The Coors Light Fall Shootout has become a must stop event for bowlers in the region over the past 10 years. The 11th annual installment brought a challenging condition, a competitive field, and a prize fund that has swelled to over $30,000.
Strike Zone in Williston welcomed some of the regions best as qualifying shifts began at 9 am on Saturday morning. Qualifying consisted of 3 different shifts with re-entry available on a tricky 39-foot pattern. The winner of each shift would recieve a $500 bonus and, at the end of the evening, the top 23 plus the idiot would advance to Sunday. The idiot is the highest 2-block total of all players who didn’t finish in the top 23.
Following a long day of qualifying, the 3 shift winners were Josh Link (9am), Brady Stearns (1pm), and Mike Dotson (5pm). The cut to the top 23 was -64 and earning the title of idiot this season was Jake Marsich.
Qualifying Scores
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On Sunday, all advancers bowled a 3 game block to determine seeding for the bracket. Top 8 scores after the 3 games would recieve a first round bye. All matches would be a race to 2 wins with a 9th and 10 frame roll off deciding all 1-1 ties. Leading the way on Sunday was reigning 2026 KFYR-TV Bowling Classic champion, Lucas Hersrud. Hersrud claimed the top overall seed in the bracket. In bracket play, Hersrud picked up wins over Matt Smallin, Clayton Reid and Randy Peterson setting up a chapionship match against Brady Stearns who advanced to the title match following wins over Peyton Sumners, Travis Hersrud, and Dayton Willoughby.
Stearns would emerge victorious in a battle featuring two most recent NDBowling.com Major Winners to claim the season opening title.
After winning his 5th Major at the NDBowling.com Classic back in March, Stearns picked up where he left off last season and claimed the $3900 top prize in his first visit to the Fall Shootout. Great bowling, Brady!
Thank you to Brad Peterson, Jese Sickler and the entire crew at Strike Zone and Sports Den in Williston for another well run event and an impressive prize fund. This tournament has grown over the last 11 years into one of the premier scratch tournaments in the region. The tournament drew over 60 unique players resulting in over 100 total entries with the re-entry option.