Tom Hess Leads Qualifying at 2024 PBA50 Tournament of Champions
Fairlawn, Ohio – Four months ago, Tom Hess delivered his emotional PBA Hall of Fame induction speech in conjunction with the PBA Tournament of Champions. It was a moment he and his family will never forget.
Hess returned to Fairlawn, Ohio this week to compete at the 2024 PBA50 Tournament of Champions, averaging 230 for his final eight games of qualifying on Tuesday to move into first place.
“To bowl what would be my last tournament as a full-time bowler on the PBA Tour back here in April and then return for the first time they have had the PBA50 Tournament of Champions here at historic Riviera Lanes and be in the position I am in is simply incredible,” Hess said. “It has been a heck of a year.”
Hess has won four titles this season, and he is aiming to end it on an even higher note. Hess, currently at +419, aims to win his 10th career PBA50 Tour title and third major.
Having competed inside AMF Riviera Lanes over the years, he relied on the knowledge he has of the center. He played the lanes completely different at the start of the day Tuesday beginning with a 278 compared to how he did on Monday with a 187.
He hopes to do something similar to start the Advancers Round on Wednesday, but he also knows the lanes will not transition the same. With the tournament less than half over to this point, Hess doesn’t want to get ahead of himself as he plans to stay in the moment.
“A lot of work still to do as I have a lot of good bowlers chasing me,” Hess said.
Hess has a 25-pin lead over Randy Weiss, who is in the running for 2024 PBA50 Rookie of the Year. They are followed by Chris Warren, Mika Koivuniemi and Tom Adcock, making up the top five. Ricky Schissler was the final bowler to make the cut at +64.
The top 32 bowlers will move into the Advancers Round starting at 10 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday. They will bowl eight games and the top 16 will advance to match play Round 1 starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday. All pins will carry over into match play Round 2 at Noon Thursday with eight final games, before the top five will advance to the stepladder finals. The finals will start at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Watch all of the action on BowlTV.
Top 10 PBA50 Tournament of Champions standings:
- Tom Hess, 3,619 (+419)
- Randy Weiss, 3,594 (+394)
- Chris Warren, 3,589 (+389)
- Mika Koivuniemi, 3,557 (+357)
- Tom Adcock, 3,499 (+299)
- Walter Ray Williams Jr., 3,496 (+296)
- Andrew Neuer, 3,487 (+287)
- Bill Rowe, 3,479 (+279)
- Jon Rakoski, 3,473 (+273)
- Jeff Johnson 3,464 (+264)