Gary Faulkner Jr. of Memphis, Tennessee, paced the 216 players at the National Bowling Stadium, averaging 214.67 on the way to a 15-game total of 3,220. He had blocks of 1,103, 1,088 and 1,029 on the 40-foot, heavy-volume lane condition and never fell below second place. All competitors this week bowled three five-game blocks over three days, with total pinfall determining the 63 bowlers who now will join defending champion Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, in the iconic double-elimination match-play bracket. USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Norm Duke of Clermont, Florida, also the 1993 USBC Masters champion, turned in his highest set of the week to surge into second place with a 3,216 total.