Page 8 - bwfeb2013

8www.bowlingworld.com– FEBRUARY 2013
Tournament News
Women's Championships
Changes To Four-Player
Teams In 2014
ARLINGTON, Texas - The United States Bowling Congress
Women's Championships will undergo a major change in 2014 by
shifting to four-player teams, new divisions and a new format.
In addition to the change to four-player teams, from the tradi-
tional five, the USBC Women's Championships will return to an all
-scratch format.
Teams will be divided into four divisions based on their com-
bined averages, and there will be six average-based divisions for
doubles, singles and all-events.
The 2014 event will be held on 44 specially-constructed lanes
inside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nev.
"Bowlers have told us they want four-woman teams," said
Brian Lewis, USBC's Managing Director of Tournaments. "Four-
player teams will make it easier for teams to travel as a group and
set up pairings for doubles. While this is a change from tradition, it
clearly is something our bowlers want, and we hope the new
format will help lead to a new generation trying the event."
Here is a look at the new divisions for the 2014 Women's
Championships:
Team Divisions (based on the combined average of all four bowl-
ers):
* Diamond (725 and above)
* Ruby (650-724)
* Emerald (575-649)
* Sapphire (574 and below)
Doubles Divisions (based on the combined average of the two
bowlers):
* Division 1 (380 and above)
* Division 2 (350-379)
* Division 3 (320-349)
* Division 4 (290-319)
* Division 5 (260-289)
* Division 6 (259 and below)
Singles and All-Events Divisions:
* Division 1 (190 and above)
* Division 2 (175-189)
* Division 3 (160-174)
* Division 4 (145-159)
* Division 5 (130-144)
* Division 6 (129 and below)
Along with the format changes, the Women's Championships
also will have a new price structure in 2014. The entry fee for a
bowler to compete in team, doubles, singles and all-events will be
$140 ($44 per event and an optional $8 for all-events).
The total for a four-player team will be $560. There no longer
will be a processing fee for teams entering online. Entering by
mail, fax or phone will require an additional $10 processing fee
per team and $10 for each doubles/singles set.
Registration for the 2014 Women's Championships will begin
April 1, 2013. Spots are available on a first-come, first-serve ba-
sis, and dates and times can be locked in as soon as a full pay-
ment is made.
USBC Queens And Senior Queens Return To
Reno In 2014
Women bowlers looking for top-level competition will have the
chance to bowl in multiple events in one trip as Reno will play
host to the USBC Queens and Senior Queens in 2014.
The 2014 Queens and Senior Queens will be held at the Na-
tional Bowling Stadium from June 27-July 3, 2014.
The Open Championships also will be held at the NBS in 2014,
while Women's Championships takes place across town at the
Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
For more information about any USBC tournaments, visit
BOWL.com/tournaments.
"Championship-Worthy" Line-Up Of Presenting Sponsors
Announced For Historic 2013 Bowling's U.S. Open
The Brands of Ebonite & Columbia 300, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, Jani-King and Storm Bowling Products Unite to Sponsor
Combined U.S. Open Events
ARLINGTON, TX - The historic 2013 Bowling's U.S. Open just got even bigger as the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America
(BPAA), the bowling industry's premier trade organization announced today the presenting sponsors for the tournament. The Open,
which will be held in Columbus, OH beginning July 20, will combine the Men's, Women's and Senior Women's tournaments. To support
this ground-breaking event, the following major global brands have signed on as presenting
sponsors: The Brands of Ebonite & Columbia 300, Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, Jani-King and Storm Bowling Products.
The unprecedented event is the result of a collaborative effort between four of the leading organizations in bowling - the Bowling
Proprietors'
Association of America (BPAA), the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and Strike
Ten Entertainment (STE).
"This historic 2013 Bowling's U.S. Open is the pinnacle event of professional bowling. Never before has there been so much excite-
ment as evidenced by the stature of the iconic brands that have already signed on as presenting sponsors," said John Losito, tourna-
ment director of the event. "Just like the Open itself, each of these brands are in the upper echelon of their respective categories, and
by signing on as sponsors, they continue to help elevate and enhance what is already a great sport."
The Brands of Ebonite & Columbia 300, Storm Bowling Products and Brunswick Bowling & Billiards are some of the leading brands
in the sport today. Additionally, Jani-King the "Official Cleaning Provider of the BPAA" returns again as a presenting sponsor, continu-
ing to offer cleaning services to the more than 3,500 bowling centers that are members of the BPAA.
"As a bowler, it's thrilling and inspiring to see the collaboration between our sport, the industry and our sponsors," said Kelly Kulick,
the 2003, 2010 and 2012 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open champion. "Through the U.S. Open, and with the help of these presenting
sponsors, we look forward to an exciting tournament that will captivate bowlers and fans nationwide."
"The U.S. Open is the number one tournament on my calendar every year,"said PBA and USBC Hall of Famer Pete Weber, who
won the U.S. Open for a record fifth time in 2012. "It's the most challenging and prestigious event in the sport, as far as I'm concerned,
and I can't wait until July when I plan to come to Columbus and win it for a sixth time."
The Men's and Women's U.S. Open competition will take place simultaneously, beginning Saturday, July 20, at three host centers -
Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl, Columbus Western Bowl and Holiday Lanes. The event will conclude with the top four men and top
four women bowlers earning a spot in the finals, taking place Saturday, July 27, at Columbus Western Bowl. As one of the most influ-
ential brands in sports, the U.S. Open finals will be telecast live in a two-hour event on ESPN at noon EST that Saturday, where the
winner of the Men's and the winner of the Women's U.S.
Open will be crowned. ESPN has been broadcasting the Open since 1997.