Harbor Creek graduate Hayden Stippich can win the Times-News Open on the cusp of his second season as a PBA Tour member.
GIRARD — Hayden Stippich’s bowling goals loom larger than becoming a Times-News Open champion.
His status as a second-year PBA Tour member has much to do with that.
Ironically, that’s also the reason Stippich sincerely wants to win the 63rd annual tournament, which concludes Jan. 25 at Eastland Bowl.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to bowl in this tournament again,” he said, “so I thought it would be a great opportunity to come back here for this one."
Stippich, thanks to a 259 game, overtook friendly rival Killian Kilpatrick after the eighth and final round of Jan. 24 action at Westway Lanes. They, along with Jeff Prue, each had 7-1 records atop the 16-player field.
However, Stippich was listed first with a pinfall of 2,196. Kilpatrick, the 2024 Times-News victor, followed at 2,179 and Prue at 2,113.
Bowlers received 30 bonus pins for each of their head-to-head victories.
The last eight rounds at Eastland will begin at noon.
‘Just make good shots’
Ron Palombi Jr., Bob Learn Jr. and Mike Machuga, the reigning Times-News champ, are Erie area natives who were PBA Tour members and – even better – winners.
Stippich extended that local chain when he attained full-time tour status last year. He competed in nine events and cashed in six, according to pba.com.
Those six exceeded $22,00 in prize money.
Stippich’s best result was eighth for the tour’s Owens Illinois Classic, held last Feb. 3-8. He went 9-8 and averaged 225.20 per game at Bowlero Vernon Hills (Illinois).
Although Stippich experienced understandable nerves early on, they weren’t of the deer-in-the-headlights degree because he was already familiar with some of his competitors through their shared qualifying events.
Stippich also leaned on Machuga, who won PBA events in 2005 and 2008.
“Soon,” he said, “it was ‘OK, I’m comfortable here. Just make good shots.’”
The PBA Players Championship, scheduled Feb. 16-22 at Arlington, Texas, kickstarts its 2026 tour.
Stippich’s closest potential stop to Erie is April 21-26. The PBA Tournament of Champions will take place at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio, an Akron suburb.
Still seeking historic wins
Machuga and Mike Shady are former Times-News victors who also struck and spared at Westway on Jan. 24.
Machuga, the defending champ, recorded a 1,948 pinfall over his 5-3 record. The Mercyhurst University women’s bowling coach was fourth.
If Machuga wins, he’ll do so for a seventh time. That would tie him with Shady for second on the tournament’s all-time list.
That's unless Shady finishes first.
Shady, who like Machuga bowled for the University of Nebraska’s elite Division I program, was seventh with a 4-4 record and a pinfall of 1,835.
If Shady rallies to win, he’d equal Lee Eighmy Jr. and his record eight Times-News titles.
Eighmy claimed the last of his eight in 2017.
How they fared
Results for the first eight championship rounds of the 63rd annual Times-News Open, held at Westway Lanes in Girard. Bowlers received 30 bonus pins for each match victory:
1. Hayden Stippich 7-1 record and 2,196 pinfall; 2. Killian Kilpatrick 7-1 and 2,179; 3. Jeff Prue 7-1 and 2,113; 4. Mike Machuga 5-3 and 1,948; 5. Dalton Kaliszewski 4-4 and 1,906; 6. Taylor Kretz 4-4 and 1,904; 7. Mike Shady 4-4 and 1,835; 8. David Warren 3-5 and 1,831; 9. Rodrick Baird 4-4 and 1,792; 10. Nick Kightlinger 4-4 1,779
11. T.J. Mitchell 3-5 and 1,778; 12. Brandon Wachob 4-4 1,766; 13. Cody Jacobs 4-4 and 1,716; 14. D.J. Thompson 1-7 1,686; 15. Ryan Park 1-7 and 1,655; 16. Alex Ulrich 2-6 and 1,628
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Harbor Creek graduate Hayden Stippich halfway to Times-News Open title
Category: General Sports
