Jason Belmonte, Dom Barrett provide international flavor at PBA Tournament of Champions

Akron's bowling roots run deep as the city was the birthplace of the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958.

That's why PBA commissioner Tom Clark pushed hard to bring the PBA Tournament of Champions back to Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn in 2017.

"It has fulfilled every hope that I had in backing it to come back to Akron," Clark said. "We've added to the lore of the center. The fans have been tremendous. It feels like we never left. The finals taking place on lane 27 and 28 have brought back memories of the past. It just feels right to be there."

Although Clark salutes Akron's bowling past, he knows the future of the sport goes far beyond Summit County. The sign reading "Through these doors pass the world's greatest bowlers" at Riviera Lanes is not hyperbole this week.

"Before about 2008, the tour players were about 95 to 98 percent American," Clark said. "Then we started the World Series of Bowling in 2009. Ever since, our tour has truly been global. It shows the impact of bowling worldwide."

Just look at recent Tournament of Champions winners for evidence.

Australia's Jason Belmonte won the 2023 tournament, setting two records in the process. His victory followed wins in 2022 by England's Dom Barrett and 2021 by Canada's François Lavoie.

"Most sports are really worldwide with the coverage it gets and social media," Barrett said. "That's I learned when I was 15 or 16, by watching the pros."

Belmonte said he's no longer nervous making the trip from halfway around the world, but he understands how important the TOC is.

"When I first started out, it was a bit of an eye opener, something like, 'Wow, you made it,'" Belmonte said. "Fourteen years later, I'm just glad I can still be competitive."

Jason Belmonte looks to add to records at PBA Tournament of Champions

Calling Belmonte "competitive" is an understatement. With 31 PBA tour wins, he could be the best bowler of his generation.

Last year, Belmonte defeated E.J. Tackett 247-179 in the final match. It was his fourth TOC victory and 15th PBA major win, both of which are tour records.

"There's something about the TOC and there's something about this place," he said. "I've just be able to find it more than most here, and when I have it I seem to capitalize on it."

Belmonte said he hoped to find his mojo at Riviera again, as the 2023 Tournament of Champions title was his last win on tour.

"It's always nice to get back on the plane with a win late. That's the goal," he said. "I bowled well today. I just didn't have the right shape or see the lanes the way the other guys did. They'll be a few strategy changes and hopefully the ball will do its job."

In addition to his Aussie roots, Belmonte is known for helping popularize the two-handed bowling approach shot. The technique has become prevalent in bowling over the last decade.

"From when I started to how many two-handers I see today, it's considerably different," he said. "But I love it. I love that people can come out here and throw the ball however they want. I'm proud of it, although it was hard when I started."

Although Belmonte finished 12th in match play and missed advancing to Sunday's finals, Clark said his legacy is huge already.

"It's probably been the biggest impact by one player on bowling since Mark Roth in the 1970s," Clark said. "Mark Roth was the first bona fide cranker. That said, we've never have seen anyone do what Jason has done. He completely legitimized a style of bowling that no one even considered before."

Dom Barrett reflects on 'special' win at 2022 Tournament of Champions winner

Barrett made history in 2022 by becoming the first Englishman to win the Tournament of Champions.

"It was a really special victory," Barrett said. "Growing up as a professional bowler, you don't allow yourself to dream anything like that. It's something I'm proud of, and it will go down in the history of the PBA."

Barrett has 10 wins on the PBA Tour, but hasn't scored a title since 2022. He is not downhearted, as he said he plans to keep grinding.

"Everything is just to keep moving forward," he said. "That's how I built my career and that's what I keep trying to do. You have to figure out how to knock over as many pins as you can and the results will take care of themselves."

Chris Via hopes to keep the title in Ohio at the PBA Tournament of Champions

While Belmonte and Barrett lead the international push, there's still room for more local bowlers to shine at the TOC.

Springfield native Chris Via came up through Ohio's bowling pipeline, leading Kenton Ridge High School to OHSAA state titles in 2009 and 2010.

Via's history at Riviera Lanes extends back to his days bowling at Notre Dame College, where he was a three-time All-American.

"I actually got my bowling balls drilled here all throughout college," Via said. "I've spent a good amount of time in this building."

Saying he always watched the PBA on television as a kid, Via acknowledges the importance of the TOC.

"It's a pretty unique event," he said. "Just kind of the meaning that you have reached the pinnacle of the sport. Just being able to compete at this event is pretty special. A lot of history has happened in this building."

Like Belmonte, Via — who finished 10th in Thursday's match play and failed to make Sunday's finals — uses a two-handed approach on the lanes, though he said his version is self-taught.

"I've always been two-handed," Via said. "I've been two-handed since before I knew who Jason Belmonte was. I just created a shovel type of deal, and as I got older it never changed. It felt natural to me."

Field set for televised finals Sunday at PBA Tournament of Champions

On Sunday, the top five finishers from the qualifying rounds will battle for the TOC title.

No. 5 seed Jason Sterner finished with 9,611 pins, edging Eric Jones by five pins for the final qualifying spot. Sterner will face No. 4 seed Marshall Kent (9,691 pins) in Sunday's first match.

The winner of that match will face third-seeded Matthew Ogle (9,763), with the winner facing Tackett, who finished second with 9,843 pins.

That winner will advance to the title match and face top qualifier Anthony Simonsen, who finished with 9,977 pins. Simonsen is a 14-time PBA Tour champion seeking his first TOC title.

"It would be awesome to win it," Simonsen said. "I've made the show here a few times. I'll just try to bowl well and see where it takes me."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Top bowlers seeking Tournament of Champions title at Riviera Lanes