Powered by a 279 final game, Kris Prather surged into the lead Thursday night after qualifying at the 2019 PBA Bowlerstore Classic.

Prather finished qualifying with an eight-game total of 1,887, a 235.88 average, in what was an unusually high-scoring round at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater, Ohio.

Known for its tough topography and differences from pair to pair, Pla-Mor typically has one of the lowest cut scores of the season.

However, this week, the 34-foot Del Ballard pattern was put out, six feet shorter than last year. With little oil on the outside boards, players were able to slingshot the ball to the gutter and toss more strikes.

Results: PBA Bowlerstore Classic Qualifying

Prather put up games of 246, 238, 203, 258, 204, 269 and 190 before popping off the 279 to move him into the top spot.

Anthony Simonsen, who bowled on the third and final squad of the day with Prather, sits in second place with 1,868. Nick Kruml, who led Squad B, is third with 1,851, while defending champion Jakob Butturff is fourth with 1,843.

Jason Sterner put up the highest total on Squad A on Thursday morning and finished the day in fifth place with 1,841.

In all, Squad B had the most bowlers advance with 18 followed by Squad C with nine. Squad A had just five players advance.

EJ Tackett just barely made the cut in 32^nd place with 1,707, a 213.38 average. Last year, it took just over a 195 average to make the first cut.

In a bizarre finish to the evening, lefty Packy Hanrahan went high in the final frame and left a 2-7-8 split, which he made throwing a backup ball, and then went high again and left the 2-4-7-8 on his final shot to miss the cut by one pin.

The 32 advancing players will bowl a four-game cashers round starting at 11 a.m. Eastern on Friday. The top 16 will advance into the Round of 16 for three more games followed by the top eight bowling a two-game Round of 8.

After 17 total games, the four highest bowlers based on pinfall will bowl for the title in the stepladder finals, which is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday. All rounds of the event are being broadcast live on FloBowling.