February 27, 2025 Nolan Hughes

After advancing out of the pre-tournament qualifier (PTQ) on Tuesday, Alec Keplinger led the opening two rounds of qualifying in the PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic presented by Pilgrim’s on Wednesday.

Keplinger shot 2,877 (+477) to fend off Tom Smallwood (+475) for the early pole position at Coconut Bowl at Wild Island in Sparks, Nev.

“I need to stay patient and keep making good shots,” Keplinger said. “I’ve got to keep my foot on the gas pedal, but not force something that’s not there. I tried for four frames tonight. Luckily the ball reps and I were able to think through it better than I probably would have on my own.”

EJ Tackett (+450), Ethan Fiore (+406) and Andrew Anderson (+396) round out the top five.

Fiore, who led the PTQ, also led the opening six-game round of qualifying. The 20-year-old Florida native said his physical game didn’t feel right at the start of the season, but went back to the basics to get back on track.

“I kept putting myself in the wrong spot of the lane because I was trying to make the ball shape too much,” Fiore said. “I went back to just trying to make it simple, rolling it a little bit more, throwing it slower — what I like to do.”

Though Fiore missed the first three PTQ cuts, he stayed to watch the tournament and learn.

“I do all that because it fills my mind. I have to have my brain running. Otherwise I just get bored or the next time I bowl, I get lazy. I have to watch bowling. It makes me think.”

AJ Chapman sits in 32nd place, which will be the cut position after Thursday’s final six-game qualifying round. 

The top 32 players will advance to the first elimination round, in which pins carry over to another six-game round.

The top 16 players will advance to Friday’s second and final elimination round, in which the top five players will qualify for the stepladder finals.

All rounds of qualifying and match play will be livestreamed on BowlTV.

Round 2 Leaders
  1. Alec Keplinger, 2,877 (+477)
  2. Tom Smallwood, 2,875 (+475)
  3. EJ Tackett, 2,850 (+450)
  4. Ethan Fiore, 2,806 (+406)
  5. Andrew Anderson, 2,796 (+396)
  6. Darren Tang, 2,790 (+390)
  7. Jason Belmonte, 2,782 (+382)
  8. Hayden Stippich, 2,771 (+371)
  9. Jakob Butturff, 2,764 (+364)
  10. Graham Fach, 2,758 (+358)

Full standings are available here.

Tournament Schedule

Qualifying: Coconut Bowl at Wild Island | Reno, Nev.
Championship: National Bowling Stadium | Reno, Nev.

All times Pacific/local

Thursday, Feb. 27 | BowlTV
11 a.m. — Qualifying Round 3 (six games)
Top 32 qualifiers advance

6 p.m. — Elimination Round 1 (six games)
Top 16 qualifiers advance

Friday, Feb. 28 | BowlTV
11 a.m. — Elimination Round 2 (six games)
Top five qualifiers advance to championship round

Saturday, March 15 | FS1
3 p.m. — Championship Round (stepladder finals)
Tickets

More information on the PBA Mike Aulby Nevada Classic presented by Pilgrim’s is available here.