Professional Bowlers Association 2009 Schedule

From Luby Publishing's e-Bowler Newsletter:
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) announced its 2008-09 Tour schedule, which includes 20 stops between October and April, with return visits to 14 venues from the 2007-08 season and venue changes for two of the four major events.

Headlining the changes to the schedule is the move of the Denny's World Championship to the beginning of the season. The 2008-09 campaign will kick off with the first of four majors at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan. This marks the first time the Tour has visited Wichita since the 2004-05 season, and the first time Northrock will host a PBA major.

The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters -- which has been the opening event in three of the last four seasons -- will move dates and location as well. The event shifts from Milwaukee to Las Vegas, and now will take place in February at the Cashman Center. The Masters will be one of two majors held in Las Vegas, as the PBA Tournament of Champions returns to Red Rock Lanes.

New hosts on the Tour include Olympia Lanes in Hammond, Ind., which has hosted several PBA Senior Tour stops in previous years, and Brunswick Zone in Wheat Ridge, Colo., marking the first time the Tour has stopped in the Denver area since the 2005-06 season.

"We are very excited about some of the changes to the 2008-09 schedule, particularly moving the World Championship to the first week of the season, which will be a great way to kick off our 50th anniversary," said PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer. "We are thankful for the many loyal hosts we return to this season, and look forward to working with our new partners as well."

Additionally, the 2008-09 PBA Tour will feature the return of the PBA Women's Series, presented by the USBC, with seven events -- an increase from the four events held last season. Events will be held in Omaha, Neb.; Taylor, Mich.; Vernon Hills, Ill.; Cheektowaga, N.Y.; Baltimore, Md.; Reno, Nev.; and Medford, Ore., and will once again run concurrently with PBA Tour events.

A special "Golden Anniversary Championship" also has been added, featuring 16 senior bowlers, aged 50 or older. The event will take place during the Hammond, Ind., PBA Tour stop and will utilize the same format as PBA Women's Series events, with 16 senior bowlers earning entry through a special PBA Tour
Qualifying Round. The final two seniors will bowl for the title during the live ESPN-televised championship round on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Here's the complete schedule, with additional title sponsor names to be added later:
Denny's World Championship, Oct. 19-26, Northrock Lanes, Wichita, KS

Thunder-Alley, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Omaha, NE, (PBA Tour and Women's Series)

PBA Golden Anniversary Championship, Nov. 5-9, Olympia Lanes, Hammond, IN, (PBA Tour and Golden Anniversary Championship)

Taylor Lanes, Nov. 9-11, Taylor, MI, (Taped Telecast)

Taylor Lanes, Nov. 12-16, Taylor, MI, (PBA Tour and Women's Series)

Brunswick Zone Hawthorn, Nov. 26-30, Vernon Hills, IL, (PBA Tour and Women's Series)

AMF Thruway Lanes, Dec. 3-7, Cheektowaga, NY, (PBA Tour and Women's Series)

AMF Country Club Lanes, Dec. 10-14, Baltimore, MD, (PBA Tour and Women's Series)

PBA Mixed Doubles Championship, Jan. 4-6, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, NV (Taped Telecast, PBA Tour and Women's Series)

National Bowling Stadium, Jan. 7-11, Reno, NV

Lava Lanes, Jan. 14-18, Medford, OR, (PBA Tour and PBA Women's Series)

PBA Tournament of Champions, Jan. 19-25, Red Rock Lanes, Las Vegas, NV

Dick Weber Open, Feb. 3-8, Fountain Bowl, Fountain Valley, CA

USBC Masters, Feb. 8-15. Cashman Center, Las Vegas, NV

Brunswick Zone Wheat Ridge, Feb. 18-22, Wheat Ridge, CO

Woodland Bowl, Feb. 23-March 1, Indianapolis, IN

Sequoia Pro Bowl, March 2-8, Columbus, OH

Norwich Bowling & Entertainment Center, March 18-22, Norwich, CT

AMF Babylon Lanes, March 25-29, West Babylon, NY,

66th U.S. Open, March 29-April 5, Brunswick Zone Carolier, North Brunswick, NJ