COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 13, 2019) – Australian two-hander Jason Belmonte got off to a strong start in his bid to win a record 11th career PBA major title, averaging 234 after two rounds Wednesday to lead the PBA Players Championship at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

The 35-year-old Belmonte finished with a 2,817 12-game pinfall total, firing 1,508 in the first six-game round earlier in the day with games of 268, 279, 267, 245, 231 and 218, followed by 1,309 in the second round with games of 232, 209, 214, 204, 193 and 257.

“The lanes got really tricky starting at the end of the first round,” said the 19-time tour winner. “The friction was really building up in the middle of the lane, so it was time to make an adjustment. You had to go way right or way left. My strength is moving left so that’s what I did.

“At this point in the tournament I’m not trying to necessarily shoot 260 every game,” he added. “The guys are playing the lanes quite a bit differently, so you just have to find that part of the lane where you can be most effective.”

Belmonte is also trying for his second consecutive major title on the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour, after winning his third PBA Tournament of Champions title last Sunday. He is also trying to become the first three-time winner of the Players Championship.

Belmonte holds a 50-pin lead over defending champion Tom Smallwood of Saginaw Mich., in second with 2,767.  Smallwood, a three-time tour winner, defeated Belmonte 259-239 in the title match of the 2018 Players Championship for his second major and third career tour title.

Coming off a third-place finish in the Tournament of Champions, four-time tour winner Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., finished third after two rounds with 2,723.

Other players surged up the leaderboard in the second round of qualifying following lackluster showings in the opening block. Brandon Novak, who last made a PBA Tour telecast in 2018 when he finished fourth in the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman Doubles Championship with Kris Prather, jumped from 79th to 20th. Novak's 1385 second-round pinfall comprised games of 211, 279, 226, 234, 243 and 192.

In a Facebook post, Novak said he "completely forgot how to bowl the last four games" of round 1, then "Came up with a different game plan for the night block and a few different ball selections and it all clicked for the entire block."

Tommy Jones, an 18-time titlist on the PBA Tour, charged from 75th to 22nd with a 1384 block in which he shot 743 out of the gate on scores of 253, 255 and 235. He wrapped up his six games with scores of 242, 215 and 174.

Patrick Girard, who already has made two shows this year as he finished third in the PBA Oklahoma Open and fourth in the 2019 Mark Roth-Marshall Holman Doubles Championship with partner Zach Wilkins, moved from 64th to 10th with the highest six-game total of round two. He shot 1391 on scores of 234, 279, 204, 268, 225 and 181.

Qualifying continues with the third round at 10 a.m. on Thursday with a cut to the top 24 players who will advance to the first match play round at 6 p.m. Match play continues Friday with rounds at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. which will determine the top five players for Sunday’s live stepladder finals on FS1 at 1 p.m. ET.

The Players Championship will offer a $1 million bonus if a player can bowl a 300 game in Sunday’s title match.

Fans can follow all rounds of qualifying and match play through PBA’s online streaming partner, FloBowling. For schedule and subscription information visit FloBowling.com.

PBA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday

SECOND ROUND RESULTS (after 12 games)

