KUMLIN BREAKS THROUGH AS JOHNSON CLAIMS TITLE #8 AT ACE MITCHELL DOUBLES
Ace Mitchell Doubles
Yankee Lanes – Keene, NH – August 1, 2026
Event #1066
72 Team Entries | 16 Finals Teams
Pattern: 2025 STC Louisiana – Long (45', 26.65 mL)
The New England Bowlers Association returned to Yankee Lanes in Keene, New Hampshire for the 2026 Ace Mitchell Doubles, where 72 teams competed for 16 spots in the Eliminator-style finals.
When the final pins fell, Tommy Kumlin and Jay Johnson stood alone as champions. Johnson collected his eighth career NEBA title, while Kumlin broke through for the first NEBA championship of his career in one of his final events before moving away.
Kumlin and Johnson were strong from the start, leading qualifying with a four-game total of 1,808 to earn the No. 1 position entering the finals.
Competitors faced the 2025 STC Louisiana – Long pattern, measuring 45 feet with 26.65 mL of oil.
Despite its length, the pattern played much trickier than the numbers suggested. The "live oil" extended approximately 30 feet before transitioning into roughly 15 feet of buff. Combined with a Yankee Lanes surface known for creating early hook, bowlers were constantly challenged to manage friction and stay ahead of transition.
As the tournament progressed, many competitors tightened their lines toward the pocket to avoid the early friction. Scores remained on the lower side, placing an increased premium on shot-making and spare shooting.
The 16 qualifying teams entered an Eliminator format consisting of two-game rounds, with half of the remaining teams advancing after each round.
Round 1 – Top 8 Advance
469 – Hecht / Vermeulen
457 – Robitaille / Darrow
453 – Kumlin / Johnson
428 – Grove / Viale
423 – Marinelli / Haines
414 – Fuller / Webb
411 – Lee / Scott-Jones
398 – Macklin / Major
Cut: 398
Round 2 – Top 4 Advance
447 – Kumlin / Johnson
445 – Macklin / Major
412 – Lee / Scott-Jones
407 – Fuller / Webb
Cut: 407
Round 3 – Top 2 Advance
398 – Kumlin / Johnson
373 – Fuller / Webb
Cut: 373
Kumlin and Johnson led each of the final two elimination rounds to earn a spot in the championship against Frank Fuller III and NEBA Hall of Famer Bill Webb.
Our championship match featured an accomplished field led by NEBA Hall of Famer Bill Webb, who was looking to add an incredible 23rd title to an already historic résumé. Jay Johnson, who is Hall of Fame eligible, entered seeking his eighth career title, while Tommy Kumlin and Frank Fuller were both looking to break through for career title number one.
All four competitors struck in the opening frame before Webb and Fuller suffered uncharacteristic spare misses in the second. Kumlin and Johnson took advantage, with each following their opening strike by putting a double on the board.
Fuller responded with a pair of strikes while Webb continued to fill frames. Kumlin briefly cooled off with an open before getting back on track, while Johnson struck on four of his first five shots to help maintain their advantage.
The eventual champions continued to apply pressure in the back half of the match. Johnson remained on a 279 pace while Kumlin added a comeback triple. Fuller and Webb began to find a better look but were unable to produce the doubles needed to close the gap.
A late open from Kumlin and a 3-6-10 conversion from Johnson briefly gave Fuller and Webb an opportunity. Webb answered with a strike on his more difficult right lane, while Fuller delivered a quality shot only to be denied by a pocket 8-pin.
Kumlin and Johnson responded with strikes in the ninth frame, effectively putting the championship away and allowing the duo to enjoy a victory lap in the 10th.
Final: Kumlin / Johnson 451 – Fuller / Webb 369
With the victory, Jay Johnson collected his eighth career NEBA title, while Tommy Kumlin entered the NEBA winner's circle for the first time.
Thanks to the support of Jeff Barden and Yankee Lanes, the event featured $1,000 in added prize money and a total prize fund of $12,150.
1st – Tommy Kumlin / Jay Johnson – $2,900 + Tournament of Champions Entry
2nd – Frank Fuller III / Bill Webb – $1,450
3rd – Max Macklin / Aaron Major – $900
4th – Qwadaris Lee / Jalen Scott-Jones – $900
5th – Malik Grove / Chris Viale – $600
6th – Andrew Robitaille / Ben Darrow – $600
7th – Henry Hecht / Charles Vermeulen – $600
8th – James Marinelli / Gary Haines – $600
Prize money extended through all 16 teams advancing to the finals.
NEBA Hall of Famer advancing to the finals:
Bill Webb
Webb and partner Frank Fuller III survived each stage of the Eliminator format before finishing runner-up to Kumlin and Johnson.
NEBA extends a huge thank you to Jeff Barden and Yankee Lanes for their continued support of NEBA and competitive bowling throughout New England, including $1,000 added to the prize fund.
We also thank our 2026 season sponsors Storm, Roto Grip and 900 Global for their continued support, along with the entire staff at Yankee Lanes Keene for their hospitality and hard work throughout the weekend.
There is still time to qualify for the 2026 Cambridge Credit Invitational.
Bowlers need to compete in at least three regular-season NEBA events to become eligible for the season-ending Invitational. The Top 8 point earners will receive automatic spots into the Invitational Finals while still bowling qualifying.
Every remaining regular-season event provides another opportunity to earn points and secure eligibility.
The Tournament Sense Singles Open will serve as the next elimination round for competitors still alive in the $10,000 Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series.
Following the round at Lang's Bowlarama, the field will be reduced to the Top 20 competitors, who will advance to the next stage of the series.
Tournament Sense Singles Open
August 22–23, 2026
Lang's Bowlarama
225 Niantic Ave, Cranston, RI 02907
$500 Added to the Prize Fund by NEBA
Vincent Hall Memorial Cup Series Elimination Round – Top 20 Advance
Congratulations to Jay Johnson and Tommy Kumlin on capturing the 2026 Ace Mitchell Doubles championship. Johnson adds title #8 to his NEBA résumé, while Kumlin leaves Keene with a long-awaited breakthrough victory and his first career NEBA championship.
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