Battle at Bigfork Championship Continues to Grow
The Battle at Bigfork Championship is quickly becoming one of the premier scratch bowling tournaments in the Northwest, drawing top competitors and building momentum with each passing year. Hosted at Grizzly Lanes, the event is organized by Bernie Kuhns Jr, and former Professional Bowlers Association National Tour player Rhino Page, who now owns the Bigfork bowling center and is dedicated to growing the sport in Montana and the surrounding region.
The 2025 tournament attracted 99 competitors from six states and awarded more than $20,000 in prize money. Spokane, Washington’s Kyle Groves emerged as last year’s champion, navigating a highly competitive field and capturing the title in the tournament’s dramatic stepladder finals.
Organizers expect even greater participation in 2026 as the championship returns May 2–3, once again bringing top regional talent to Bigfork for a weekend of high-level competition. The tournament will feature two qualifying rounds on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s elimination rounds that culminate in a stepladder final to determine the champion. With an expanded prize fund anticipated for 2026, the event is expected to offer the largest payout of any scratch bowling tournament in the Northwest.
Beyond the lanes, the Battle at Bigfork also supports youth development. Throughout the weekend, a 50/50 drawing benefits local youth bowlers, helping provide equipment and build scholarship funds for higher education. Since 2022, the program has been awarded more than $17,000 in scholarships.
The tournament’s commitment to young athletes will grow even further this year with the introduction of the inaugural Youth Battle at Bigfork, scheduled for May 9–10, 2026. Together, the events highlight how competitive bowling and community support can go hand in hand.
