Sunset Lanes in Moorhead, MN once again played host to the Season’s Final Major, The NDBowling.com Classic. The Classic featured a full field of 96 bowlers looking to take home the Glen Hains Memorial Trophy.
The qualifying round started on Saturday across the 24 lane center. All entrants bowled 8 games on a custom 43 foot pattern. The pattern featured a 2.8-1 ratio with a shade under 30 mls of oil. The pattern held up fairly well and would allow players to get score from different parts on the lane. With 8 on a pair for 8 games, you could about imagine how the lanes would break down throughout the afternoon. When the dust settled, 2024 CMA winner, Zach Andresen, topped the list with a 1785 total. The cut to the top 24 was Kayla Pashina and Jonathan Domingo tied at 1623 in 23rd and 24th place.
Following the qualifying round, Casey Jo’s Catering brought in food thanks to Country Titan Games. The top 24 was announced and side pot money was paid out that evening.
Qualifying Scores: Page 1 Page 2
The top 24 returned Sunday morning for the advancers round. The advancers round featured what many refer to as the “Flanagan Format”. Bowlers would bowl 12 games and receive bonus points based on their score relative to the entire field. The top score in game 1 would receive 24 points and the lowest getting 1 and so on. Points would be rewarded after each game and the final 5 would be determined after game 12.
Leading the way on Sunday was Lucas Finley and it wasn’t by a small margin. Finley started striking early and often. Per stats provided by Lanetalk, the St. Ambrose Freshman struck at a 73% clip, and by the end of the 12 game advancers round, he would claim 6 of the 12 top game bonuses of 24 points. Finley finished the round with a 3216 total to claim the #1 overall seed on NDBowlTV by 340 pins over the #2 seed, Brady Stearns. Rounding out the NDBowlTV Stepladder finals was Matt Smallin, Zach Andresen and Dustin Herold. Herold won a roll off with Austyn Ducharme for the 5th seed after both players tied at a score of 2705.
Advancers Round Scores: Page 1
NDBowlTV Finals:
Andresen def. Herold, 223-178
Andresen def. Smallin, 237-211
Stearns def. Andresen, 226-176
Finley def. Stearns, 213-206
Click HERE to watch the show
Finley took down 4-time NDBowling.com Major Champion, Brady Stearns with a strike on the first ball in the 10th to claim his first Glen Hains Memorial Trophy. Finley becomes the first left hander to win a Major since Blake Wallstrum did so at the 2020 KFYR TV Bowling Classic. Great bowling, Lucas!
Thank you to Darin Sundstrom, Lonnie Thielbar and the entire staff at Sunset Lanes for another well run event. Thank you to Fargo/Moorhead Courtyard by Marriott for sponsoring the event. Big shout out to Ryan Krabbenhoft and Country Titan Games for adding $3000 to the prize fund which resulted in a $2500 top prize. Be sure to check out the 9-pin no tap tournament going on at Sunset Lanes through May and show your support for Country Titan Games and the folks at Sunset Lanes.
Thank you to everyone who made the trip to Moorhead this weekend! I appreciate the continued support of NDBowling.com and we will see you next season at the 2025 NDBowling.com Classic which will be held March 1st and 2nd at Sunset Lanes in Moorhead, MN.