Canadian bowler returns home still savouring historic PBA Tour win

Graham Fach arrived home Tuesday, bringing a possible case of bronchitis and US$40,000 with him.

The 24-year-old left-hander from Guelph, Ont., made history in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday when he became the first Canadian to win a Professional Bowlers Association Tour title. And Fach did it in just his second PBA Tour event, defeating American Ryan Ciminelli 279-244 to win the Barbasol Players Championship at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

The victory, in an event considered one of the PBA Tour’s majors, was worth $40,000. For the fledgling pro, the prize money helps make the future a little less uncertain.

“That definitely takes a huge load off my back — $40,000 definitely eases the tension,” Fach (pronounced Fah) said in an interview.

He has also received an offer for a sponsorship contract from a bowling ball manufacturer.

Fach, who got a shaving cream facial from his fellow bowlers in the wake of his nationally televised win, had been battling sickness throughout the weekend. His girlfriend, who was in the stands alongside his mother to watch his weekend win, had the same thing and was just diagnosed with bronchitis.

“So I’m assuming I’ve had bronchitis since Friday,” he said.

It didn’t affect his game.

“Adrenalin kicked in at the right time, that’s for sure,” he said.

Fach finished 171st in his PBA Tour debut — the United States Bowling Congress Masters in Indianapolis earlier this month.

“It was the very first tournament that I bowled professionally so there was definitely some nerves. I didn’t think I bowled that bad but there was like 500-plus bowlers because that tournament was open to amateurs.”

Using both hands, Fach first bowled when he was three — “even younger if you count five-pin.”

“I didn’t start getting good until I was maybe 13 or 14 and then I might have won my first youth tournament. Then I just kind of ran with that. I realized that I could do it so the confidence was sky-high and I just didn’t want to look back, I guess.”

He earned a partial scholarship (full bowling NCAA scholarships are not available to men) to Ohio’s Urbana University, whose team was runner-up to Lindenwood at the 2014 XBowling Intercollegiate Team Championships. Fach was named tournament MVP.

Last June he won the Proprietors Cup, a big tournament in Dayton, Ohio, beating a professional in the final.

“It definitely gave me expectations as to how to handle myself in high-pressure situations where each shot could cost me thousands of dollars.”

There are other Canadians on the PBA Tour: Patrick Girard of Jonquiere, Que., a Tour regular the last two years, and Quebec City rookie Francois Lavoie, who won a collegiate singles title with bowling powerhouse Wichita State University.

Dan MacLelland of Kitchener, Ont., and Daniel Simard of Granby, Que., are also pro bowlers.

They come with baggage. Fach who has represented Canada internationally, says most pro bowlers travel with six to 15 bowling balls, each weighing about 15 pounds.

“Bowling balls are kind of like golf clubs,” explained the six-foot 160-pounder. “Some will hook more than others.”

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