Spencer Robarge Wins First PBA Title at 2026 Pilgrim’s PBA Ohio Classic.
Rookie Spencer Robarge claimed his maiden PBA Tour victory at the 2026 Pilgrim’s PBA Ohio Classic, held March 30–April 5 at Columbus Square Bowling Palace in Columbus, Ohio. The $200,000 event tested 120 entrants on the demanding Dragon 47-foot oil pattern (28.93 mL oil, 2.5:1 ratio), rewarding breakpoint control amid high scores and transitions.
Qualifying: 36 Games of Endurance
Qualifying spanned four days (March 31–April 3), with six-game blocks at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. (pins carried over daily). Top 40 advanced after 24 games; top 16 entered Advancer Round (Apr 4, 8 games, pins reset); top 5 reached stepladders.
- Early Fireworks (Rounds 1-2): EJ Tackett dominated Round 1 (~260 avg., multiple 290s); Ryan Barnes surged in Round 2 (2,978 pins over 12).
- Midway Cuts (Rounds 3-4): Barnes led at 4,720 pins after 24 games.
- Final Push (Rounds 5-6): Carrydown hit right side; lefties thrived inside. Packy Hanrahan climbed to #2.
Top 10 Qualifiers (36 Games):
| RANK | BOWLER | PINS | AVERAGE |
| 1 | Ryan Barnes | 9,139 | 253.86 |
| 2 | Packy Hanrahan | 8,948 | 248.56 |
| 3 | Spencer Robarge | 8,841 | 245.58 |
| 4 | Chris Via | 8,817 | 244.92 |
| 5 | EJ Tackett | ~244 | |
| 6-10 | Fach, Stippich, Russo, Lavoie, Sherman |
Stepladder Finals: Clutch Under The CW Lights (Apr 5)
Live at 4 p.m. ET, the finals aired with high drama on the tightening Dragon 47—pros shifted to urethane hybrids for hold.
| MATCH | FRAME-BY-FRAME HIGHLIGHTS | FINAL SCORE | TURNING POINT |
| #5 vs #4 EJ Tackett vs Chris Via | Via turkey frames 6-8; Tackett solid-8s late. Via doubles frame 10 for max game. | Via 290–Tackett 248 | Frame 7 10-pin forces Tackett to miss |
| #3 vs #4 Spencer Robarge vs Chris Via | Even through 8, Robarge cleans 1-3-6-10 (frame 9); Via splits 4-9. | Robarge 236–Via 218 | Frame 9 bucket spare holds line |
| #2 vs #3 Packy Hanrahan vs Spencer Robarge | Hanrahan leads by 30 at frame 7; Robarge turkey + four strikes close. | Robarge 279–Hanrahan 214 | Hanrahan's frame 8 6-10 split |
| Championship Ryan Barnes vs Spencer Robarge | Barnes perfect 180 first 6; Robarge 9-spare streak. Barnes misses frame 10 fill. | Robarge 236–Barnes 228 | Light 10-pin gifts Robarge $30,000 |
Key Takeaways for Bowlers
Robarge (Springfield, MO) mastered 10-15 board deeper lines than Barnes' power shape, becoming 2026's second rookie winner and boosting playoff odds ahead of the PBA New York Classic. High scoring (Barnes' 253.86) highlighted speed control on this moderate-volume sport shot—perfect prep for league play.