Klassen earns first PWBA Regional title after winning 2026 PWBA Oklahoma Regional
October 10, 2026
Final Standings
NORMAN, Okla. – Sarah Klassen of Canada won the 2026 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Oklahoma Regional in Norman, Oklahoma, on Sunday at Sooner Bowling Center for her first win as a professional, beating Ashley Rucker of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in the title match, 260-191.
Klassen qualified as the No. 1 seed after an eight-game qualifying block of 1,826, which included a 298 in Game 6. Rucker advanced to the title match after a thrilling finish during the semifinal match against Alyssa Ballard of Fort Worth, Texas.
Ballard had finished with 219 after striking out in the final frame and forced the left-handed Rucker to double herself. The first shot of the 10th frame for Rucker saw the 7 pin stand for a moment before a messenger came over and knocked it down. Following that, the 7 pin stood yet again before going down from underneath by the 4 pin, and with another strike in the fill, Rucker advanced to the title match with 227. Ballard earned $870 for her third-place finish.
In the title match, Rucker opened to start the game before a double and spare after four frames while Klassen alternated between strikes and spares. After her spare in the fourth frame, Klassen wouldn’t miss again and quickly pulled away from Rucker, eventually winning the title, $2,200 top prize and automatic berth into match play at the PWBA Regional Showdown in December with her 260 game. Rucker finished with 191, denying her a second PWBA Regional title and earning $1,100 for her runner-up finish.
“I go against (Ashley) a lot in Oklahoma, and I know she strikes a lot,” said Klassen. “She’s fantastic, and she’s always a competitor. So it was nerve-wracking, but I tried to tell myself that I wasn’t bowling anybody. I was just bowling and it just so happened to be against Ashley.”
The victory marked a breakthrough for Klassen after her first few years of competing on the PWBA National Tour.
“I feel like I’ve been bashing my head against the wall on tour for a couple of years now, and it’s been really hard,” Klassen said. “I feel like moments like this seem really far away when you’re there. But I kept showing up and I won.”
Klassen said she focused on finding the right equipment and playing different parts of the lane during practice rather than overthinking the lane conditions.
“I feel like I’m finally at a spot where I have a set arsenal that fills all the gaps,” Klassen said. “I was just going through my equipment, playing everywhere on the lane and trying to see where I had the most miss room.”
Her 298 game in qualifying marked the first time that Klassen had finished a game in the 290s.
“(My boyfriend) Eric (Jones) and I had just had a conversation last week about how I’ve never shot a score in the 290s,” Klassen said. “Whenever I’ve had the front 11, I’m 100% focused on shooting 300, and, not going to lie, that was kind of in my head.”
The victory was especially meaningful for Klassen, who has made the move from Canada and now lives close to the bowling center.
“I think it is very special. I get to drive 20 minutes and go to bed right when I get home,” Klassen said with a laugh. “I think there’s something about being in the comfort of an area you’re familiar with and, again, only having to drive 20 minutes in the morning. I think that is a big advantage.”
The stepladder finals started with Ballard and Kristin Kilker of Grand Prairie, Texas, both making their debuts in a PWBA stepladder. Kilker had two opens in the first four frames, while Ballard started clean and stayed that way to advance with 232 to Kilker’s 190. Kilker earned $670 for her fourth-place finish.
The PWBA Regional Tour continues October 24 with the PWBA Greater Cleveland Regional in Lorain, Ohio, which will be streamed live on Bowling TV and BowlTV. For more information on that event, click HERE.
NORMAN, Okla. – Sarah Klassen of Canada won the 2026 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Oklahoma Regional in Norman, Oklahoma, on Sunday at Sooner Bowling Center for her first win as a professional, beating Ashley Rucker of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in the title match, 260-191.
Klassen qualified as the No. 1 seed after an eight-game qualifying block of 1,826, which included a 298 in Game 6. Rucker advanced to the title match after a thrilling finish during the semifinal match against Alyssa Ballard of Fort Worth, Texas.
Ballard had finished with 219 after striking out in the final frame and forced the left-handed Rucker to double herself. The first shot of the 10th frame for Rucker saw the 7 pin stand for a moment before a messenger came over and knocked it down. Following that, the 7 pin stood yet again before going down from underneath by the 4 pin, and with another strike in the fill, Rucker advanced to the title match with 227. Ballard earned $870 for her third-place finish.
In the title match, Rucker opened to start the game before a double and spare after four frames while Klassen alternated between strikes and spares. After her spare in the fourth frame, Klassen wouldn’t miss again and quickly pulled away from Rucker, eventually winning the title, $2,200 top prize and automatic berth into match play at the PWBA Regional Showdown in December with her 260 game. Rucker finished with 191, denying her a second PWBA Regional title and earning $1,100 for her runner-up finish.
“I go against (Ashley) a lot in Oklahoma, and I know she strikes a lot,” said Klassen. “She’s fantastic, and she’s always a competitor. So it was nerve-wracking, but I tried to tell myself that I wasn’t bowling anybody. I was just bowling and it just so happened to be against Ashley.”
The victory marked a breakthrough for Klassen after her first few years of competing on the PWBA National Tour.
“I feel like I’ve been bashing my head against the wall on tour for a couple of years now, and it’s been really hard,” Klassen said. “I feel like moments like this seem really far away when you’re there. But I kept showing up and I won.”
Klassen said she focused on finding the right equipment and playing different parts of the lane during practice rather than overthinking the lane conditions.
“I feel like I’m finally at a spot where I have a set arsenal that fills all the gaps,” Klassen said. “I was just going through my equipment, playing everywhere on the lane and trying to see where I had the most miss room.”
Her 298 game in qualifying marked the first time that Klassen had finished a game in the 290s.
“(My boyfriend) Eric (Jones) and I had just had a conversation last week about how I’ve never shot a score in the 290s,” Klassen said. “Whenever I’ve had the front 11, I’m 100% focused on shooting 300, and, not going to lie, that was kind of in my head.”
The victory was especially meaningful for Klassen, who has made the move from Canada and now lives close to the bowling center.
“I think it is very special. I get to drive 20 minutes and go to bed right when I get home,” Klassen said with a laugh. “I think there’s something about being in the comfort of an area you’re familiar with and, again, only having to drive 20 minutes in the morning. I think that is a big advantage.”
The stepladder finals started with Ballard and Kristin Kilker of Grand Prairie, Texas, both making their debuts in a PWBA stepladder. Kilker had two opens in the first four frames, while Ballard started clean and stayed that way to advance with 232 to Kilker’s 190. Kilker earned $670 for her fourth-place finish.
The PWBA Regional Tour continues October 24 with the PWBA Greater Cleveland Regional in Lorain, Ohio, which will be streamed live on Bowling TV and BowlTV. For more information on that event, click HERE.