July 3, 2024 Nolan Hughes

Graham Fach’s record-setting series highlights the latest news from the 2024 PBA LBC National Championships

Through five weekends of the 2024 PBA LBC National Championships, 17-year-old Gianna Brandolino continues to lead the Women’s Classic division by a 130-pin margin.

Since Brandolino’s performance, she and three additional division leaders have yet to be knocked off their perch: Bobby Kunimura (Men’s Handicap), Kahlen Ranson (Women’s Handicap) and Garrett Beyer (Boys Jr. Handicap).

But last weekend, Graham Fach’s record-setting weekend powered him to the top of the PBA Exempt division. Mark Blaha (Open Classic) and William Froberg (Senior Classic) have also taken pole positions in their respective divisions.

Should their scores hold up, those eight players will not only earn first-place prizes, but head to Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine for the PBA LBC National Championships Clash. Four additional players — runner-ups in the Open Classic, Women’s Classic and PBA Exempt division, plus the highest finishing super senior in the Senior Classic division — will round out the 12-player field.

The televised finals will feature a $60,000 top prize plus a shot at earning the coveted trophy: The Duke.

Players can still enter the 2024 PBA LBC National Championships. Learn more and sign up here.

New Record

Graham Fach logged a spectacular six-game series last weekend to establish a new PBA LBC National Championships record with a 1,634 series. 

He gave former PBA Exempt leader Kris Prather the ax. He chopped the pins at Bowlero Mount Prospect into lumber. I’m all tapped out of lumberjack puns (ah, I snuck in one more!), but Fach never fell short on strikes (another one at the buzzer!).

The Canadian never put himself in a 0-3 deficit, firing 280 to start his round. After a series-low 237 in Game 2, he bounced back with 279 in his third game. 

That’s when Fach channeled his inner-Oiler to dominate in Games 4-6: With a finish of 270, 279 and 289, Fach averaged 272.33 for his six games.

Fach seized the lead in the PBA Exempt division from a fellow Portland Lumberjack. Prather, who shot 1,529 on June 8, remains in second place and would earn a Clash berth if his score holds.

About a dozen PBA Exempt players have yet to compete, but even perennial Player of the Year candidate EJ Tackett will need to perform at his absolute peak form to surpass Fach’s record series.

New Leaders

With a 279 in his final game, Mark Blaha overtook the lead in the Open Classic division on June 23. The Minnesota native’s 1,523 series has him in position for the $25,000 first-place prize and a berth in the Clash.

Blaha brought a stuffed animal named “Duke” with him. He said Duke served as a reminder of who inspired him to compete in the tournament: his six-year-old son.

Bailey Mavrick currently sits in second place in the Open Classic division with a score of 1,488. Mavrick would also qualify for the Clash should his score hold.

Earlier in June, William “Billy” Froberg fired 1,414 to move in front of the Senior Classic division. A 288 and 268 in the middle of his block powered the Michiganite to the lead.

Watch Froberg’s post-game interview here.

Not-New Faces

Lennie Boresch Jr. won the Senior Classic division in 2023 and shot 1,357 this year to move into fourth place. The PBA Hall of Famer is in line for a return trip to Portland for the Clash as the leading super senior.

Danielle McEwan could also be heading back to Bayside Bowl. The 32-year-old PWBA Tour star fired 1,266 to move into second place in the Women’s Classic division.

Honor Scores

Only two 300 games have been shot through five weekends: AJ Chapman fired the event’s first perfect game on June 15, then Evin Anderson connected for perfection later in June. To honor their perfect performances, Chapman and Anderson will receive mini Duke trophies.

Before Fach's absurd block, Riley Smith fired the 2024 event's first 800 series. The McKendree University standout began his round with games for 245, 299 and 259 for an 802 series.

PBA LBC National Championship Clash — advancers as of July 1

Open Classic

  1. Mark Blaha, 1,523
  2. Bailey Mavrick, 1,488

Women’s Classic

  1. Gianna Brandolino, 1,396
  2. Danielle McEwan, 1,266

PBA Exempt

  1. Graham Fach, 1,634
  2. Kris Prather, 1,529

Senior Classic

  1. William Froberg, 1,414
  2. Lennie Boresch Jr., 1,357

Men’s Handicap

  1. Bobby Kunimura 1,567 (1,447 scratch)

Women’s Handicap

  1. Kahlen Ranson, 1,451 (1,121 scratch)

Boys Jr. Handicap

  1. Garrett Beyer, 1,461 (1,071 scratch)

Girls Jr. Handicap

  1. Brianna Merner, 1,347 (1,131 scratch)

More information on the PBA LBC National Championship tournament is available here.

Complete standings are available here.