Release courtesy of PBA

Over 500 of the best youth bowlers, ages seven to 17, from around the country took to the lanes to begin their journey to become the first ever PBA Jr. National Champion.

The fierce competition kicked off on Sept. 4 with the regional portion of the inaugural event split into four qualifying tournaments at Bowlero locations across the country. Each regional had the same format – two squads of six-game qualifying rounds followed by two semifinal qualifying games for the top 50 percent of players. After eight qualifying games, the top 20 players advanced to match play for six final games.

The long-running Parker Bohn III Scholarship Tournament (PB3) served as an additional qualifier for the East Region. The top two boys and girls in the PB3 event automatically secured a spot in the PBA Jr. National Championship.

The youth bowlers brought their A-game, including three perfect 300-games, but only the top two boys and girls secured spots to advance to the National Championship.

Midwest Region – Bowlero Wauwatosa

• Top Boys
  • Nate Purches, Marlborough, Mass. 3,077
  • Blake Martin, Oakdale, Minn., 3,017
• Top Girls
  • Jillian Martin, Stow, Ohio, 2,705
  • Hailey Triske, Minnetonka, Minn., 2,643

South Region – Bowlero Marietta

• Top Boys
  • James Bennett, Huntingtown, Md, 2,920
  • Joshua Collins, Fortson, Ga., 2,831
• Top Girls
  • Annalise O’Bryant, Ball Ground, Ga., 2,860
  • Aliyah Alleyne, Sanford, N.C., 2,614

Southwest Region – Bowlero Euless

• Top Boys
  • Spencer Robarge, Springfield, Miss., 3,045
  • Julian Michael Salinas, Richmond, Texas, 2,858
• Top Girls
  • Lara Kurt, Leland, N.C., 2,626
  • Jaelle Hamman, Jarrell, Texas, 2,548

West Region – Bowlero Christown

• Top Boys
  • Hunter Mayes, Gold Canyon, Ariz., 2,982
  • Zach Greim, Poway, California, 2,895
• Top Girls
  • Katelyn Abigania, San Diego, Cali., 2,649
  • Emily Cheesman, Hemet, Cali., 2,388

East Region – Howell Lanes

• Top Boys
  • Randal Dubar, Milford, Mass.
  • Parker Laubach, Bethlehem, Pa.
• Top Girls
  • Paige Peters, Toms River, N.J.
  • Victoria Varano, Stony Point, N.Y.

300 games: Julian Salinas, Nolan Blessing, Cincinnati, Ohio; Silas Lira, Tampa, Fla.

Each regional tournament guaranteed a first place $2,000 SMART Scholarship. SMART scholarships were also awarded to one out of every six (1:6) entries in each division.

The top two boys and girls finishers from each regional move on to the National Championship to compete for a $7,500 SMART Scholarship. The National Championship date will be held in conjunction with a PBA National Tour stop, to be named at a later date.