The Australian PBA star etched his name into the history books by becoming the first international bowler to be crowned a three-time winner of the player of the year award in early January and, just hours after the announcement was made, also welcomed his third child into the world alongside wife Kimberly.

And now, headed into the 2016 PBA FireLake Tournament of Champions, the two-handed star will have the opportunity to create more history.

If Belmonte can win his third consecutive tournament of champions, he’ll become just the second player to achieve the feat in PBA history, joining hall of famer Jason Couch.

The tournament makes its first trip to Oklahoma when the FireLake Bowling Center and FireLake Arena in Shawnee host the PBA’s signature tournament, which begins on February 1.

Qualifying and match play rounds for the season’s first major will be conducted from February 2, which will determine the top five players who will advance to the live stepladder finals to be telecast on ESPN Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7.

All preliminary rounds will be streamed live via PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame. For Xtra Frame subscription and schedule information visit http://www.xtraframe.tv/pba/

Belmonte is in rare form having already made professional bowling history by winning his third consecutive USBC Masters in 2015, and will start the tournament of champions as one of the favourites alongside Gary Faulkner Jr, who will try for his second consecutive major title, and hall of famer Pete Weber as he tries for his record 11th major and third tournament of champions title.