onefrombills
11-15-2008, 06:27 PM
The U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event, will return in 2009 and will be held in conjunction with the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships in Las Vegas.
For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Women's Open will feature five television shows on ESPN, with the air dates to be announced at a future date. The event is scheduled to be held Aug. 3-9 at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Women's Open will immediately follow the World Women's Championships, which will be hosted on the USBC Open Championships lanes at Cashman Center from July 27-Aug. 2.
"The ability to tie these two events together is a big plus because it will allow for a field of the best female bowlers in the world," said USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger, who is also president of the WTBA. "There is so much talent not only here in the United States but also internationally that it will be compelling competition."
The format for the U.S. Women's Open will also slightly change in 2009. Participants will bowl three eight-game qualifying blocks over three days (Aug. 4-6) before the field is cut to the top 25 percent, who will bowl an additional 16 games on Aug. 7. The top 12 players then advance to the televised, single-game, match-play portion with the top four players receiving a first-round bye directly into the quarterfinals.
"We talked to a number of bowlers after this year's U.S. Women's Open and made changes they wanted to see," USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell said. "There is now an incentive to be among the top four players after the qualifying portion concludes. This change also allows for a smoother television show as there will no longer be simultaneous matches."
The U.S. Women's Open, which has an entry fee of $300, is open to any USBC female member and features a prize fund of $150,000, with $25,000 going to the champion.
For the third consecutive year, the U.S. Women's Open will feature five television shows on ESPN, with the air dates to be announced at a future date. The event is scheduled to be held Aug. 3-9 at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
The U.S. Women's Open will immediately follow the World Women's Championships, which will be hosted on the USBC Open Championships lanes at Cashman Center from July 27-Aug. 2.
"The ability to tie these two events together is a big plus because it will allow for a field of the best female bowlers in the world," said USBC Chief Operating Officer Kevin Dornberger, who is also president of the WTBA. "There is so much talent not only here in the United States but also internationally that it will be compelling competition."
The format for the U.S. Women's Open will also slightly change in 2009. Participants will bowl three eight-game qualifying blocks over three days (Aug. 4-6) before the field is cut to the top 25 percent, who will bowl an additional 16 games on Aug. 7. The top 12 players then advance to the televised, single-game, match-play portion with the top four players receiving a first-round bye directly into the quarterfinals.
"We talked to a number of bowlers after this year's U.S. Women's Open and made changes they wanted to see," USBC Vice President of Media Pete Tredwell said. "There is now an incentive to be among the top four players after the qualifying portion concludes. This change also allows for a smoother television show as there will no longer be simultaneous matches."
The U.S. Women's Open, which has an entry fee of $300, is open to any USBC female member and features a prize fund of $150,000, with $25,000 going to the champion.