Top 20 PBA Bowlers 2023: #5 - Kris Prather
Kris Prather smiling over a great shot. Photo Credit: PBA Tour
If bowling was a big betting sport, who would be the most bet on bowler to win major tournaments? The answer to that question seems obvious, and in a sense it is. However, despite the obvious popularity of *that* candidate, there is another bowler who would and should be at the top of every odds list.
And that man is Kris Prather.
Prather has been nicknamed “Shark Kent'' because he has that Clark Kent aesthetic, with the short hair and the glasses. He gets the ‘Shark’ moniker because he attacks the lanes like they are his prey.
Kris Prather is a prize fighter. When the big cheque is on the line and the lights are shining brightest, he bowls his best. Out of the five titles he has won, two were major tournaments, and the other earned him a $100,000 cheque at the PBA Playoffs.
It took a little while for Prather to break out and become the top five bowler he is today, but when 2019 rolled around, he took his place near the top of the PBA totem pole. He got the monkey off his back at the 2019 Scorpion Championship, and has since won in each following year. His win at the 2019 Playoffs was what gave him modern bowling legend status, as well as magazine articles.
Prather experienced one of the most impressive stretches of his career in 2022, qualifying as a first seed in back to back major tournaments. At the Tournament of Champions, Prather came on late to lead qualifying and nab the first seed. Unfortunately for him, he ran into an extra motivated Dom Barrett, who defeated Prather in the title match to obtain the Triple Crown.
Prather’s second major that he qualified first in served as his redemption. The World Championship was one of the most memorable events of the entire 2022 PBA Tour season, with the title match against Jason Sterner in particular standing out. It looked like Sterner was going to come away with the title, however a streak of well executed shots by Prather sent the two into a roll-off. Prather got a nasty messenger to strike with his first shot, while Sterner’s ball went high, only knocking down six pins.
One thing that makes Prather so successful is his excellent physical game. Watching Prather live is a religious experience for anybody interested in the sport. He throws smoothly and effortlessly, yet obtains surprisingly high revs. He has been referred to as “your favourite player’s favourite player”, as many admire his beautifully soft touch. Dom Barrett even said as much at the 2022 PBA Playoffs, letting Prather know he has an admirer in Barrett.
Another element of Prather’s game that is elite is his spare shooting. Prather has made many difficult split conversions on television, and consistently knocks down his single pins. In between his sparing prowess and his already talked about incredible physical game, Kris Prather is a bowling coach’s dream.
It is pretty clear that no matter how many titles he gets in 2023, Kris Prather will be one of the toughest opponents for other professionals wanting to win. However, we here at The Stone 8 strongly believe that he will win a title this season, continuing the yearly streak that began in 2019.
2022 Stats:
Titles: 1 (5 career)
Highest Finish: 1st (PBA World Championship)
Tour Points: 19,155
Earnings: $222,750
Average: 220.92