WATERLOO - Sometimes, even the big strikers can be starstruck.

Tom Hess of Urbandale, a seasoned veteran with a pair of state titles and plenty of PBA regional experience under his belt, topped the field Saturday in the Midwest Region Greater Cedar Valley USB Open at Maple Lanes, averaging 214.62 over eight games in the qualifying round.

Nevertheless, Hess couldn't help looking a little wide-eyed when finding himself leading an event that featured some of the legends of the game.

"Pete Weber is who I grew up idolizing," Hess said. "He's always been my guy. To be on the same lanes as him is something special."

Hess may have out-shot Weber and fellow PBA regulars Steve Jaros, Dave Traber and Richard Kidd on Saturday, but he knows full well that it's today's finals when the money players earn their reputations.

"I wish (Saturday) paid something, but you're not guaranteed anything when it comes to match play," Hess said.

For other participants, like Waterloo's Nathan Johnson, the event was less about star-gazing than testing the deep waters of big-time competition.

Competing in his first PBA regional, Johnson didn't accomplish the top-17 finish needed to advance, but shot a respectable 27th with a 186.75 average and gained valuable experience on a pro-level oil pattern.

"The shot was extremely tough," Johnson said, "but I felt good all day. I just couldn't put that one high game together like some of the other guys did."

The event capped off an exciting summer for the 19-year-old Waterloo West graduate, who will attend Missouri's Lindenwood University on a bowling scholarship this fall. After competing in the Junior World Team Challenge, the Junior Olympic Gold and the Junior National Open, Johnson got his first taste of the PBA.

"I just wanted to give myself a chance (to advance), and I feel like I did that," Johnson said. "I'm really happy to finish in the top half."

Among the bowlers qualifying for the next round was defending champion Shannon Buchan of Waterloo, who stands a spot behind Weber in seventh place with a tournament average of 206.5.

For Weber, somewhat rusty after an uncharacteristic three-week break from bowling, the focus for the event was the same as at any other.

"I'm here to win," Weber said. "That's the only way I think about it, whether it's a tour event or a regional or anything else."

Scores this year have been down somewhat from the event that Buchan won at Cadillac Lanes in 2006, and Weber was as much affected by the tougher shot as anyone else.

"Usually this is a pretty high-scoring pattern, but it wasn't today," Weber said. "Sometimes I threw it good, sometimes I threw it bad, and when I threw it bad, I really paid for it."

The second year of Waterloo's pro tournament brought fewer entries - 51 - but a generally higher level of competition, with PBA regulars holding down second through sixth place in the day-one standings.

"I'd like to see a few more entries, but I'm happy that it's going to be an annual thing," Buchan said. "Jim Johnson, Bruce Strom and Hanna Johnson deserve an awful lot of credit for helping to bring (the tournament) back."

The qualifying round was followed by an evening pro-am, where local bowlers like Waterloo's Gene Spears relished the opportunity to rub shoulders with the sport's celebrities.

"You get to see these guys on TV, so it's pretty fun to be bowling alongside them," said Spears, who sports a 211 average at age 72. "But it's fun bowling with anybody. Right now, I'd be happy just to shoot better than my wife."

Today's finals begin at 9 a.m., with the top eight bowlers advancing to match play.

Contact Brian Pals at sportsdoor@wcfcourier.com

QUALIFIED FOR FINALS

Bowler Pins Avg.

1. Thomas Hess (Urbandale) 1,717 214.62

2. Steve Jaros (Yorkville, Ill.) 1,700 212.50

3. David Traber (Hebron, Ill.) 1691 211.37

4. Richard Kidd (El Paso, Ill.) 1686 210.75

5. Jason Queen (Oreana, Ill.) 1670 208.75

6. Pete Weber (St. Ann, Mo.) 1665 208.12

7. Shannon Buchan (Waterloo) 1652 206.50

8. Don J. Breeden (Clive) 1642 205.25

9. Lennie Boresch Jr. (Kenosha, Wis.) 1641 205.12

10. Joseph Roseman (Davenport) 1634 204.25

11. Nick Plouff (Tomahawk, Wis.) 1633 204.12

12. Jason Poli (West Des Moines) 1619 202.37

13. Jeff Richgels (Madison, Wis.) 1613 201.62

14. Mark London (Palatine, Ill.) 1609 201.12

15. Dale Traber (Cedarburg, Wis.) 1604 200.50

16. Chris Wade (O'Fallon, Mo.) 1596 199.50

17. John Lee (Bolingbrook, Ill.) 1585 198.12

FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR FINALS

18. Michael Kruse Jr. (Vermillion, S.D.) 1,569, 196.12; 19. Mark Johnson (Normal, Ill.) 1,567, 195.87; 20. David Beres (Waukesha, Wis.) 1,539, 192.87; 21. Jeffery Snuffer (Valparaiso, Ind.) 1551, 193.87; 22. Chad Maas (Brookfield, Wis.) 1539, 192.37; 23. Quinton Bohlen (Decorah) 1534, 191.75; 24. Brian Kjergaard (Fulton, Ill.) 1521, 190.12; 25. Chad Kloss (Greenfield, Wis.) 1505, 188.12; 26. Sean Rash (Wichita, Kan.) 1495, 186.87; 27. Nathan Johnson (Waterloo) 1494, 186.75; 28. Brandon Balsis (Tinley Park, Ill.) 1494, 186.75; 29. Brian Menini (Brookfield, Mo.) 1492, 186.50.

30. Bob J. Hochrein (Dubuque) 1480, 185.00; 31. Charles Callan (LaCrosse, Wis.) 1465, 183.12; 32. Brad Snell (Mount Prospect, Ill.) 1458, 182.25; 33. Jason Wojnar (Chicago) 1456, 182.00; 34. Brian Burkhardt (Wildwood, Mo.) 1453, 181.62; 35. Aaron Ramsden (Tomah, Wis.) 1452,181.50; 36. Zach Beschomer (Waterloo) 1447, 180.87; 37. Jason Kosby (San Antonio) 1447, 180.87; 38. Brad Reeves (Waterloo) 1419, 177.37; 39. John Schnur (Oconomowoc, Wis.) 1411, 176.37.

40. Timothy (St. Louis) 1384, 173.00; 41. Jacob Bedard (Waterloo) 1354, 169.25; 42. Dan Duskin (Atlantic) 1340, 167.50; 43. John Woodford (Jefferson) 1339, 167.37; 44. Gary Grieves (Wellsburg) 1326, 165.25; 45. Fred Johnson (Waterloo) 1298, 162.25; 46. Thomas Rogers (Madison, Wis.) 1277, 159.62; 47. Kurtis Prescott (Jefferson) 1269, 158.62; 48. Mickey Konen (Cresco) 1228, 153.50; 49. Jonny Pesch (LaCrescent, Minn.) 1188, 148.50.

50. Herny Trutwin (Little Falls, Minn.) 1127, 140.87; 51. Rick Miller (Dunkerton) 511, 63.87.