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Runk wins 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open for first career PWBA title

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PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio – Alexis Runk of Milton, Pennsylvania, broke through Saturday evening for her first Professional Women’s Bowling Association title at the 2026 PWBA Pepsi Open at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio. Runk advanced through the match-play bracket before defeating Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova, 225-189, and Stephanie Zavala of Long Beach, California, 223-211, in the BowlTV Championship Round.

“It means the world to me,” Runk said. “I’m just so grateful.”

Runk, whose brother, Anthony Neuer, and father, Andy, are well-known in the bowling community, earned the No. 1 seed for the single-elimination bracket. The first two rounds featured best-of-five matches, with Runk defeating close friend Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina, 3-2 in the opening round before beating Maranda Pattison of Redwood Valley, California, 3-1 to advance to the BowlTV Championship Round.

The Championship Round featured one-game matches and began with Zavala facing Hope Gramly of Aubrey, Texas. Two opens by Gramly in the first five frames put her in an early hole while Zavala stayed clean and closed with seven consecutive strikes for a 247. Gramly was unable to match the pace, finishing with 178 to earn a tie for third place and $3,900.

The other semifinal featured Runk against Zavjalova, who had yet to lose a game during the day. That quickly changed as Zavjalova opened in each of the first three frames, allowing Runk to build an early advantage. Runk maintained the lead despite an open in the sixth frame, and Zavjalova’s comeback attempt ended when she left a pocket 7-10 in the seventh.

Runk advanced with a 225 to Zavjalova’s 189, while Zavjalova earned $3,900 for her third-place finish.

Runk then faced Zavala in the title match, with Zavala also having gone undefeated through the first two rounds of the day and Runk seeking her first PWBA title.

“I love to make shots when I need them,” Runk said. “That is my thing. I always joke with (husband) Brandon, ‘If I could throw every shot like I throw them when I need them in the 10th, I’d be way better than I am now.’”

The title match remained close through the first six frames before Zavala opened in the seventh after leaving and missing the 10 pin, tying the match at 135 with three frames remaining. Runk then struck on her next four shots before leaving the 6-10 in the fill ball of the 10th frame for 223, leaving the door open for Zavala.

Zavala struck on her first two shots in the 10th, but her second shot went high and left the 4-6-7-10 split. She finished with 211, securing Runk’s first PWBA title and the $10,000 top prize. Zavala earned $5,000 for her runner-up finish.

“I pride myself on my spare shooting,” Runk said. “With my game, I have to be able to execute, and I have to make spares if I want a chance. It’s just a matter of fact and I’m grateful my spare shooting paid off.”

The victory also gave Runk a special connection to her father, who previously won a national tour title on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour.

“It means the world to be able to have a title with him and hopefully surpass him at some point in the number of titles,” Runk said. “Hopefully, we can get Brandon and Anthony into the club so we can all be champions.”

Runk’s victory in the Pepsi Open means there still has not been a repeat champion during the 2026 PWBA National Tour season. There has been at least one repeat winner in every season in which the tour has been fully operational since 1963, excluding the dormant years from 2004-2014 and the canceled 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That could change during the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship, as all 10 eligible winners will bowl in the event, along with 14 others based on points. That begins Sunday with the official practice session at 9 a.m. Eastern before the first of three eight-game match-play rounds at 5 p.m. Eastern. The final two rounds of match play will take place Monday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern, with the top five after 24 games advancing to Tuesday’s stepladder finals at 6:30 p.m. Eastern to close out the 2026 PWBA National Tour season.

For more information on the PWBA Tour Championship, click HERE.