EJ Tackett Makes Masters History, Marshall Kent Wins Wild Indiana Classic
EJ Tackett breaks the USBC Masters match play record while Marshall Kent claims victory in the lowest-scoring PBA title match ever.
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What a week for pro bowling. We had a record-breaking performance at the USBC Masters, the lowest-scoring title match in PBA history, and 50 new alleys hitting the BAiO database. Plus, Marshall Kent reminded everyone that sometimes you just have to grind it out.
🎳 On the Lanes
EJ Tackett absolutely demolished the field at the USBC Masters, earning the No. 1 seed for Sunday's stepladder finals after going undefeated through match play with a record-breaking 258.39 average across 18 games. That obliterated Anthony Simonsen's 2023 record of 250.4. The three-time PBA Player of the Year is now just one win away from completing the career Grand Slam — he's already got the U.S. Open, Tournament of Champions, and World Championship, with only the Masters missing from his collection.
Meanwhile, Marshall Kent won the PBA Indiana Classic in the most grinding fashion imaginable, defeating Boog Krol 152-136 in what became the lowest-scoring title match in PBA Tour history. Kent was sitting at 69 through six frames before striking out to pull away. Sometimes bowling isn't pretty — but a win is a win, and Kent's eighth career title came with a $30,000 payday.
📣 Industry News
The 2026 USBC Open Championships are underway in Reno, with Cinderella Shoes from Bradley, Illinois taking the early lead in Standard Team with a 2,895 total. Pete McCordic also hit a major milestone, celebrating his 50th appearance at the tournament — a testament to longevity in this sport that doesn't get talked about enough.
USBC Youth Development announced 13 recipients for Bowler's Ed grants, directly impacting over 11,000 students who'll get bowling curriculum and equipment in their schools. It's the kind of grassroots investment that actually matters for growing the sport.
🛒 New Gear
Quiet week on the gear front — nothing major dropped. Sometimes that's how it goes.
📍 New on BAiO
We added 50 new bowling alleys this week, with a heavy concentration in Michigan. Highlights include Recreation Lanes in Iron Mountain, MI, River Rock Lanes and Banquet Center in Ishpeming, MI, JAX 60 in Jackson, MI, and Airway Fun Center in Portage, MI. We also launched our Best Bowling in Austin, TX city guide for anyone planning a bowling trip to the Live Music Capital.
📊 Stat of the Week
This week's standout addition to BAiO is Aleta Sill's Bowling World in Farmington Hills, MI, sporting a perfect 5.0/5 Google rating backed by 110 reviews. When you see a perfect rating with triple-digit reviews, that's not just a fluke — that's a center consistently delivering what bowlers want, frame after frame.