The Orange bowler contested the Professional Bowlers Association event which started on Friday and was looking good early.

He qualified seventh in his squad after 10 games on Friday to go into the matchplay rounds.

The top 32 from each of the A and B squads qualified for Saturday’s matchplay rounds.

They played a best-of-five-games format and worked their way down to the final eight who went on to yesterday’s final.

In the round of 64, Belmonte downed Kenji Kawashima in three games.

Belmonte won the first game 207-178 and went on to win the second 235-168 and third 248-212 to continue in the competition.

In the round of 32, Belmonte downed PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke 4-1.

Belmonte took the first 235-228 but Duke claimed the second 206-200.

The two-handed bowler then won the third 250-216 and the fourth 253-225 to win the match.

Belmonte’s good run came to an end in the round of 16 where he went down in three games to Japan’s Takeshi Suda.

Suda won the first 212-200, the second 266-226 and the third 258-241 to move into the top eight and the finals.

After bowing out, Belmonte voiced his disappointment on Facebook.

“Well after beating Norm Duke, I lost the round before the TV show in Japan. Ugh. So close,” Belmonte’s post read.