DeeRonn Booker Claims First Major Title at 2024 USBC Masters

DeeRonn Booker has made his mark on professional bowling. The 33-year-old right-hander from Albuquerque, New Mexico, secured his first major championship by winning the 2024 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters at Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas. His victory not only earned him a $100,000 first-place prize but also made him the third African-American bowler to win a major title on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour.

A Hard-Fought Journey to the Top

Booker’s path to the championship was anything but easy. He had to defeat some of the sport’s toughest competitors, including two-time defending Masters champion Anthony Simonsen, 2023 U.S. Open champion EJ Tackett, and two-time PBA titleholder Sam Cooley. His impressive performances during the double-elimination bracket secured him the top seed for Sunday’s stepladder finals, meaning he only needed to win one match to claim the title.

When the moment arrived, Booker delivered. He faced Patrick Dombrowski of Parma, Ohio, in the final match and emerged victorious with a 217-177 win.

A Memorable Championship Match

Booker had strong support from family and friends, who made last-minute arrangements to be there for his televised debut. Though he showed early nerves, missing his first shot slightly left, he quickly settled in with a solid spare and a strike.

One of the more entertaining moments of the match was the reveal of Booker’s strike song—the Price is Right theme. This was a nod to his 2009 appearance on the game show, where he won the showcase showdown.

Dombrowski started strong, opening with a double, but trouble struck in the third frame when he left a difficult 3-10 split, which he failed to convert. Booker stayed consistent but didn’t pull away immediately, leaving a 10-pin in the third and a 4-pin in the fifth.

The turning point came when Dombrowski left a costly 4-6-7-10 split in the fifth frame, resulting in an open. Booker capitalized by throwing three consecutive strikes in frames six through eight, building a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Despite a late double from Dombrowski, Booker closed out the match with two marks, securing his first major title.

“I Can’t Believe It” – Booker Reflects on Victory

Surrounded by enthusiastic supporters, Booker was overwhelmed with emotion after his win.

“I can’t believe it,” Booker said. “This is perfect; I could not have painted a better picture of what’s going on right now.”

He also expressed deep gratitude to those who traveled on short notice to support him.

“It takes a village, and my village is here; it couldn’t have been any better,” he added.

Dombrowski earned $50,000 for his runner-up finish.

Stepladder Highlights: A Day of Intense Competition

Sunday’s stepladder finals kicked off with Cooley facing Richard Teece of England. Cooley capitalized on two early opens by Teece, securing a 206-180 victory and earning a spot in the next match. Teece finished in fifth place with a $10,000 prize.

Cooley then met fellow Australian Jason Belmonte, who was chasing his fifth Masters title and 16th career major. The match remained close until Belmonte unleashed four consecutive strikes from frames six to nine, sealing a 222-191 win. Cooley finished in fourth place, earning $15,000.

The semifinal match between Belmonte and Dombrowski was a tense, grind-it-out battle. Neither bowler could find a consistent rhythm on the challenging 44-foot lane pattern. Dombrowski’s open frame in the ninth gave Belmonte a chance to advance, but an 8-10 split in the 10th frame ended his run. Dombrowski edged out Belmonte 198-193 to earn a spot in the title match. Belmonte finished third, taking home $25,000.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, Booker has solidified his place among the PBA’s rising stars. Fans can expect to see more of him as he builds on this momentum for future tournaments.

For full event coverage and results, visit BOWL.com/Masters.