Knowlton Wins First PBA50 Event at JAX 60

Dan Knowlton, center, celebrates with members of the JAX 60 staff following a win in the Del Ballard Championship Wednesday at the bowling center.   Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(July 19,, 2023 10:16 PM ET) It appeared as if the Del Ballard Championship at JAX 60 Recreation Bowling Center would be heading to a third and decisive game between Dan Knowlton and Troy Lint.

Knowlton won game won in the best-of-three match play but had a pair of open frames in the third and fourth frame to go down big in the match.

But the Florida resident wasn’t going to settle for second place in another PBA50 match.

Knowlton threw seven strikes and a nine-count to close out the match, 233-224 and capture his first PBA50 title.

He won the first game 228-201 – starting in the title match with four strikes. 

“I have flown all over the place attempting to get a title,” Knowlton said of his experience in the PBA50. “It means a lot because my mom and dad are here.”

Knowlton owns a bowling pro shot in Zephyrhills, Fla. He earned a check for $5,000 for the victory. 

The tournament is the first of four at JAX 60 in the World Series of Bowling – an eight-day bowling extravaganza at the Jackson bowling center. 

Thursday will feature the Monacelli Championship with the semifinals at 5 p.m. and finals at 6; the Petraglia Championship will be held Friday with the same schedule; and the week will close out with World Championship Sunday with the stepladder starting at 6 p.m. 

The winner of the World Championship will cash a check for $25,000. 

The first three tournaments are named after PBA Hall of Fame Members.