December 12, 2024 Nolan Hughes

In the spirit of PBA Awards Week, let’s dive into top performers on the PBA Regional Tour.

The top PBA and PBA50 player, as well as the top first-year player, in each region were recognized based on their performance during the 2024 PBA Regional Tour season.

Recipients of the Pat Patterson awards were selected for their outstanding contributions to the regional program and efforts to promote bowling.

The award winners were determined by a vote among regional tournament directors: Russ Mills, East; Bobby Jakel, Central; Toby Contreras, Midwest; Steve Taylor, South; Tony Lanning, Southwest; George Aboud, West and Northwest.

The honorees will be recognized during a banquet ahead of the 2024 BowlTV PBA Regional Players Invitational, which is set to begin on Friday at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.

East Region

Player of the Year: Tim Foy Jr., Seaford, Del.
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Bienko, Kenmore, N.Y.
Senior Player of the Year: Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y.
Pat Patterson: Jeff Ripic, Apalachin, N.Y.

Tim Foy Jr. earning East Region Player of the Year was perhaps the easiest decision of the year. Here is where Foy finished in each of his nine events in the East Region: eighth, first, second, third, second, first, second, first and first. That reads more like the scorecard of an elite mini-golfer who severely struggled with the windmill on the first hole.

With two top-five finishes, Kevin Bienko brought home Rookie of the Year honors. Ryan Shafer led the region in points and earnings, along with winning two titles and finishing top-five in five of seven events.

Central Region

Player of the Year: Ryan Liederbach, Northfield, Ohio
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Speer, Beech Grove, Ind.
Senior Player of the Year: Michael Haggitt, Springfield, Ohio
Pat Patterson: Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind.

A sensational four-week stretch this summer, during which he won three titles, allowed Ryan Liederbach to dethrone Graham Fach and secure Central Region POY honors. With a title and four top-five finishes, Ryan Speer was the clear choice for the region’s ROY. Michael Haggitt led the region in points and earnings.

Midwest Region

Player of the Year: Ryan Burton, Michigan City, Ind.
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Burton, Michigan City, Ind.
Senior Player of the Year: Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind.
Pat Patterson: Stephen Hoehnen, Sussex, Wis.

For the second straight year, a first-year player brings home Player and Rookie of the Year honors in the Midwest Region. This year, the award went to two-handed lefty Ryan Burton. Father Time hasn’t found a way to slow down the Rocket, Eugene McCune, quite yet. He led the Midwest Region in earnings with three top-five finishes.

South Region

Player of the Year: Zachary Tackett, Virginia Beach, Va.
Rookie of the Year: Ethan McDonald, Coats, N.C.
Senior Player of the Year: Jon Rakoski, Estero, Fla.
Pat Patterson: Charlie Tomey, Spartanburg, S.C.

Zachary Tackett may not be related to PBA Tour star EJ Tackett, but the now two-time South Region POY sure is racking up awards like him. Tackett led the region in points and won two titles. Ethan McDonald’s three top-five finishes in seven events, along with an average north of 220, proved sufficient for ROY honors. Jon Rakoski cashed in 11 of his 12 events, leading the region in points and earning six top-five finishes with two titles.

Southwest Region

Player of the Year: TBA
Rookie of the Year: Ryan Barnes, Denton, Texas
Senior Player of the Year: TBA
Pat Patterson: Michael Austin, Conroe, Texas

Considering the spectacular three-horse POY races in the Southwest Region, it’s fitting that this is the region with one more event. That extra event won’t be needed to determine the top freshman, as Ryan Barnes tallied five top-10 finishes in his six events to secure the region’s top rookie status.

West Region

Player of the Year: Brandon Kring, N. Highlands, Calif.
Rookie of the Year: Brandon Kring, N. Highlands, Calif.
Senior Player of the Year: David Leverage, Glendale, Ariz.
Pat Patterson: Lindsey Wong, Sunnyvale, Calif.

When you win two titles and lead the region in earnings, you figure to be in the running for Player of the Year; when you do that as a first-year player, you’re a shoe-in for Rookie of the Year. Brandon Kring did both. With nine top-five finishes in 12 events, David Leverage earned PBA50 POY honors in the West.

Northwest Region

Player of the Year: Michael Fitzgerald, Waddell, Ariz.
Rookie of the Year: Riley Woodard, Orem, Utah
Senior Player of the Year: Blaine Weninger, Clackamas, Ore.
Pat Patterson: Stephen Hahn, Spokane Valley, Wash.

Michael Fitzgerald earned Player of the Year honors with one title and three-top five finishes in his six events. Riley Woodard topped first-year Northwestern players in points, earnings and average. Blaine Weninger and Michael Kennedy were neck-and-neck in earnings and average, but Weninger’s lead in points prevailed.

More information on the PBA Regional Tour is available here.