Quintero Goes From PTQ To Top Qualifier In Jonesboro
Quintero Goes From PTQ To Top Qualifier In Jonesboro
Mexico’s Arturo Quintero topped the leaderboard after 14 games of qualifying Wednesday at the 2020 PBA Jonesboro Open at Hijinx Entertainment Center.
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JONESBORO, Ark. – Mexico’s Arturo Quintero topped the leaderboard after 14 games of qualifying Wednesday at the 2020 PBA Jonesboro Open at Hijinx Entertainment Center.
Quintero led qualifying with a total pinfall of 3,235 and was the only bowler out of the 60-player field to average over 230 at 231.07.
“It feels incredible,” Quintero said. “It feels like I’m in a dream now.”
Quintero said it’s his best qualifying performance in PBA competition. He made it through the PTQ in seventh place, just barely making the cut.
“The PTQ helped me learn the lanes,” Quintero said. “I took notes and applied them to today.”
AJ Johnson finished second in qualifying with a 3,211 over the 14 games. Johnson tied for the lead with Tommy Jones after the first round of qualifying earlier Wednesday. Jones finished the second round in fourth place.
“My game plan was to keep everything simple. Balls, moves, everything,” Johnson said after Round 1.
Tom Daugherty had a solid day shooting 3,180 for third place and never was out of the cut all day. Out of the 14 games, three of his games were below 200, but he made up lots of ground with seven of his games over 230 with his highest being 269 in Game 6 of Round 2.
Reigning PBA Player Of The Year Jason Belmonte redeemed himself this week after missing the cut in Shawnee, Oklahoma, last week. Belmonte qualified fifth at 3,162 and made a big charge in Round 2 starting with a 279 in Game 1. He finished with the highest block total in Round 2 with a 1,653 set.
Coming off winning his 15th PBA Tour title last week in Shawnee, Sean Rash continued to be in the mix in Jonesboro, qualifying sixth at 3,156.
PBA Hall Of Famer Chris Barnes made a big charge, along with Belmonte, in Round 2 (1,649) to finish 3,152, good enough for seventh overall. EJ Tackett rode the same wave as Barnes and Belmonte to shoot 1,638 in Round 2 for a total pinfall of 3,092 for the eighth spot.
Josh Blanchard took a week off and came into Jonesboro fresh as he qualified 10th with 3,048, which included the day’s highest game, a 299 in Game 5 of Round 1.
“Before that game, I decided to go out to my car to get a ball because I felt like I was missing a shape,” Blanchard said. “I think it scared my ball I was using into striking.”
Bowlers who also qualified for Thursday’s match play included Darren Tang, Kyle Troup, Mitch Hupe, Ronnie Russell, Anthony Simonsen and Jakob Butturff.
There was a rolloff for the 16th and final advancing spot between Thomas Larsen and DJ Archer. Larsen won the rolloff, 212-135, and punched the last ticket into match play.