August 23, 2024 Nolan Hughes

Dozen players secure full-time status on 2025 PBA Tour

This year’s PBA Tour Trials, returning for the first time in nearly 15 years, proved to be the ultimate test of ability, expertise and grit.

Twelve players emerged from the 48-game tournament, which featured four oil patterns and four different bowling centers in the Chicago area, with exempt status on the 2025 PBA Tour. 

The dozen players join the top 43 players in 2024 PBA Tour points, earning priority entry for all 2025 PBA Tour events with no entry fee and eligibility for the PBA Elite League draft.

Pennsylvania's Hayden Stippich, who also led the 12-game pre-tournament qualifier, won the event with a total pinfall of 10,917 (+1,317). The two-handed lefty battled with one-handed southpaw Brandon Runk, who finished second, for the tournament lead throughout the majority of the event.

Tim Foy Jr., Nate Purches and Ryan Barnes rounded out the top five. Kim Bolleby, Cam Crowe, Bailey Mavrick, Nathan Bohr, Andrew Hall, Chase Nadeau and Chris Sloan were the remaining qualifiers.

After splitting in the seventh frame of the final game, Sloan threw five consecutive strikes to end his tournament at +897.

Frank Snodgrass could have struck out in his final frame to tie Sloan, but left a 7-pin on his second shot in the 10th. He ultimately finished 10 pins behind Sloan.

David Northouse, Pontus Andersson, Dean Vargo, Cody Shoemaker, Sam DeWitt III and Matt Kuba all entered the final game with a chance to crack the exempt field, but came up just short.

2025 PBA Tour Exempt Qualifiers

Hayden Stippich - McKean, Pa.

Stippich is next in a long line of bowling greats from Erie, Pa., including Bob Learn Jr., Mike Machuga and Mike Shady. The 24-year-old was a two-time All-American at Tennessee Southern University, coached by Learn himself.

Brandon Runk - Milton, Pa.

Runk made his introduction to the PBA Tour by qualifying for the 2022 PBA Players Championship East Region Finals. The left-hander competed at William Paterson University  before joining the PBA.

Runk, married to Alexis Runk (formerly Neuer) is the son-in-law of former PBA Tour champion Andy Neuer and brother-in-law of Anthony Neuer.

Tim Foy Jr. - Seaford, Del.

It’s been a banner year for Foy. Back in March, in his home state, made the televised finals of the PBA Delaware Classic in dramatic fashion. This summer, he won an Eagle at the USBC Open Championships in the Regular Team event.

This week, the two-handed right secured full-time PBA Tour status for next season.

Nate Purches - Fond du Lac, Wis.

Purches made his PBA debut by making the 2021 PBA Junior Boys National Championship Finals. He joined the PBA Tour earlier this year, leading all rookies in points and earnings this season.

Ryan Barnes - Denton, Texas

The son of two Hall of Famers is quickly making a name for himself. As an amateur, Barnes made the PBA Players Championship presented by Snickers finals, finishing third, earlier this season. After finishing his college bowling career at Wichita State this spring, Barnes is set to embark on his professional career and aims to contend for 2025 Rookie of the Year.

Kim Bolleby - Sweden

Bolleby finished 47th on the 2023 PBA Tour in points, but lost his exemption after finishing 61st this season. The savvy left-hander regained his exempt status after an impressive performance this week, particularly on the final day of PBA Tour Trials.

Cam Crowe - Orland Park, Ill.

The uber-powerful and charismatic left-hander will bring a new energy to the tour next season. Crowe, a former St. Ambrose University star, clinched exempt status for what will be his rookie season in his own backyard of Chicago.

Bailey Mavrick - Whitestown, Ind.

Mavrick also introduced himself to the bowling world in 2022, making the PBA Players Championship Midwest Region Finals. After a few seasons of bowling the tour part-time, the two-handed Indiana native now joins full-time.

Nathan Bohr - Austin, Texas

Bohr entered PBA Tour Trials as the odd man out, finishing 44th in points this season. With a gameplan true to himself on the final day, the 27-time PBA Regional Tour champion proved he belongs on the PBA Tour.

Andrew Hall - Westborough, Mass.

Hall finished second in 2023 PBA Rookie of the Year voting, earning a career-best finish of 18th in the PBA Kokomo Classic. The former Arizona State and St. John’s collegiate player learned the game competing in the New England Bowlers Association.

Chase Nadeau - Las Vegas

Nadeau impressed in the USBC Masters earlier this season, finishing tied-seventh as an amateur. The 29-year-old decided to make a bid at a full-time role on the PBA Tour and succeeded.

Chris Sloan - Ireland

The 2019 USBC Masters finalist has had his share of struggles on the PBA Tour in recent seasons, but he earned his way back onto the tour with an incredible display of poise. Sloan’s final five strikes could prove to be a career-altering moment.

Final Standings

  1. Hayden Stippich, +1,317
  2. Brandon Runk, +1,291
  3. Tim Foy Jr., +1,237
  4. Nate Purches, +1,113
  5. Ryan Barnes, +1,078
  6. Kim Bolleby, +965
  7. Cam Crowe, +953
  8. Bailey Mavrick, +944
  9. Nathan Bohr, +932
  10. Andrew Hall, +912
  11. Chase Nadeau, +908
  12. Chris Sloan, +897
  13. David Northouse, +888
  14. Frank Snodgrass, +887
  15. Pontus Andersson, +866
  16. Dean Vargo, +862
  17. Cody Shoemaker, +855
  18. Sam DeWitt III, +853
  19. Matt Kuba, +846
  20. Ethan Fiore, +828
  21. Wesley Low Jr., +827
  22. Rafiq Ismail, +819
  23. Ethan McDonald, +817
  24. William Svensson, +804
  25. Cortez Schenck, +802

Full standings are available here.

More information on PBA Tour Trials is available here.