EJ Tackett Leads After First Day at PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic

Fresh off his thrilling victory at the U.S. Open, EJ Tackett made a strong statement on the first day of the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic in Springfield, Missouri. After disappointing finishes in his last two tournaments, Tackett bounced back in dominant fashion, topping the leaderboard with a near-240 average across 12 games.

Tackett’s Turnaround

Following a 29th-place finish at the PBA Owen’s Illinois Classic and another subpar showing in the PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship, Tackett took time off to reset his game. He credited a unique training method for his improvement.

“I beat up a 10-pin on lane 13 at home,” Tackett joked. “We have string-pins, so it was the same 10-pin every time. I thought I was going to have to change it. I made sure I wasn’t going to miss any more. I made them all today.”

A few days of rest also seemed to help. “I’m throwing it well, seeing the lane well, and making good shots,” he added.

Mastering the Dick Weber Oil Pattern

Tackett dominated the 45-foot Dick Weber oil pattern at Enterprise Park Lanes, posting a total pinfall of 2,872 (+472). His closest competitor, Tim Foy Jr., trailed by 70 pins.

The transition on the lanes was quick, especially with the fire oil in play. Tackett described how he had to adjust frequently.

“Even though I shot 288 in the first game, I felt like I was moving every shot,” he said. “My ball kept trying to go high, so I was inching left every shot. I ended up moving four or five boards during the game. After that, I made pretty normal moves for a long pattern.”

Top Contenders After Round 2

Behind Tackett, several bowlers remain in the hunt for the title:

1. EJ Tackett – 2,872 (+472)
2. Tim Foy Jr. – 2,802 (+402)
3. Ryan Barnes – 2,797 (+397)
4. Kevin McCune – 2,753 (+353)
5. Kyle Troup – 2,737 (+337)
6. Shawn Maldonado – 2,724 (+324)
7. Sean Lavery-Spahr – 2,718 (+318)
8. Bailey Mavrick – 2,695 (+295)
9. Bill O’Neill – 2,692 (+292)
10. AJ Johnson – 2,689 (+289)

With six games remaining before the cut to elimination match play, the battle for a spot in the top 24 is heating up. Dom Barrett currently holds the final qualifying position at 24th place (+201).

Motiv’s Strong Season Continues

Tackett and his Motiv teammates have been a force in the PBA Elite League: Battle of the Brands. After Tackett’s U.S. Open win and Santtu Tahvanainen’s victory last week in Illinois, Motiv leads the standings.

“It’s great to be in this position early, but there’s a lot of bowling left this season,” Tackett said. “Every point matters, and so far, so good.”

Motiv’s depth has been a key factor, with manager Brett Spangler rotating the roster to keep players fresh.

“I think we’ve got a good formula,” Tackett explained. “Honesty and trust within the team are huge. We know no one is going to pretend they have a good look just to stay in the lineup.”

What’s Next?

The tournament continues with six more games of qualifying before the cut to the top 24 for elimination match play. The action kicks off at 11 a.m. CT (12 p.m. ET) on Thursday, followed by the Round of 24 at 6 p.m. CT.

All rounds of qualifying and match play will be livestreamed on BowlTV, and the championship round will air on FS1 at noon ET on Sunday, Feb. 16.

Stay tuned for more updates as the PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic unfolds.