January 22, 2025 Nolan Hughes

The strikes started on Tuesday at Mid County Lanes and Entertainment in Middletown, Del., and the strikes kept coming on Wednesday.

Sixteen players remain in title contention in the 2025 season-opening PBA Delaware Classic, including top seeded Michael Davidson, who set the PBA’s 12-game scoring record on Tuesday. 

Davidson earned the No. 1 seed for bracket match play following 18 games of qualifying on the 35-foot Cheetah pattern. His performance earned himself, along with the other top-eight qualifiers, a one-round bye in the bracket.

With the highest-losing seed in the Round of 8 earning the No. 5 seed for the stepladder finals, Davidson is one match victory away from the show.

"There's a lot of bowling left, but that's one thing to check off the bucket list," Davidson said. "My body feels good. My mind feels good. It'll be nice to unwind for the rest of the day and hopefully get a better night to sleep tonight because it's been go-go-go for the last couple days."

In the Round of 24, two-time reigning PBA Player of the Year EJ Tackett took down the reigning PBA Rookie of the Year Nate Purches.

Meanwhile, current rookie Hayden Stippich fell in a seven-game thriller with Matt Ogle. Stippich had a chance to shut out Ogle in Game 7 with a strike in the 10th or on his fill shot, but came up short each time, allowing Ogle to throw three strikes for a one-pin victory. The veteran did exactly that.

“To make match play, then win the first match and have to strike out to win, it’s crazy,” Ogle said. “I knew it was gonna be a tough match with him. He's a great bowler. I was glad to have had the opportunity to capitalize.”

Both players represent DV8 in the PBA Elite League: Battle of the Brands. Ogle, DV8’s captain, helps select the team’s starting lineup each week. He and manager Billy Orlikowski started Stippich this week.

“I’m very excited that he's on our team,” Ogle said.

A top-24 finish is an impressive start to a rookie campaign. Unfortunately for Stippich, it will be the third-most impressive start for a rookie this season.

Cam Crowe and Ryan Barnes qualified second and fifth, respectively, earning a bye into the Round of 16. Crowe will face Graham Fach, while Barnes will meet Ogle on Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern on BowlTV.

Round of 16 Matches

No. 1 Michael Davidson vs. No. 17 Brandon Runk
No. 8 Andrew Anderson vs. No. 24 AJ Johnson

No. 2 Cam Crowe vs. No. 18 Graham Fach
No. 7 Justin Knowles vs. No. 23 Keven Williams

No. 3 Tomas Käyhkö vs. No. 19 Trevor Roberts
No. 6 Kyle Troup vs. No. 11 Nick Pate

No. 4 Jakob Butturff vs. No. 13 EJ Tackett
No. 5 Ryan Barnes vs. No. 12 Matt Ogle

Round of 24 Results

No. 17 Brandon Runk def. No. 16 Sam Cooley, 4-2
No. 24 AJ Johnson def. No. 9 Chris Via, 4-0

No. 18 Graham Fach def. No. 15 BJ Moore, 4-2
No. 23 Keven Williams def. No. 10 Tom Smallwood, 4-3

No. 11 Nick Pate def. No. 22 Marshall Kent, 4-2
No. 19 Trevor Roberts def. No. 14 Bill O’Neill, 4-1

No. 12 Matt Ogle def. No. 21 Hayden Stippich, 4-3
No. 13 EJ Tackett def. No. 20 Nate Purches, 4-2

Match scores are available here.

Tournament Schedule

Mid County Lanes & Entertainment | Middletown, DE

All times Eastern

Thursday, Jan. 23
11 a.m. — Match Play Round of 16 (best-of-seven games)
6 p.m. — Match Play Round of 8 (best-of-seven games)
Four winners plus highest-seeded Round of 8 loser advance to stepladder finals

Saturday, Jan. 25
5 p.m. — Finals | FS1