August 18, 2024 Nolan Hughes

Previewing PBA Tour Trials, which will award 12 exempt berths on the 2025 PBA Tour

In less than one week’s time, a dozen players will cement their status on the top professional bowling circuit in the world.

More than 90 players, hailing from 10 countries and 33 states, are set to compete in this week’s PBA Tour Trials.

The stakes are clear: Exempt status (priority entry) for all 2025 PBA Tour events and eligibility for the PBA Elite League draft.

FORMAT

A pre-tournament qualifier on Monday, featuring two six-game rounds at Bowlero Mount Prospect, will round out the 90-player main field.

Each of the next four days will consist of two six-game rounds at a different Chicago-area Bowlero center.

One of four new PBA-designed patterns, ranging from 35 to 47 feet in length, will be used each day.

The 12 players with the highest total pinfall across all 48 games will earn exempt status for the 2025 PBA Tour.

PRECEDENT

Fifteen years ago, seven players changed the trajectory of their careers by earning PBA Tour exemptions. Among them:

Scott Norton won the 2009 PBA Regional Players Invitational, which served as that season’s PBA Tour Trials. Norton went on to win three PBA Tour titles with one major.

Ryan Ciminelli, now an eight-time champion with one major, has put himself on the precipice of the PBA Hall of Fame.

Lennie Boresch Jr. may not have the success he envisioned on the PBA Tour, but blazed his own trail to the Hall of Fame through the PBA50 Tour; meanwhile Chris Warren, then a six-time champion, regained his touring status.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The following list is not comprehensive, but aims to give a sense of the field's unique backgrounds:

  • PBA Tour veterans: Nathan Bohr, Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Brad Miller
  • International stars: Kim Bolleby, Rafiq Ismail, William Svensson
  • Former youth/collegiate champions: Cameron Crowe, Alec Keplinger, Wesley Low Jr., Anthony Neuer, TJ Rock
  • Recent Regional Tour POYs: Benjy Martinez, Nate Purches, Trevor Roberts, Ildemaro Ruiz Jr., Cody Shoemaker
  • Active Elite League players: Nick Pate, Arturo Quintero, Cortez Schenck, Frank Snodgrass
  • Recent PBA Tour TV finalists: Tim Foy Jr., Joe Grondin, Michael Martell
  • PBA bloodlines: Ryan Barnes, Zac Tackett

It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of more than a dozen players will soon change forever.

PBA Tour Trials Schedule

All times listed in Central

Monday, Aug. 19 — Bowlero Mount Prospect
11 a.m. — PTQ Qualifying Round 1 (six games; 38’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — PTQ Qualifying Round 2 (six games; Dragon pattern)
Top 10 players advance into main field

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 3 (six games; 41’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 4 (six games; 41’ PBA pattern)

Thursday, Aug. 22 — Bowlero Mount Prospect
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 5 (six games; 44’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 6 (six games; 44’ PBA pattern)

Friday, Aug. 23 — Bowlero Deer Park
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 7 (six games; 47’ PBA pattern)
6 p.m. — Qualifying Round 8 (six games; 47’ PBA pattern)
Top 12 players qualify for 2025 PBA Tour priority entry (exempt status)

More information on PBA Tour Trials is available here.