What are these rookies eating? Because whatever it is, the rest of the Tour might want to order the same.
Austin Grammar, a 23-year-old from Ohio in his first season on the PBA Tour, came within a single pin of perfection at the PBA New York Classic.
Facing two-time major champion Kris Prather in the title match, Grammar fired 299 to secure his first-ever PBA Tour title, barely missing a perfect game when the 2 pin refused to fall.
Without a brand sponsorship behind him, and with all the perks it comes with (including a ball rep), Grammar trusted the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 Dynasty and delivered the performance most of us can only dream of.
With the victory, he joins Brandon Bonta and Spencer Robarge as the third rookie this season to capture a PBA Tour title.
Here’s how the rest of the stepladder finals played out at the PBA New York Classic.
#4 seed Kris Prather vs. #5 seed Chris Via
In the opening match between Kris Prather and Chris Via, both players struggled early. Prather failed to convert a 4-10 split in the opening frames, while Via had trouble carrying, leaving the 10 pin in three of his first four frames.
The two also approached the lanes differently. Prather stayed with a reactive Storm IQ Tour A.I., while Via began with the urethane Storm IQ Tour 78/U before switching to reactive equipment in the middle of the match. That change helped Via strike and take a narrow lead into the commercial break.
After the break, neither player found much rhythm, and the match remained tight without a clear advantage. The turning point came in the tenth frame when Via left a split and could not convert. Prather needed only good count to close it out, and he did just that, advancing with a 194-171 victory to face Riley Woodard in the second match.
#3 seed Riley Woodard vs. #4 seed Kris Prather
Match two, between 21-year-old rookie Riley Woodard and Kris Prather, began with a strike from the two-time major champion and a split from Woodard, who was making his TV debut on the PBA Tour.
However, the momentum shifted quickly. Woodard settled in, began striking with urethane, and built an early 12-pin lead heading into the commercial break.
That advantage did not last. Woodard left splits in the seventh and eighth frames and failed to convert either one. Prather took full advantage, delivering a turkey to extend his lead to 34 pins.
Woodard’s ninth-frame shot missed wide, and although he converted a difficult spare and added three strikes in the tenth, the match was already decided. Prather secured a 235-191 victory to move on to the semifinal.
#4 seed Kris Prather vs. #2 Patrick Dombrowski
In the semifinal between Kris Prather and Patrick Dombrowski, Prather came out firing with a four-bagger to take early control. Dombrowski opened with a double but then left back-to-back splits, handing Prather a massive opportunity. By the time they reached the commercial break, Prather had built a commanding 47-pin lead.
After the break, Dombrowski found his rhythm and began striking, but the deficit was simply too large. Prather stayed clean and avoided any major mistakes, effectively locking up the match by the ninth frame. He advanced to the championship match with a dominant 244-156 victory.
Next on the schedule, the PBA Tour heads to Portland, Maine for the Owen’s Craft Mixers PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship, taking place April 14-19, 2026 at Bayside Bowl.
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