Professional Bowler Anthony Simonsen Becomes First Professional to Win the Bowlero Elite Series, Earning a First Place Prize of $100,000
Finalist and New Jersey native Amy Brehm wins second place prize of $65,000
New York, NY, Sept. 12th, 2019 – Professional bowler Anthony Simonsen of Little Elm, Texas, became the new Bowlero Elite Series Champion during the second installment of the pro-am series. The tournament gathered 16 of the world’s top professional and amateur bowlers at Bowlero North Brunswick for an exhilarating display of bowling’s best that crowned a new winner on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Simonsen, the 22-year-old professional bowler, competed against amateur bowler and Harrison, NJ, middle school teacher Amy Brehm in the title championship match (259-220) to win the second Bowlero Elite Series title and a $100,000 top prize—one of the largest winnings in the sport. Amy won a second-place prize of $65,000, with the tournament’s cash prizes totaling more than $250,000.
Prior to the final match, Simonsen went head-to-head with professional bowlers in three single-elimination matches where he competed against the national champion from Mexico, Sandra Gongora (225-218), 11-time PBA Titleholder and Team USA Member Bill O’Neill (246-245), and Five-Time World Champion Stefanie Johnson (258-227).
“It was really exciting getting to compete in the Bowlero Elite Series,” said Anthony Simonsen. “I love seeing two different sides of the sport come together as one. This event was made even more special when I found out about Bowlero Corp purchasing the PBA. Really looking forward to the future and competing again in December.”
Brehm’s matches during the tournament also had the crowd cheering as she competed at her home bowling center. Brehm went head-to-head with Bowlero league bowlers in three single-elimination matches where she played against Milwaukee father Torry Henderson (224-167), Puerto Rico native Rafael Pizarro (231-202), and fellow local league bowler and Bowlero North Brunswick pro shop manager Lucas Leandro (174-141).
“Participating in the Bowlero Elite Series was an unbelievable opportunity from the start and I’m very grateful to have made it so far,” said Amy Brehm. “While I didn’t win the tournament, I still took home $65,000 and am very proud to have represented my community and, hopefully, inspired my students to keep chasing their dreams.”
“Once again, the Bowlero Elite Series is proof that anything can happen on the lanes,” said Colie Edison, Chief Customer Officer for Bowlero Corp and President of the Bowlero Elite Series. “During this second tournament we saw some nail-biting matches, legends getting knocked out in the first round, and some truly inspirational players advance; proving just how dynamic the sport of bowling really is.”
The Bowlero Elite Series will continue with its third and final event of the year that will air on NBC on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 3 p.m. at Bowlero Jupiter, Fla. Since the inaugural tournament in April, more than $1 million in prize money will have been awarded across all three Bowlero Elite Series events this year.
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 second event included bowling legend and five-time ESPY Award winner Norm Duke, three-time Mexican National Champion Sandra Gongora, five-time World Champion Stefanie Johnson, 10-time PBA Titleholder Bill O’Neill, four-time PBA Standard Titleholder Anthony Simonsen, Swedish National Team Member and 2016 PBA Tournament of Champions Titleholder Jesper Svensson, Team USA Member E.J. Tackett, and European Champion Diana Zavjalova. The eight amateur bowlers that competed are some of Bowlero’s best league bowlers and include Amy Brehm, Torry Henderson, Corey Kistner, Haley Kvarnberg, Lucas Leandro, Jeremy Milito, Rafael Pizarro, and Joshua Tajiri.
FINAL RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Anthony Simonsen defeats Amy Brehm, 259-220
AMATEUR SEMIFINAL ROUND
Amy Brehm defeats Lucas Leandro, 174-141
PROFESSIONAL SEMIFINAL ROUND
Anthony Simonsen defeats Stefanie Johnson, 258-227
AMATEUR SECOND ROUND
Amy Brehm defeats Rafael Pizarro, 231-202
Lucas Leandro defeats Joshua Tajiri, 235-175
PROFESSIONAL SECOND ROUND
Anthony Simonsen defeats Bill O’Neill, 246-245
Stefani Johnson defeats EJ Tackett, 258-214
AMATEUR FIRST ROUND
Amy Brehm defeats Torry Henderson, 224-167
Lucas Leandro defeats Corey Kistner, 172-170
Rafael Pizarro defeats Jeremy Milito, 266-259
Joshua Tajiri defeats Haley Kvarnberg, 222-205
PROFESSIONAL FIRST ROUND
Anthony Simonsen defeats Sandra Gongora, 225-218
Stefanie Johnson defeats Jesper Svennson, 247-235
Bill O’Neill defeats Diana Zavjalova, 259-213
EJ Tackett defeats Norm Duke, 279-249
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 new home of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers, with over 300 locations under three distinctive brands: Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF. For more information on Bowlero Corp and the Bowlero Elite Series, please visit BowleroCorp.com and BowleroEliteSeries.com.
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