Tom Hess Defends His Title at PBA50 Fort Myers Classic

A Hard-Fought Victory Amid Adversity

Tom Hess proved once again why he is one of the most formidable players on the PBA50 Tour, successfully defending his title at the 2024 PBA50 Fort Myers Classic. However, his road to victory was anything but easy.

During the four-game Advancers Round, Hess struggled, rolling back-to-back games under 200 for the first time all week. This sudden dip in performance erased his commanding 97-pin lead, causing him to fall out of the top seed for the first time in 16 games. John Janawicz took advantage of Hess’s slump and moved ahead in the standings.

But Hess was far from finished. A strategic ball change allowed him to make a dramatic comeback, rolling an impressive 297 game to reclaim the lead by a mere nine pins. His resilience and composure in the face of adversity gave him the confidence boost he needed.

“Old Tom Hess would have gotten upset and really let that bug him,” Hess admitted. “I just kept fighting and fighting, and I was able to overcome.”

Clutch Performances in the Stepladder Finals

After securing the No. 1 seed through match play wins over Bill Rowe and Christopher Keane, Hess advanced to the stepladder finals. In the championship match against Brad Angelo, Hess faced an early challenge with a 7-10 split in the opening frame. However, he adjusted quickly, changed balls, and executed with precision, securing a 227-192 victoryto defend his title.

Hess credited his strategic approach to watching other players use balls with more surface while playing further right than he preferred. He knew this would ultimately work in his favor when it mattered most.

“Brad had an early double, but then never really got anything going,” Hess said. “It was a good win.”

This victory marks Hess’s seventh career PBA50 title and his second win in four tournaments this season. His strong performances come shortly after his induction into the PBA Hall of Fame, an honor that has fueled his determination.

“After that induction speech, everything just felt different,” Hess said. “I’m one of the Hall of Famers to beat every week. This is a Hall of Fame Tour, and there aren’t many stepladders that don’t have a Hall of Famer or two on it. It’s great to be part of the club.”

Stepladder Finals Recap

• Match 1: John Janawicz def. James Campbell, 236-190
• Match 2: Paul Koehler def. John Janawicz, 227-193
• Match 3: Brad Angelo def. Paul Koehler, 230-202
• Championship Match: Tom Hess def. Brad Angelo, 227-192

Final Standings and Prize Money

1. Tom Hess – $8,000
2. Brad Angelo – $4,000
3. Paul Koehler – $3,200
4. John Janawicz – $2,600
5. James Campbell – $2,200

What’s Next?

The PBA50 Tour continues in Clearwater, Florida, with the Johnny Petraglia BVL Open, beginning Monday, exclusively on BowlTV. Hess will aim to carry his momentum into the next event as he continues his remarkable season.