2024 PBA Tour season

Last updated
2024 PBA Tour season
League Professional Bowlers Association
Sport Ten-pin bowling
DurationJanuary 9–September 17
PBA Tour
Season MVP E. J. Tackett
PBA Tour seasons
2025  

The 2024 PBA Tour season, the 65th season of play for the U.S. Professional Bowlers Association's ten-pin bowling tour, began on January 9 with the pre-tournament qualifier (PTQ) of the PBA Players Championship. [1] The season included 15 singles title events (eight standard, five major, two postseason), two doubles title events, a mixed trios title event, and a non-title team event.

Contents

On November 1, 2023, the PBA and Fox announced that the 2024 season will have over 60 hours of live coverage on Fox and FS1 networks. Multiple standard title events move to FS1 from previous streaming-only broadcasts, and Fox terrestrial stations will have eight broadcasts, the most since Fox acquired PBA broadcast rights in 2019. [2]

Season overview

As in 2023, the final rounds of all five major events were broadcast live on over-the-air network television (Fox network). This included the finals of the PBA Players Championship on January 15, the U.S. Open on February 4, the USBC Masters on March 31, the PBA World Championship on April 21 (part of the five-event PBA World Series of Bowling XV in Allen Park, Michigan), and the PBA Tournament of Champions on April 28. All five majors paid out a $100,000 top prize. Also scheduled for the Fox network was a PBA All-Star event with Fox NASCAR at the Shriners Children's 500 in Avondale, Arizona.

From February 5 to March 3, there were four “classic series” events which each awarded a standard title. The final round of these events were broadcast on FS1. [1] The 2024 season also saw the return of the PBA Playoffs, which was last hosted in 2022. [2]

The PBA League Elias Cup team competition returned with a revised format, and the new moniker "PBA Elite League". While the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals broadcasts on FS1 remain in September, as in 2023, there were season-long qualifying events at the first 14 PBA Tour stops. The league was reduced to eight teams of six players (from ten teams of five players previously), and head-to-head Baker matches throughout the season further reduced the field to six teams prior to the September 15 quarterfinals. [3]

On July 31-August 2, the PBA hosted its first-ever mixed trios event in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The event featured trio teams pairing PBA, PBA50 and PWBA players. [4]

Season awards

Tournament summary

The events currently scheduled for the 2024 PBA season are shown below. [1] Major tournaments are in bold. Career PBA title numbers for winners are shown in parentheses (#). Winner's share prize money is shown in US dollars ($), except where indicated.

Tour points are awarded for most events. Besides the season-ending Harry Smith PBA Points Winner award, points are one consideration for Player of the Year voting and also affect eligibility and seeding for the PBA Playoffs (2024 points only) and PBA Tour Finals (with 2023 points).

