Kris Prather Wins 100K in PBA Playoffs Championships
Kris Prather may have never experienced the bowling fans in Maine prior to the 2019 PBA Tour Season but we don’t think he’ll ever forget it. Prather defeated Bill O’Neill to win the inaugural PBA Playoffs Championships and earned the $100,000 first prize Sunday at Bayside Bowl.
“These fans are incredible,” Prather said in the PBA News Release. “I never thought I’d be accepted into a place I’m not from, like I have been in Portland. You hear about how enthusiastic these fans are, but you don’t really know until you experience this place.”
Prather who earned his first PBA Tour title in the PBA Scorpion Championship during the PBA World Series of Bowling X qualified into the 24-player match play elimination competition as the ninth seed.
The PBA Tour aired live on Fox Sports Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Prather defeated Anthony Simonsen in the “Race to 2 Points.” Prather won the first game 217-179 while Simonsen won the second game 247-216 forcing a two-frame roll-off. Prather won the roll-off 49-40.
Prather, a Roto Grip staffer, used a combination of the IDOL and IDOL Pearl in the TV Finals.
“When I came out on tour, I didn’t treat it as a job and it showed,” Prather said. “I hope people can see how much I’ve matured over the past five years, and it’s really having an impact on the success I’m having.”
Shayna NG Wins Second PWBA Tour Title
On Saturday, Shayna Ng defeated Missy Parkin in the finals to take home her second PWBA Title at the PWBA Sonoma County Open.
Ng averaged 217 through the 30 games of qualifying and chose to throw her Hy-Road X through most of the tournament. She earned the second seed and in her first match on tv defeated Stefanie Johnson 267 – 204.She moved on to face the tournament leader, defeating Parkin 259- 237. She chose to throw the Code X in her final round.
“I had my ups and downs, but when it comes down to just one final game, it’s really anybody’s game and I was fortunate to have matched up to the lanes better and earlier.” Ng said in the PWBA News Release.
Though Team Singapore will return to Singapore to compete in the Singapore Open the rest of Team Storm will travel to Arizona for the PWBA Tucson Open.
Julia Bond Wins Second PWBA Regional Title
PWBA Rookie, Julia Bond is having a summer to remember. He recent University of Nebraska graduate picked up her PWBA card and has already added two PWBA Regional titles to her list of achievements.
Four Team Storm players qualified for the stepladder finals at the PWBA Sonoma County Regional at Double Decker Lanes. Bond earned the top seed averaging 207.6. Fellow PWBA Rookie, Gazmine Mason earned the second seed, Kayla Bandy earned the third seed, while Stephanie Schwartz rounded out the top four. Schwartz climbed the ladder to face Bond in the title match. In the finals, Bond defeated Schwartz 203-178 using a Roto Grip HALO Pearl.
“I know it can be tough, and I know that not every week you can make the cut or take home that title, but it’s nice when it does work out,” Bond said in the PWBA Release.
“It’s not the first time I’ve bowled against these ladies, but it’s a different environment. I was a little nervous, but having this early success makes me feel like I made a good choice after graduation.”
Bond has been a consistent force since joining the PWBA Tour in Nebraska. She finished seventh in the PWBA Lincoln Open and sixth in the PWBA Sonoma County Open.
A bonus for winning, Bond and fellow Team Storm member Elise Bolton have earned their spots in the Go Bowling! PWBA Regional Showdown which will air August 24 on CBS Sports Network.
To learn more about all of the members of Team Storm visit our Storm Athletes section here.
To learn more about our Squad RG players check out the Staff Section here.