JULY 2014 -
7
PBA Introduces New
Women’s Regional
Tournament Program
Six PBA Regional programs to offer three events; series to conclude at
PBA World Series of Bowling VI
By Bill Vint
SEATTLE (June 24, 2014)
– The Professional Bowlers Association has created a
new PBA Women’s Regional Tour program that will begin in July and culminate at
the PBA World Series of Bowling VI in Las Vegas this fall, Commissioner Tom Clark
announced.
The PBA Women’s Regional Tour will provide women bowlers with opportunities
to compete against other women in the same kind of affordable, close-to-home tour-
nament structure that has given thousands of male bowlers an opportunity to de-
velop their skills since the PBA introduced its regional program 1969.
―Women bowlers have been without a formal tournament structure for too long,‖
Clark said. ―The PBA took steps to address that problem when we introduced the
PBA Women’s Series in 2007. The program was suspended after three seasons,
but we have always wanted to provide women with a place to compete. This new
program is a step in that direction. Our sincere hope is that it will evolve into some-
thing more substantial in the future.‖
The PBA has allowed women to bowl with and against their male counterparts
since 2004, and a number of women bowl in PBA Tour, PBA Regional and PBA50
events each year. Eight women have won PBA Regional Tour titles. Kelly Kulick of
Union, N.J., made history when she won the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions.
Under the new program, six PBA Regional programs (East, South, Central, Mid-
west, Southwest and West/Northwest combined) will each conduct three events that
will be designated as PBAW competition points events (see schedule be-
low). Women will bowl with and against their male counterparts, but there will be
specific prizes and benefits for women only, similar to the cashing system for ―super
seniors‖ who bowl in PBA50 tournaments. The tournaments will not diminish PBA
Regional prize funds in any way, but at least one woman will cash for $250 in each
tournament if a woman doesn’t cash in the regular prize list. Additional cash prizes
will be paid based upon the number of women entered.
In each designated event, competition points will be awarded based upon how the
women finish. The leader in competition points in each of the six programs will re-
ceive a paid entry into PBA World Series of Bowling VI at South Point Bowling Cen-
ter in Las Vegas Oct. 24-Nov. 2, and the six regional qualifiers will compete in a
special six-game, round robin Champion’s Challenge Match Play round on Oct. 24.
The top two women from the match play round will compete for the PBA Women’s
Regional Finals title.
Women’s entry fees for regional events will be the same as for men: $220 for mem-
bers or $285 for non-members. Non-members are welcome for all PBAW events,
but only PBA members will earn points and be eligible for the paid WSOB entries.
Complete details about all PBA Regional tournaments are available on pba.com
under the Schedule menu (click on Regional Tour and then the appropriate region
link to find details about each tournament).
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
What’s New from USBC
By Mary Lynly
USBC Western Regional Manager David Prange conducted the Jamboree at the
California USBC convention on June 8
th
in Sacramento
and began his session with ―What’s Your Story?‖ urg-
ing those present to share what got them into bowling
and what has kept them there. No secret to many of
us is that it’s family and friendships. He emphasized
that ―
we can’t forget where we came from.”
I am sure
all of us who have been around for awhile can come up
with stories about why we go to the bowl every day.
During the years when WIBC/ABC saw many thousand
teams in our tournaments the lure was meeting up with
people from other states and enjoying the fun of catch-
ing up.
Prange recapped what took place and the following
changes announced at the USBC Convention in Reno in April: Local Associa-
tions are now able to increase their local dues as the cap is removed and if ap-
proved by the membership state associations could increase their dues up to
$5.00.
His mantra was
Together We Can
showing a short video explaining the benefits
of bowling using pro talent to share their stories and introduced some new mem-
bership products. For Youth, a card where part of the fee goes to USBC and part
to the local association and then the local fee could be adjusted to their needs.
For adults, beginning August 1, basic membership fee is just $10 for a 16-week-or
-fewer league session which will be of benefit to summer league bowlers for next
summer. Then, if the new basic adult league bowler wants to continue in the fall
for a winter league they can just upgrade their sanction card. The stipulation is
that the league must be set up at the start to accept basic memberships. Prange
said that current 2014 summer leagues can still convert to basic membership but
the deadline is July 31
st
.
David Prange announced that according to the USBC Performance Standards
2014-15 Local association managers need to file their 501(c) (3) to the IRS by
December 31. California ranked 51% in this pie chart giving them an ―A‖ grade for
processing memberships. USBC also wants to know how local associations are
doing with their tournament participation and if it is declining, maybe think about
changing the format.
He discussed providing coaching clinics and noted that the reason people leave
bowling is they don’t improve! He suggested that if the association has 499 or
fewer members they should provide one clinic, 500 to 2499 – two clinics and 2500
or more, three clinics. USBC provides board education for local associations and
he advised them to watch their instructional video on line and take the test pro-
vided. This is supposed to be completed by September 30, 2014. He concluded
with, ―Pick one thing and do it this year.‖
2014 PBA WOMEN’S REGIONAL
TOUR SCHEDULE
PBA East Region
July 25-27 – Lebanon, Pa.
Aug. 15-17 – Liverpool, N.Y.
Aug. 22-24 – Deptford, N.J.
PBA South Region
July 11-13 – Spring Hill, Fla.
Aug. 15-17 – Gloucester, Va.
Oct. 17-19 – Franklin, Va.
PBA Central Region
July 18-20 – Fishers, Ind.
Sept. 19-21 – Troy, Ohio
Oct. 3-5 – Muskegon, Mich.
PBA Midwest Region
July 19-20 – St. Charles, Mo.
Sept. 20-21 – Dubuque, Iowa
Oct. 3-5 – Belton, Mo.
PBA Southwest Region
Aug. 8-10 – Killeen, Texas
Aug. 22-24 – Greenville, Texas
Sept. 26-28 – Tomball, Texas
PBA West/Northwest Region
Aug. 22-24 – Citrus Heights, Calif.
Sept. 26-28 – Daly City, Calif.
Oct. 10-12 – Tuolumne, Calif.
RENO, Nev. - The members of Bowlieve In A Cure of Arlington, Texas, came out
of the gates firing and never looked back as they captured the lead in Diamond
Team at the 2014
See Story on page 10
