He was a 19-year-old Wichita State University sophomore who won the amateur qualifier to compete against legendary Marshall Holman, Mark Roth and Lisa Wagner in what was then known as the Brunswick Shootout. Barnes didn’t win any of the $110,000 cash or the $15,000 boat – Holman earned most of that. But the experience provided lessons that should serve him well Thursday when the $250,000 Bowling Shootout returns to television at The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas after a nearly two-decade absence.

The United States Bowling Congress Sport Bowling spokesperson and Professional Bowlers Association star will join USBC Hall of Famer Pete Weber in the role Holman, Roth and Wagner played those many years ago. Both will be trying to take away $150,000 in cash and up to $50,000 in prizes from amateurs Joe German Sr. of Powder Springs, Ga., and Sim Dysart of Hancock, Maine. They survived four rounds of qualifiers Wednesday against nearly 300 bowlers from 38 states. That earned them their first time on television as the show will be taped to air on ESPN at 2:30 p.m. EDT May 20.

What does Barnes recall about when he was in German and Dysert’s shoes?

“That event was a big event for me,” the now 37-year-old father of two said. “Although I didn't win anything in the big event, the $11,000 I won on the amateur side was a lot of money then. It also was my first chance to interact with three of my heroes, Marshall Holman, Mark Roth and Earl Anthony (the NBC-TV color analyst that day). I spent my whole childhood being either Marshall or Mark, so to be bowling against them was both intimidating and a dream come true.

“It was also enlightening as to the gamesmanship that can be played. Marshall made no secret about the fact that he did not like an amateur being there and had me on the defensive immediately. I have no plans on using the same tactic, but in retrospect it probably worked.”

Since competing in the old Shootout, Barnes has been Collegiate Player of the Year in 1992, twice a first-team collegiate All-American, a five-time Team USA member, won six gold medals in major international competition and earned seven titles in eight seasons on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He believes his experience on the earlier Shootout was very helpful to his later success.

“The event helped me in a lot of ways, but none were immediate,” he said. “My chance to be on the stage and get knocked back a bit was a learning experience. I made a lot of mistakes with the media, friends and teammates during that time. I got a little "big for my britches" and had a lot of maturing to do. I believe it all happens for a reason and the event made it (painfully) obvious.”

While he will not use the same tactics against the amateurs Thursday, he does have only one piece of advice for them: “Get nine,” he said.

The way German and Dysart were striking Wednesday, they may not be heeding Barnes. German, a 48-year-old left-hander, had three strikes to help tie frames but it was his lone 9-count in the ninth frame that netted him a leading $4,000. Dysart, a 63-year-old right-hander, had six strikes but none more important than in a one-frame rolloff against John Gillitzer of Suffolk, Va. That gave Dysert $2,500 on top of the $1,000 he earned for a carryover strike in the fourth frame.

Both men survived four rounds of amateur qualifiers to make the show.

“Converting in the late frames was the key,” said German, a 226 high average competitor who bowls in five Atlanta-area leagues and various tournaments to make a living. “The first frames there are not as many points. That’s the way for format scores. So I made sure I closed out the last frames.”

Dysert, a retired Naval officer, averaged 170 in his lone league. He’s been bowling since age 7 and will be facing the second member of the Weber family Wednesday.

“I bowled against Pete’s father (USBC Hall of Famer Dick Weber), said Dysert, who said a new ball was the key to his success Wednesday. “He showed up at our Navy base in Norfolk, Va., in the 1970s. That was quite a thrill.”

The other amateur finalists, both right-handers, were Lorrie Deragon, a 48-year-old RV company parts manager from Layton, Utah, and Gillitzer, a 50-year-old bricklayer. Deragon averaged 195 while Gillitzer averaged 181 in their lone leagues.

The event, certified and sponsored by USBC, is a made-for-TV skins game tournament open to all U.S. amateurs 18 years of age and older. Amateurs earned expense-paid trips to Las Vegas through in-center qualifying rounds. Amateurs advanced in four average based divisions (up to 180, 181-190, 191-200 and 201+) with rolling strikes against their opponents being the key to success.

USBC local association officials worked as judges for the event's center qualifying rounds which ran from last October through early April. USBC also lent the assistance of its rules counselors to answer rules questions.

Other sponsors are the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, Professional Bowlers Association, AMF Centers, Brunswick, ESPN, Touchtone Television Distribution, Greengrass Productions and Woody Fraser Productions.