EventAirdateCityPreliminary roundsFinal roundOil patternWinnerNotes
PBA Players Championship presented by SnickersJan 15 Fox Wichita, KS Jan 10–13
(PTQ: Jan 9)
Live Wayne Webb 38 Bill O'Neill, USA (14)Members-only event* (Tier 1). PBA major. $100,000 top prize.
U.S. Open presented by Go BowlingFeb 4 Fox Indianapolis, IN Jan 29–Feb 2
(PTQ: Jan 27)
LiveFour custom patterns Kyle Troup, USA (11)Open event (Tier 1). PBA major. $100,000 top prize.
PBA Illinois ClassicFeb 10 FS1 Mount Prospect, IL Feb 6–8
(PTQ: Feb 5)
Live Don Carter 39 Marshall Kent, USA (6)Open event (Tier 2). $25,000 top prize.
PBA Pete Weber Missouri ClassicFeb 18 FS1 Springfield, MO Feb 14–16
(PTQ: Feb 13)
LiveDragon 45 Anthony Simonsen, USA (14)Open event (Tier 2). $25,000 top prize.
Just Bare PBA Indiana ClassicFeb 24 FS1 Anderson, IN Feb 20–22
(PTQ: Feb 19)
LiveViper 37Kyle Troup, USA (12)Open event (Tier 2). $25,000 top prize.
PBA Delaware ClassicMar 3 FS1 Middletown, DE Feb 28–Mar 1
(PTQ: Feb 27)
Live Billy Hardwick 44 David Krol, USA (1)Open event (Tier 2). $25,000 top prize.
PBA All-Star WeekendMar 15–16 FS1
Mar 17 Fox
Avondale, AZ N/AMar 6–8 (taped)PBA LBC 43Skills Competition: Team Storm (Kyle Troup, Sean Rash, Darren Tang)
Legacy Cup: Team WRW (Walter Ray Williams Jr., Kyle Troup, Cortez Schenck)
Battle of the Ages: PBA All-Stars def. PBA Legends
NASCAR Invitational: Lindsay Boomershine & A. J. Allmendinger
Non-title events featuring current PBA and PWBA stars, PBA legends, rookies and NASCAR drivers. Events: PBA All-Star Skills Showdown (Mar 6), PBA Legacy Cup (Mar 7), GoBowling! PBA NASCAR Invitational (Mar 8). Event held as part of NASCAR Shriners Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway. To be broadcast before the NASCAR Bristol round the next week.
USBC MastersMar 31 Fox Las Vegas, NV Mar 25–29LiveUSBC Custom DeeRonn Booker, USA (1)Open event (Tier 1). PBA major. $100,000 top prize.
PBA WSOB XV Roth-Holman Doubles ChampionshipApr 14 FS1 Allen Park, MI Apr 4–5
(PTQ: Apr 2)
Apr 6 (taped)Mark Roth 42 & Marshall Holman 38 Andrew Anderson, USA (4)
Kris Prather, USA (6)
Open event (Tier 3-limited field). $30,000 top prize (team).
PBA WSOB XV Cheetah ChampionshipApr 15 FS1Allen Park, MIApr 8–9
(WSOB PTQ: Apr 6)
LiveCheetah 36 Deo Benard, USA (1)Open event (Tier 3-short format). $20,000 top prize.
PBA WSOB XV Scorpion ChampionshipApr 16 FS1Allen Park, MIApr 10–11
(WSOB PTQ: Apr 6)
LiveScorpion 42Matt Russo, USA (2)Open event (Tier 3-short format). $20,000 top prize.
PBA WSOB XV Shark ChampionshipApr 17 FS1Allen Park, MIApr 12–13
(WSOB PTQ: Apr 6)
LiveShark 48 E. J. Tackett, USA (22)Open event (Tier 3-short format). $20,000 top prize.
PBA World ChampionshipApr 20 (seeds 5 thru 9 play-in round) FS1
Apr 21 (finals) Fox
Allen Park, MIApr 8–13, 18
(WSOB PTQ: Apr 6)
LiveQualifying: Cheetah 36, Scorpion 42, Shark 48
Match play & finals: Earl Anthony 43
E. J. Tackett, USA (23)PBA members & qualifying collegiate players via PTQ (Tier 1). PBA major. 16 top qualifiers from animal pattern events advance to match play on April 18. Top four after match play automatically seeded for finals. April 20 stepladder (5-9 seeds) determines fifth seed for finals. $100,000 top prize.
PBA Tournament of ChampionsApr 28 Fox Fairlawn, OH Apr 23–25
(PTQ: Apr 22)
Live Don Johnson 40Marshall Kent, USA (7)Invitational event (Tier 1). PBA major. $100,000 top prize.
PBA PlayoffsPlay-in stepladder: May 4 FS1
Round of 12: May 5 FS1
Quarterfinals: May 12 FS1
Semifinals & Finals: May 19 Fox
Arlington, WA & Kissimmee, FL May 4–5, 19Live Dick Weber 45 & Mike Aulby 39David Krol, USA (2)Starting field: top 16 in 2024 Tour points through April 28. $75,000 top prize.
PBA Tour FinalsJun 7–seeding rounds CBS Sports
Jun 8–group stepladders and finals CBS Sports
Bethlehem, PA Jun 7Live Marshall Holman 38 & Johnny Petraglia 46Anthony Simonsen, USA (15)Starting field: top eight points earners since start of 2023 season. $30,000 top prize.
PBA-PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles (a.k.a. The Luci)Jul 28 BowlTV Houston, TX Jul 26–28LiveCustom Kegel pattern Anthony Simonsen, USA (16) & Danielle McEwan, USAPBA and PWBA title event. Top prize $25,000 (team).
PBA/PBA50/PWBA Jonesboro TriosAug 2 BowlTV
Jonesboro, AR Jul 31–Aug 1Live Amleto Monacelli 40 François Lavoie, Canada (6)
Tom Hess, USA
Breanna Clemmer, USA
PBA, PBA50, and PWBA title event. Open event (Tier 3-short format). Top prize $30,000 (team). Bowlers will bowl two five-game qualifying rounds within their respective tours, cutting to the top 16 players for match play. Qualifying pinfall will be dropped entering round-robin match play. Seeding entering match play will determine the PBA/PBA50/PWBA trios teams. All three top seeds will be paired together, as will the No. 2 seeds and so on. The top five teams will advance to a Stepladder Baker Format.
PBA-WBT Storm Lucky Larsen MastersN/A Helsingborg, Sweden Aug 23–Aug 31Sep 1Not reported Jesper Svensson, Sweden (12)PBA and WBT title event (Tier 3–limited field). Top prize 160,000 SEK (approx. $15,660 USD).
PBA Elite League Elias CupQuarterfinal play-in (3–6 seeds): Sep 15 FS1
Semifinals 1 & 2: Sep 16 FS1
Elias Cup Finals: Sep 17 FS1
Portland, ME Seeding based on Baker matches held concurrently with first 14 events of 2024 PBA seasonLiveMark Roth 42Las Vegas High Rollers (Andrew Anderson-MVP, Sean Rash, Matt Russo, Matt Ogle, A. J. Johnson, Thomas Larsen, Mgr.-Amleto Monacelli)Non-title team event. Eight-team starting field, reduced to six for Sep 15 play-in round. Top prize: $100,000 to winning team.
Go Bowling PBA Elite League Strike DerbyOct 27 FoxPortland, MEN/ASep 17Mark Roth 42Jesper Svensson, SwedenNon-title event. Eight-player field (six PBA Elite League players chosen via fan vote, plus two Commissioner's selections). $30,000 top prize.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2024 PBA TOUR SCHEDULE". pba.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS ASSOCIATION TO "GO BOWLING ACROSS AMERICA" WITH 2024 PBA ON FOX SCHEDULE". pba.com. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  3. Hughes, Nolan (November 22, 2023). "EXPANDED PBA LEAGUE SEASON COMING IN 2024". pba.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. "PBA/PBA50/PWBA JONESBORO TRIOS - PBA TOUR DIVISION". pba.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. Hughes, Nolan (12 December 2024). "EJ Tackett Earns Third Career 2024 Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award". www.pba.com. Retrieved 12 December 2024.