiana native shot 1,339 for his six games, raising his total pinfall to 6,806 (+806).

After making fun of Runk for throwing a gutter ball, Mavrick said he prefers longer patterns. With six more games on the 44-foot pattern, then 12 games Friday on a 47-foot pattern, Mavrick plans to maintain his even-keeled mentality.

“I have a different mindset coming in than most people,” Mavrick said. “I don't really think about what's happening or really look at the scores. I'm here to have fun. We're bowling a score for a living. We chose to do it. If you're not having fun while you're bowling, what are you doing?

"If the pins fall, they fall; if they don't, they don't. I mean, it is what it is. I can't really dictate what happens after I let go of the ball.”

Tim Cagle II, Pete Vergos, Anthony Neuer, Ryan Barnes, Brad Miller, Andrew Hall and Dean Vargo all sit inside the top 12 through five rounds. Nate Purches, Frank Snodgrass, Rafiq Ismail, Cam Crowe, Nathan Bohr and William Svensson are the top players outside the monumental cut line.

After all 48 games, the top 12 players will earn exempt status on the 2025 PBA Tour, which includes priority entry for all 2025 PBA Tour events and eligibility for the PBA Elite League draft.

One player seeking to regain his exempt status is Nick Pate, who sat in 49th place and 327 pins behind 12th place entering the fifth round.

Despite the deficit, Pate said he felt full of confidence because of his experience at Bowlero Mount Prospect. Pate finished 16th in the PBA Illinois Classic earlier this season, then sixth in the PBA Exempt division of the PBA LBC National Championships.

“I saw my ball do the right thing from Game 1 to Game 6. My progressions made sense, my moves made sense, and they worked,” Pate said. “Knowing the center gave me an advantage today. This place allows me to be what I want to be. I haven't had a bad block yet in this building, knock on wood. I'm throwing it well. I've been throwing it okay all week. This was the first time where it was really well."

Pate rode that confidence to games of 246, 268, 300, 201, 245 and 223 to a 1,483 series. With the round's lower scoring pace, he moved up to 29th place and slashed the gap to 12th place to 130 pins.

Pate still has plenty of work to do as PBA Tour Trials continues on Thursday at Bowlero Mount Prospect with Round 6 at 6 p.m. Central (7 p.m. Eastern).

The final rounds will take place Friday at Bowlero Deer Park, with rounds beginning at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central (12/7 p.m. Eastern).

All rounds of PBA Tour Trials will be livestreamed on BowlTV.

More information on PBA Tour Trials is available here.

Round 5 Leaders

  1. Brandon Runk, 7,109 (+1,109) — 381 pins ahead of 13th place
  2. Hayden Stippich, 7,061 (+1,061) — 333 pins
  3. Tim Foy Jr., 6,899 (+899) — 171 pins
  4. Bailey Mavrick, 6,806 (+806) — 78 pins
  5. Chase Nadeau, 6,799 (+799) — 71 pins
  6. Tim Cagle II, 6,775 (+775) — 47 pins
  7. Pete Vergos, 6,775 (+775) — 47 pins
  8. Anthony Neuer, 6,764 (+764) — 36 pins
  9. Ryan Barnes, 6,759 (+759) — 31 pins
  10. Brad Miller, 6,753 (+753) — 25 pins
  11. Andrew Hall, 6,747 (+751) — 23 pins
  12. Dean Vargo, 6,747 (+747) — 19 pins

PBA Tour Trials Schedule

All times listed in Central

Monday, Aug. 19 — Pre-Tournament Qualifier
Results

Tuesday, Aug. 20 — Bowlero Woodridge
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 1 (six games; 35’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 2 (six games; 35’ PBA pattern)

Wednesday, Aug. 21 — Bowlero Randall Road
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 1 (six games; 41’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 2 (six games; 41’ PBA pattern)

Thursday, Aug. 22 — Bowlero Mount Prospect
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 1 (six games; 44’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 2 (six games; 44 PBA pattern)

Friday, Aug. 23 — Bowlero Deer Park
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 1 (six games; 47 PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 2 (six games; 47 PBA pattern)
Results

Top 12 players qualify for 2025 PBA Tour exempt status