Bowling One-On-One with Nate Purches: PBA’s Rising Star
For Nate Purches, bowling has become his lifestyle. Purches recently found success at the PBA Tour Trials, which took place in several Chicagoland centers from August 19-23. After 48 games, he was one of the 12 men left standing, claiming an exempt spot for the upcoming PBA tour season. Yet it all started back in 2006.
This was the year Wii Sports was released. The game features several sports games, with unique challenges for each and multiplayer features. Purches would spend hours a day playing; his parents were unable to get him off of it.
“Ultimately, I fell in love with the bowling part of it and that was how I started,” Purches recalls.
Bowling would not simply go on to be a hobby for Purches, but a career opportunity with more and more doors opening with his hard work and success. He realized he could go on to be serious with the sport after the television show for PBA Junior back in 2021. He ended up taking second place to Spencer Robarge. He claimed a first place title for the PBA/PBA Junior doubles, bowling with Kyle Troup.
“I was still trying to process the fact of making a TV show, but after leading the whole country, I realized that this could be a full time gig,” Purches commented.
One moment that stands out for Purches is his first ever PBA Regional win, which happened back in May of 2023. This took place at Strike N Spare ll in Lockport, Illinois.
(Purches after his regional win, Photo Credits: Nate Purches)
“My dad and great friends were in the back watching the whole time, while my mom was glued to her laptop watching.” Purches said. “It was also a really memorable finish, and the fact that it happened is still amazing in my eyes.”
In January of 2024, Purches claimed both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year for the Midwest Region at the PBA Regional awards ceremony. He led with 10,390 points, which was almost double that of the person finishing second. He was able to claim five top-five finishes and cashed at nine different regional tournaments.
It is moments like these that have kept Purches going, hungry for more wins, and putting in the work to ensure he gets to the point he wants to be. All of these moments and all of the dedication put him in his present position: the exempt status.
Yet after 36 games, Purches was averaging 221 and in 19th place. He knew he would need to put up some numbers to get to the top 12. For the final 12 games, Purches would go on to average almost 230. He went from 19th place to fourth.
“It felt like a dream come true,” Purches explained. “You remember watching these guys in events or on TV and think ‘I can be that guy.’ Now that I am one of those guys, I’m really speechless. I was just telling myself to enjoy every minute of that last game because you never know when you will get that experience again in your life.”
What this means for Purches is that he will be able to be a part of the main field for every PBA season event for the upcoming season. On top of this, he will also be eligible for the PBA League, and his entry fees will be paid for. He will be finishing his last semester of college remotely while bowling every stop possible.
“I have a few goals going into this season,” Purches elaborated. “The main one is to stay exempt because if I stay exempt, I don’t have to do tour trials or go through another PTQ. I would also love to make a show this year, as well as finish top 10 in three tournaments.”
(Photo Credit: PBA)
As Purches has progressed with his game, he has experienced feelings a lot of bowlers go through. There were times he wanted to quit and has had doubts early on in his journey.
However, Purches owes a lot to his father, who has served as an inspiration of who he hopes to become. His father also helped him not quit and stay persistent. One thing his father would always remind him was to, “keep giving it your best effort.”
If Purches could give anyone interested in bowling at a competitive level advice, it would be to be comfortable with their games. Every part.
“You may not score with a certain part, but if you can control the pocket and leave makeables, you will go far,” he said.
It is also important to stay loose and have a loose swing.
“I try to take every moment I can in, and if I get tight, I will start to throw the ball all over the place. I also believe I have a good spare game so that also keeps me in it,” he added.
Purches’ journey is one that has been in the works for almost two decades. He is someone that bowlers everywhere can look to for inspiration, whether it be on or off the lanes. He not only carries a strong mind with him, but a fun personality that makes his presence known and memorable.
We wish Purches the best of luck in this upcoming PBA season and congratulate him on all he has achieved in the sport of bowling so far.
(Feature Photo Credit: PBA)
