The annual NDBowling.com Classic was held this past weekend at Sunset Lanes in Moorhead, MN. A record 99 entries packed the 24 lane center for an 8 game qualifying block on Saturday. Bowlers would compete on the 43-foot Kegel Krypton pattern with the top 24 after 8 games advancing to the Match Play round on Sunday.
The qualifying block was headlined by a 300 game from Ryan Selk. Selks’ perfect game was the first at the Classic in recent memory and helped him secure a spot in the top 24. Leading the way in qualifying was Dawson Peterson at 1909. The cut to the top 24 was a tie between Blake Wallstrum and Earl Sobotkiewicz at 1620. Wallstrum would go on to win the roll off 50-47 for the final spot in match play.
On Sunday, the top 24 bowlers returned to Sunset Lanes for 12 games of Match Play. Ryan Savoy and Erik Gulbrandson traded the lead for most of the day on a pattern that, much like last season, broke down and turned incredibly difficult as the match play round went on. Gulbrandson would go on to claim the #1 seed on the NDBowlTV finals with Savoy, Manitoba Open Champion Austyn Ducharme, Tayler Wallstrum, and Doug Wagner Jr.
NDBowlTV Results:
Wagner Jr. def Wallstrum, 165-147
Wagner Jr. def Ducharme, 197-184
Wagner Jr. def Savoy, 181,164
Wagner Jr. def Gulbrandson, 184-183
You can watch the NDBowlTV show HERE
Doug Wagner Jr. would go on to run the ladder to earn his first NDBowling.com Major Championship in a finals show that would not produce a single 200 game. Using a combination of the Gold IQ and the Idol Pearl, Wagner needed a double and 6 in the tenth frame to win the title and did exactly that to edge out a 1 pin victory. For his efforts, Wagner Jr. took home the $2,500 top prize and the Glen Hains Memorial Trophy. Great bowling, Doug!
Based on the final standings at the NDBowling.com Classic, Jeremiah Smith was officially named the NDBowling.com Player of the Year for a record 3rd time in his career. Joining Smith on NDBowling.com Team of the Year for the 22-23 season will be Randy Peterson, Jon Breckel, Tayler Wallstrum, and Ryan Selk. Great bowling, gentleman.
Thank you to Darin Sundstrom, Lonnie Thielbar, Mike Emerson and the entire staff at Sunset Lanes for hosting the event. Big shout out to Country Titan Games and Bergseth Brothers for sponsoring the tournament. As always, huge shout out to all the bowlers who made the trip to Sunset Lanes to compete in the Season’s final Major.
Mark your calendars, the 2024 NDBowling.com Classic will be held March 2-3, 2024 at Sunset Lanes in Moorhead, MN.