2019 PBA Wilmington Open

Back Injury Forces Malott To Withdraw In Wilmington

Back Injury Forces Malott To Withdraw In Wilmington

After finishing in fourth place in qualifying, PBA champion Wes Malott was forced to withdraw from the PBA Wilmington Open on Wednesday morning.

Aug 14, 2019 by Lucas Wiseman
Back Injury Forces Malott To Withdraw In Wilmington

After finishing in fourth place in qualifying Tuesday night, 10-time PBA champion Wes Malott was forced to withdraw from the PBA Wilmington Open on Wednesday morning.

Malott told FloBowling he tweaked his back after getting out of the shower Tuesday night, and when he woke up Wednesday morning, he said it was “rough.”

He attempted to give it a go in practice for the cashers round at Ten Pin Alley Family Fun Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, but was in too much pain to continue bowling.

“When I got out of the shower and put on my shorts, my foot got caught, and I felt my lower back tweak,” Malott said. “Sure enough, I got up this morning and it was rough. I tried to throw a couple shots in practice, and there was just no way.”

Malott entered Wilmington coming off a fourth-place finish at the PBA Chesapeake Open over the weekend. He finished qualifying Tuesday with an eight-game total of 1,900, a 237.50 average, on the high-scoring B squad.

“I’m bummed,” said Malott, who will officially finish 32nd this week. “I’m throwing the ball really, really well. I had a great opportunity this week, I thought, and was really starting to see the lane well and make ball choices off that. I was able to do different things to the ball to get it to do the right thing on the lane. Then this happens. But what can I do?”

Malott had already planned to skip the PBA Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic this weekend in Middletown, Delaware, and will now head back home to Texas to spend some time with his chiropractor and get ready for the PBA Bowlerstore Classic in Coldwater, Ohio, which starts Aug. 22.

“I’ve already talked to my chiropractor and made an appointment for tomorrow,” Malott said. “I’ll go again Monday before I go to Ohio. He should get me fixed up enough to get me into competition for Ohio.”

This is not the first time Malott has suffered a back injury. Before going on tour, Malott worked for FedEx unloading containers and said that is where his injury originates. He said it has felt pretty good over the past few years until now.

It was also not the only injury Malott suffered this week. On Monday before the pro-am squad, Malott was pulling bags off the PBA Tour truck and a ball fell out of a bag and landed on his big toe. He said it’s “nice and purple” but didn’t bother him too much.

“So, maybe Wilmington’s not my place,” Malott joked. “But I’ve had a great time here. I’m looking forward to coming back but hopefully the circumstances might be a little different next time.”