AMATEUR BOWLER, LUIS GONZALEZ, WINS INAUGURAL BOWLERO ELITE SERIES AT BOWLERO ROMEOVILLE IN CHICAGO
Bowlero Corp League Bowler Defeats Professional Bowler, Kyle Troup, in Historic Bowling Event to Win First Place Prize of $270,000
New York, NY, April 10th, 2019 – Bowlero Corp league bowler, Luis Gonzalez, of Chicago, Ill. captured the coveted title of Bowlero Elite Series Champion in a historic bowling event that featured 16 of the world’s top professional and amateur bowlers on Tuesday, April 2nd in his hometown at Bowlero Romeoville.
The 32-year-old left handed amateur bowler defeated professional bowler, Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, North Carolina, 237-226, in the title championship match to win the first Bowlero Elite Series title and a $270,000 top prize – one of the largest prizes in bowling history. The first event awarded over $500,000 in cash and prizes.
Prior to defeating Troup, Gonzalez went head-to-head with amateur bowlers in three single-elimination matches. In his first match of the day, Gonzalez defeated Larry Chilton of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 276-247, in a thrilling match to start the event. Gonzalez and Chilton each bowled the two highest scores on the amateur side of the bracket.
Advancing to the next match, Gonzalez defeated, Kara Mangiola of Rochester, New York, 235-214, in an exhilarating match that had friends and family on the edge of their seats to see who would advance to the televised amateur semi-finals.
Ultimately advancing to the televised semi-finals, Gonzalez bowled another impressive game and bested TJ Van Gorden of Hamilton, New Jersey, 235-192.
“I’m so excited to be the first Bowlero Elite Series Champion,” said Luis Gonzalez. “All the hard work I put into getting better as a bowler, both physical and mentally, has paid off, and I couldn’t be prouder to win in front of my friends and family in my hometown of Chicago.”
Gonzalez had the Bowlero Romeoville crowd on their feet when he took home the win and bested a professional, but Troup’s road to the title match against Gonzalez was also equally impressive. Troup’s first single-elimination match of the day was against reigning PWBA Player of the Year, Shannon O’Keefe. Troup defeated O’Keefe, 258-227, and advanced to his second match against local-favorite and 2012 PBA Player of the Year, Sean Rash.
In another thrilling match, Troup defeated Rash, 268-249, to advance to the televised professional semi-finals, where he defeated reigning PBA Player of Year, Andrew Anderson, 256-214.
“Making the finals of the Bowlero Elite Series was incredible for my career,” said Kyle Troup. “Although I didn’t get the win I was hoping for, I still took home $80,000 which is a dream come true for my myself and my family.”
“For the first time ever, we saw some of the best league bowlers and the world’s top professionals go head-to-head on a national scale and to see a Bowlero Corp league bowler win the title match was exhilarating,” said Colie Edison, Chief Customer Officer for Bowlero Corp and President of the President Elite Series. “This is not only a lifechanging moment for Luis, but this is a gamechanger for the industry.”
The Bowlero Elite Series continues to roll on and the second event will take place at Bowlero North Brunswick, N.J., and will air on NBCSN on Wednesday, September 11, at 9 p.m. ET. Year one of the Bowlero Elite Series culminates on Saturday, December 28 at Bowlero Jupiter, Fla., at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. More than $1 million in prize money will be awarded across all three Bowlero Elite Series events this year.
Bowlero Elite Series – North Brunswick, N.J. - Wednesday, September 11 at 9 p.m. on NBCSN
Bowlero Elite Series – Jupiter, Fla. - Saturday, December 28 at 3 p.m. on NBC
*All television coverage will also be live streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app via authentication.
The roster of competitors for the first event included four-time PBA Player of the Year Jason Belmonte, 2012 PBA Player of the Year Sean Rash, reigning PBA Player of the Year Andrew Anderson, three-time PBA Tour champion Kyle Troup, and 2015 PBA World Championship winner Gary Faulkner Jr. as well as four-time PWBA champion Danielle McEwan, 2017 PWBA Rookie of the Year Daria Pajak, and reigning PWBA Player of the Year Shannon O’Keefe. The eight amateur bowlers that competed are some of Bowlero’s best league bowlers and include Luis Gonzalez, TJ Van Gorden, Kara Mangiola, Alexander Jensen, Larry Chilton, Irene Wilson, Wes Soper, and Tyler Troup.
FINAL RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Luis Gonzalez defeats Kyle Troup, 237-226
AMATEUR SEMIFINAL ROUND
Luis Gonzalez defeats TJ Van Gorden, 235-192
PROFESSIONAL SEMIFINAL ROUND
Kyle Troup defats Andrew Anderson, 256-214
AMATEUR SECOND ROUND
Luis Gonzalez defeats Kara Mangiola, 235-214
TJ Van Gorden defeats Alexander Jensen, 245-204
PROFESSIONAL SECOND ROUND
Kyle Troup defeats Sean Rash, 268-249
Andrew Anderson defeats Daria Pajak, 230-212
AMATEUR FIRST ROUND
Luis Gonzalez defeats Larry Chilton, 276-247
Kara Mangiola defeats Irene Wilson, 219-214
TJ Van Gorden defeats Wes Soper, 223-194
Alexander Jensen defeats Tyler Troup, 227-201
PROFESSIONAL FIRST ROUND
Sean Rash defeats Jason Belmonte, 258-227
Kyle Troup defeats Shannon O’Keefe, 258-227
Daria Pajak defeats Gary Faulkner Jr., 268-235
Andrew Anderson defeats Danielle McEwan, 290-255
ABOUT THE BOWLERO ELITE SERIES
The Bowlero Elite Series is a groundbreaking sports property that brings together Bowlero Corp league bowlers and professional bowlers from across the sport to compete for cash prizes in excess of $1 million dollars. The Bowlero Elite Series is sponsored by Bowlero Corp, the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers, with over 300 locations under four distinctive brands: Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, AMF, and Brunswick Zone. For more information on Bowlero Corp and the Bowlero Elite Series, please visit BowleroCorp.com and BowleroEliteSeries.com.