1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 2,817.
2, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 2,767.
3, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 2,723.
4, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 2,719.
5, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., 2,709.
6, Brad Miller, Lees Summit, Mo., 2,658.
7, Sean Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, 2,639.
8, AJ Chapman, Manchester, Iowa, 2,632.
9, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 2,631.
10, Patrick Girard, Canada, 2,628.
11, Zeke Bayt, Westerville, Ohio, 2,624.
12, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 2,618.
13, A.J. Rice, Salem, Ala., 2,614.
14, Zachary Wilkins, Canada, 2,613.
14, Kristopher Prather, Plainfield, Ill., 2,613.
16, EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., 2,607.
17, Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 2,606.
18, Anthony Simonsen, Little Elm, Texas, 2,599.
19, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 2,596.
20, Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 2,595.
21, Christopher Sloan, Ireland, 2,593.
22, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 2,590.
23, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 2,584.
24, Jake Rollins, Glen Rock, N.J., 2,580.
25, Stuart Williams, England, 2,578.
26, Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, 2,575.
27, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 2,568.
28, DJ Archer, Spring, Texas, 2,565.
29, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 2,564.
30, Jason Sterner, Fayetteville, Ga., 2,557.
31, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 2,556.
32, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 2,555.
33, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 2,553.
34, (tie) Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., and Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 2,549.
36, (tie) Zachery Tackett, Huntington, Ind., and Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 2,544.
38, (tie) Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, and Francois Louw, South Africa, 2,543.
40, Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 2,540.
41, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 2,539.
42, Aaron Lorincz, Center Line, Mich., 2,535.
43, Shota Kawazoe, Japan, 2,527.
44, Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 2,522.
45, (tie) Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, and Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 2,511.
47, Kurt Pilon, Sterling Heights, Mich., 2,508.
48, AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 2,506.
49, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 2,502.
50, (tie) Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., and Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 2,500.
52, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 2,496.
53, Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 2,486.
54, Billy Rogers, Mesquite, Texas, 2,483.
55, Richie Teece, England, 2,477.
56, Kyle Sherman, O'Fallon, Mo., 2,473.
57, (tie) Gaetan Mouveroux, France, and Tim Foy Jr., Seaford, Del., 2,469.
59, Dom Barrett, England, 2,468.
60, Ryan Ciminelli, Clarence, N.Y., 2,459.
61, Francois Lavoie, Canada, 2,454.
62, Mike Coffey, Melbourne, Fla., 2,451.
63, Cody Shoemaker, Hanover, Pa., 2,450.
64, Cristian Azcona, Puerto Rico, 2,446.
65, BJ Moore, Greensburg, Pa., 2,444.
66, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 2,443.
67, Dwight Adams, Greensboro, N.C., 2,439.
68, (tie) Sam Cooley, Australia, and Mykel Holliman, Collierville, Tenn., 2,437.
70, Graham Fach, Urbana, Ohio, 2,435.
71, (tie) Michael Tang, Johnstown, Ohio, and Joe Bailey, Wooster, Ohio, 2,432.
73, Nathan Bohr, Austin, Texas, 2,430.
74, (tie) Dick Allen, Lexington, S.C., and Matthew Ogle, Louisville, Ky., 2,428.
76, (tie) Michael Davidson, Versailles, Ohio, and Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 2,425.
78, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 2,420.
79, (tie) John Furey, Howell, N.J., and Jean Perez, Puerto Rico, 2,419.
81, Mitch Hupe, Canada, 2,417.
82, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 2,411.
83, Darren Tang, Las Vegas, Nev., 2,401.
84, Jimmy Cook, Indianapolis, 2,394.
85, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 2,391.
86, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 2,389.
87, Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand, 2,387.
88, (tie) Rhino Page, Orlando, and Charlie Brown Jr, Grandville, Mich., 2,377.
90, Geoffrey Young, Roanoke, Texas, 2,368.
91, Kim Bolleby, Sweden, 2,365.
92, Jim Pratt, Avondale, Ariz., 2,361.
93, Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz., 2,358.
94, Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 2,349.
95, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 2,347.
96, (tie) Greg Young, Viera, Fla., and David Harold, Columbus, Ohio, 2,345.
98, Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 2,334.
99, Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., 2,321.
100, Samuel DeWitt, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2,311.
101, Matt Kuba, Chicago Ridge, Ill., 2,305.
102, Pontus Andersson, Sweden, 2,304.
103, JR Raymond, Clinton Twp., Mich., 2,298.
104, Chris Colella, Indianapolis, Ind., 2,292.
105, Kyle Gillum, Columbus, Ohio, 2,282.
106, Arturo Quintero, Mexico, 2,281.
107, Jason Lundquist, Columbus, Ohio, 2,280.
108, Matt Sanders, Indianapolis, 2,277.
109, Andrew Suscreba, Clifton, N.J., 2,276.
110, JoJoe Yannaphon, Thailand, 2,265.
111, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 2,257.
112, Keven Williams, Springfield, Mo.,, 2,247.
113, Stephen Pavlinko, Sewell, N.J., 2,246.
114, Justin Wyman, Fairport, N.Y., 2,220.
115, Patrick Hanrahan, Wichita, Kan., 2,217.
116, Brandon Robertson, Venice, Fla., 2,179.
117, Joshua Weiner, Hilliard, Ohio, 2,142.
118, Michael Baker, Moline, Ill., 2,128.
119, Eduardo Astiazaran, Mexico.., 2,119.
120, Tristan Butler, Fort Wayne, Ind., 2,070.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS (after 6 games)

