Simonsen increases overall lead; Troup makes jump during Round 1 of match play at 2024 U.S. Open
February 02, 2024
Round 1 Match Play Results
INDIANAPOLIS – The action heated up considerably during Thursday’s 16 games of competition at the 2024 U.S. Open presented by GoBowling!, which is being contested at Royal Pin Woodland.
Anthony Simonsen of Las Vegas, who grabbed the overall lead after Round 3, didn’t just maintain his position as leader, he increased his advantage over second place to more than 150 pins with 16 games of match play to go before the cut to the stepladder finals.
Simonsen started his day by posting an eight-game total of 1,788 (a 223.5 average) during Round 4 of qualifying Thursday morning. He then went on to post a 6-2 match-play record during the first eight games of match play that evening to lead the pack with a 40-game total of 8,944, which includes 180 bonus pins, 30 for each of his six match victories.
Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, North Carolina (8,786), Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, Pennsylvania (8,745), defending champion EJ Tackett of Ossian, Indiana (8,656), and Australia’s Jason Belmonte (8,645) occupy spots two through five, respectively.
Troup went 7-1 during Thursday’s first round of match play and had no games under 200 (257, 253, 213, 241, 203, 232, 247 and 265) as he climbed from ninth place at the end of Round 4 qualifying to second with two rounds of eight-game matches still to come on Friday.
Troup played the 41-foot oil pattern similarly during Round 4 of qualifying and Round 1 of match play, using urethane to start each block before switching to reactive resin once that look went away for him.
The plan obviously worked as Troup maintained a torrid scoring pace throughout Thursday’s action, and that success had the 32-year-old two-handed bowler brimming with confidence heading into the final two rounds of matches.
“That was probably the best eight-game match play round I’ve ever bowled,” Troup said. “I was just happy not to be bowling 160s because those have been my nemesis this week during blocks.”
Troup’s goal this week was to progressively bowl better each block, and so far he has done just that by sticking to his gameplan and keeping his emotions in check.
“It’s the goal for the rest of the tournament, and I’m very proud of myself for that,” Troup said. “If I stick to it, I think I can make the TV show.”
Nevertheless, Troup wasn’t the only one to jump up the leaderboard on Thursday; O’Neill did so as well.
The 2010 U.S. Open champion began the fourth round of qualifying in 35th place out of 36 before shooting 1,826 (a 228.25 average) to move all the way up to 11th place and clinch his spot for match play.
Not content to slow down, O’Neill continued his climb up the leaderboard once match play began, starting 7-0 to move all the way up to second place before a Game 8 loss dropped him down one spot and forced him to settle for a 7-1 mark.
Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, also made a significant jump during Round 1 of match play, moving from 16th place to 6th after going 5-3 for the round.
All 24 bowlers remaining in the field will return for two more eight-game blocks of matches on Friday, the first starting at 10 a.m. Eastern and the final round beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern.
At the end of those 16 games, the 2024 U.S. Open field that began with 108 bowlers will be down to the final five players who will advance to the stepladder finals, which will be contested Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. Eastern live on FOX.
The winner of the 2024 U.S. Open will take home the $100,000 top prize, the coveted green jacket and the U.S. Open trophy.
The 2024 U.S. Open is a collaborative effort between the United States Bowling Congress and Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and will be considered a major on the PBA Tour.
The total prize fund for the event will exceed $275,000.
For results, standings and information about the 2024 U.S. Open, CLICK HERE.
INDIANAPOLIS – The action heated up considerably during Thursday’s 16 games of competition at the 2024 U.S. Open presented by GoBowling!, which is being contested at Royal Pin Woodland.
Anthony Simonsen of Las Vegas, who grabbed the overall lead after Round 3, didn’t just maintain his position as leader, he increased his advantage over second place to more than 150 pins with 16 games of match play to go before the cut to the stepladder finals.
Simonsen started his day by posting an eight-game total of 1,788 (a 223.5 average) during Round 4 of qualifying Thursday morning. He then went on to post a 6-2 match-play record during the first eight games of match play that evening to lead the pack with a 40-game total of 8,944, which includes 180 bonus pins, 30 for each of his six match victories.
Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, North Carolina (8,786), Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, Pennsylvania (8,745), defending champion EJ Tackett of Ossian, Indiana (8,656), and Australia’s Jason Belmonte (8,645) occupy spots two through five, respectively.
Troup went 7-1 during Thursday’s first round of match play and had no games under 200 (257, 253, 213, 241, 203, 232, 247 and 265) as he climbed from ninth place at the end of Round 4 qualifying to second with two rounds of eight-game matches still to come on Friday.
Troup played the 41-foot oil pattern similarly during Round 4 of qualifying and Round 1 of match play, using urethane to start each block before switching to reactive resin once that look went away for him.
The plan obviously worked as Troup maintained a torrid scoring pace throughout Thursday’s action, and that success had the 32-year-old two-handed bowler brimming with confidence heading into the final two rounds of matches.
“That was probably the best eight-game match play round I’ve ever bowled,” Troup said. “I was just happy not to be bowling 160s because those have been my nemesis this week during blocks.”
Troup’s goal this week was to progressively bowl better each block, and so far he has done just that by sticking to his gameplan and keeping his emotions in check.
“It’s the goal for the rest of the tournament, and I’m very proud of myself for that,” Troup said. “If I stick to it, I think I can make the TV show.”
Nevertheless, Troup wasn’t the only one to jump up the leaderboard on Thursday; O’Neill did so as well.
The 2010 U.S. Open champion began the fourth round of qualifying in 35th place out of 36 before shooting 1,826 (a 228.25 average) to move all the way up to 11th place and clinch his spot for match play.
Not content to slow down, O’Neill continued his climb up the leaderboard once match play began, starting 7-0 to move all the way up to second place before a Game 8 loss dropped him down one spot and forced him to settle for a 7-1 mark.
Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, also made a significant jump during Round 1 of match play, moving from 16th place to 6th after going 5-3 for the round.
All 24 bowlers remaining in the field will return for two more eight-game blocks of matches on Friday, the first starting at 10 a.m. Eastern and the final round beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern.
At the end of those 16 games, the 2024 U.S. Open field that began with 108 bowlers will be down to the final five players who will advance to the stepladder finals, which will be contested Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. Eastern live on FOX.
The winner of the 2024 U.S. Open will take home the $100,000 top prize, the coveted green jacket and the U.S. Open trophy.
The 2024 U.S. Open is a collaborative effort between the United States Bowling Congress and Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and will be considered a major on the PBA Tour.
The total prize fund for the event will exceed $275,000.
For results, standings and information about the 2024 U.S. Open, CLICK HERE.