Cam Crowe Leads PBA Cheetah Championship as Left-Handers Dominate Qualifying at WSOB XVII

Key facts

• Cam Crowe led qualifying with 2,465 pins, averaging 246.5 over 10 games on the 35-foot Cheetah oil pattern.
• Spencer Robarge finished second with 2,426 pins, followed by Matt Sanders (2,399) and Zachary C. Tackett (2,364).
• Packy Hanrahan (2,319), Bill O'Neill (2,315), Brandon Kreyer (2,314), Brandon Bonta (2,308), Kris Prather (2,301), AJ Johnson (2,298), Hayden Stippich (2,289), and Chase Nadeau (2,287) round out the top 12.
• Sweden's Joachim Karlsson missed the cut by three pins, finishing 13th with 2,284.
• The top 12 advance to match play and finals airing live on CBS Sports Network on May 9 at 4/6 p.m. ET.
• Crowe, Robarge, Sanders, and Tackett each earned a one-round bye.
• Brandon Kreyer, a Minneapolis native living 10 minutes from Bowlero Brooklyn Park, secured his spot after finishing 17th in the pre-tournament qualifier and making the main field by five pins.

Crowe's Commanding Lead Sets Stage for TV Debut

Cam Crowe, a two-handed left-handed bowler, delivered a dominant performance in the PBA Cheetah Championship qualifying at the World Series of Bowling XVII, leading the 120-player field with a total of 2,465 pins over ten games. His average of 246.5 on the 35-foot Cheetah oil pattern earned him a one-round bye into the finals, alongside Spencer Robarge, Matt Sanders, and Zachary C. Tackett. Crowe, who qualified second in last year's PBA Delaware Classic on the same pattern but lost in match play, will now make his PBA TV debut in a singles event. He previously competed in PBA Elite League: Battle of the Brands and collegiate shows. "As a kid, as a bowler, you work your whole life for this," Crowe said. "To be in this field, one of the strongest fields that we're going to have all year with all the international players, and lead the first event… that's something you work for your whole life. I'm just really proud of myself right now." Crowe was also featured in the HBO docu-series "Born To Bowl," which aired last month and is available on HBO Max.

Left-Handers Dominate the Leaderboard

The qualifying round was marked by a strong showing from left-handed bowlers, with Crowe leading a pack that included several lefties. The top four finishers—Crowe, Robarge, Sanders, and Tackett—all earned byes, while the remaining eight spots went to Packy Hanrahan, Bill O'Neill, Brandon Kreyer, Brandon Bonta, Kris Prather, AJ Johnson, Hayden Stippich, and Chase Nadeau. Notably, Kreyer, a Minneapolis native who lives just ten minutes from Bowlero Brooklyn Park in Mounds View, Minnesota, turned a dream week into a fairytale. He earned the final berth in the main field by finishing 17th in the pre-tournament qualifier, making the cut by five pins. His initial goal was merely to gain experience, but after Game 7 he realized a much greater ambition was within reach.

Narrow Misses and Tight Margins

The cut line was razor-thin, with Sweden's Joachim Karlsson finishing 13th with 2,284 pins, just three pins shy of advancing. Karlsson's narrow miss underscores the high level of competition at the WSOB, where every pin counts. The top 12 now move on to match play and the televised finals, scheduled to air live on CBS Sports Network on May 9 at 4/6 p.m. ET. The complete standings are available online, and the event's next phase shifts focus to the PBA Chameleon Championship, with qualifying beginning on Saturday, May 2.

What Comes Next: Chameleon Championship and Beyond

The World Series of Bowling XVII now turns to the PBA Chameleon Championship, with qualifying scheduled for Saturday, May 2. Two five-game rounds will take place at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local Central Time. After another ten-game block, the field will again be reduced to the top 12, who will advance to match play and finals airing on CBS Sports Network on May 10. For Crowe, the Cheetah Championship represents a milestone, but the series offers multiple opportunities for bowlers to claim titles. The strong international field, including players from Sweden and other countries, ensures that the competition will remain fierce throughout the WSOB.

A Fairytale Run and the Human Element

Brandon Kreyer's journey from pre-tournament qualifier to the top 12 exemplifies the drama inherent in professional bowling. His five-pin margin in the PTQ and subsequent rise to seventh place in qualifying captivated local fans. Kreyer's story adds a personal dimension to the statistical rigor of the sport, highlighting how determination and a home-field advantage can propel an underdog. As the WSOB progresses, the narratives of both established stars like Crowe and emerging talents like Kreyer will continue to unfold, offering a blend of high-stakes competition and human interest that defines the PBA's premier events.

The bottom line

• Cam Crowe leads the PBA Cheetah Championship after averaging 246.5 over ten games, earning his first TV singles appearance.
• Left-handed bowlers dominated the top of the leaderboard, with four of the top five being lefties.
• Local bowler Brandon Kreyer secured a dramatic finals berth after making the main field by five pins in the pre-tournament qualifier.
• Sweden's Joachim Karlsson missed the cut by three pins, highlighting the tight margins at the WSOB.
• The top 12 advance to match play and finals on May 9, airing live on CBS Sports Network.
• The WSOB continues with the PBA Chameleon Championship qualifying on May 2, followed by finals on May 10.