Ronnie Russell averaged more than 250 to take the lead after the opening round of qualifying Wednesday at the 2019 PBA Chameleon Championship.

Russell put together a five-game block of 1,253, a 250.60 average, to top the field heading into the final round of qualifying, which begins live on FloBowling at 6:30 p.m. Eastern today.

After starting with games of 246, 236, 235 and 248, Russell closed with 288 to jump into the top spot at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan.

Results: PBA WSOB Chameleon Qualifying Round 1

Former Team USA member Tim Pfeifer sits in second place with 1,208, while Canadian Mitch Hupe is third with 1,195.

A day after missing his first cut of the season at the Cheetah Championship yesterday, Australia’s Jason Belmonte sits in fourth place with 1,187, while Norm Duke rounds out the top five with 1,176.

The top 16 players after the final round of qualifying will advance to the single-elimination match-play bracket on Tuesday. Shawn Maldonado currently sits on the cut line in 16^th place with 1,127.

Qualifying scores from all three animal patterns (Cheetah, Chameleon and Scorpion) will determine the 45 players who advance to cashers qualifying for the PBA World Championship.

At the halfway point (15 of 30 games), Bill O’Neill leads the field with 3,453, a 230.20 average, while BJ Moore is in second place with 3,395. Tom Daugherty is third with 3,386, Rhino Page is fourth with 3,382 and Kyle Sherman is fifth at 3,373. For current results, click here.