1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 1,508.
2, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 1,442.
3, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 1,434.
4, Shawn Maldonado, Houston, 1,401.
5, Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, 1,393.
6, Kristopher Prather, Plainfield, Ill., 1,389.
7, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 1,382.
8, Anthony Simonsen, Little Elm, Texas, 1,373.
9, Zachary Wilkins, Canada, 1,368.
10, DJ Archer, Spring, Texas, 1,365.
11, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 1,362.
12, Connor Pickford, Charlotte, N.C., 1,361.
13, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 1,356.
14, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 1,350.
15, Joe Bailey, Wooster, Ohio, 1,343.
15, Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 1,343.
15, Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 1,343.
18, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 1,341.
19, Christopher Sloan, Ireland, 1,337.
20, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., 1,328.
21, Brad Miller, Lees Summit, Mo., 1,326.
22, AJ Chapman, Manchester, Iowa, 1,323.
23, Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., 1,317.
24, Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, 1,314.
25, Jake Rollins, Glen Rock, N.J., 1,309.
26, (tie) A.J. Rice, Salem, Ala., and Sean Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, 1,306.
28, Aaron Lorincz, Center Line, Mich., 1,298.
29, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 1,296.
30, AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 1,295.
31, Jim Pratt, Avondale, Ariz., 1,294.
32, Francois Louw, South Africa, 1,292.
33, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 1,290.
34, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 1,288.
35, (tie) Zachery Tackett, Huntington, Ind., and Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.Va., 1,287.
37, (tie) David Harold, Columbus, Ohio, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, and Jason Sterner, Fayetteville, Ga., 1,284.
40, Matthew Ogle, Louisville, Ky., 1,283.
41, Stuart Williams, England, 1,282.
42, EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., 1,271.
43, (tie) Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., Mike Coffey, Melbourne, Fla., and Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 1,262.
46, (tie) Pontus Andersson, Sweden, and Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., 1,261.
48, Shota Kawazoe, Japan, 1,260.
49, Kurt Pilon, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1,258.
50, (tie) Graham Fach, Urbana, Ohio, Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz., Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, and Mitch Hupe, Canada, 1,251.
54, (tie) BJ Moore, Greensburg, Pa., and Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,249.
56, (tie) Richie Teece, England, Francois Lavoie, Canada, and Mykel Holliman, Collierville, Tenn., 1,248.
59, Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 1,247.
60, Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 1,246.
61, (tie) Zeke Bayt, Westerville, Ohio, and Stephen Pavlinko, Sewell, N.J., 1,242.
63, Michael Tang, Johnstown, Ohio, 1,238.
64, Patrick Girard, Canada, 1,237.
65, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 1,234.
66, Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand, 1,233.
67, Nathan Bohr, Austin, Texas, 1,231.
68, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 1,229.
69, (tie) Thomas Larsen, Denmark, and Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,225.
71, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 1,222.
72, Tim Foy Jr., Seaford, Del., 1,220.
73, (tie) Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, and Cristian Azcona, Puerto Rico, 1,219.
75, (tie) Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., and Osku Palermaa, Finland, 1,216.
77, Gaetan Mouveroux, France, 1,215.
78, Ryan Ciminelli, Clarence, N.Y., 1,213.
79, Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 1,210.
80, (tie) Andres Gomez, Colombia, and Dwight Adams, Greensboro, N.C., 1,209.
82, Cody Shoemaker, Hanover, Pa., 1,199.
83, (tie) Kyle Gillum, Columbus, Ohio, and Kyle Sherman, O'Fallon, Mo., 1,196.
85, Michael Davidson, Versailles, Ohio, 1,195.
86, Sam Cooley, Australia, 1,193.
87, (tie) JR Raymond, Clinton Twp., Mich., and Dick Allen, Lexington, S.C., 1,187.
89, Samuel DeWitt, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1,186.
90, Jimmy Cook, Indianapolis, 1,179.
91, Jean Perez, Puerto Rico, 1,178.
92, Patrick Hanrahan, Wichita, Kan., 1,173.
93, John Furey, Howell, N.J., 1,170.
94, Billy Rogers, Mesquite, Texas, 1,169.
95, Justin Knowles, Okemos, Mich., 1,167.
96, Charlie Brown Jr, Grandville, Mich., 1,161.
97, Dom Barrett, England, 1,158.
98, Jason Lundquist, Columbus, Ohio, 1,156.
99, (tie) Darren Tang, Las Vegas, Nev., Arturo Quintero, Mexico, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 1,154.
102, Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 1,150.
103, JoJoe Yannaphon, Thailand, 1,140.
104, Kim Bolleby, Sweden, 1,138.
105, (tie) Chris Colella, Indianapolis, Ind., and Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 1,122.
107, Rhino Page, Orlando, 1,119.
108, (tie) Keven Williams, Springfield, Mo., and Brandon Robertson, Venice, Fla., 1,115.
110, Michael Baker, Moline, Ill., 1,107.
111, Matt Sanders, Indianapolis, 1,102.
112, Greg Young, Viera, Fla., 1,096.
113, Geoffrey Young, Roanoke, Texas, 1,094.
114, (tie) Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., and Matt Kuba, Chicago Ridge, Ill., 1,084.
116, Eduardo Astiazaran, Mexico.., 1,083.
117, Andrew Suscreba, Clifton, N.J., 1,070.
118, Joshua Weiner, Hilliard, Ohio, 1,052.
119, Justin Wyman, Fairport, N.Y., 1,045.
120, Tristan Butler, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1,027.