In addition to competing for one of the most prestigious titles in women's bowling, the participants in the U.S. Women's Open, a United States Bowling Congress event, will have the opportunity to qualify for berths in the expanded Professional Bowlers Association Women's Series to be held in conjunction with the 2008-09 Denny's PBA Tour this fall.
The qualifying portion of the U.S. Women's Open, which will be conducted Aug. 1-Aug. 4 at the Brunswick Zone XL bowling center in Romeoville, Ill., will also serve as the PBA Women's Tour Trials.
The top 12 women who have paid the additional Tour Trials entry fee will earn exemptions for the PBA Women's Series and join last year's Women' Series winners Diandra Asbaty, Shannon Pluhowsky, Joy Esterson and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard to make up the 16-player field.
Those 16 women will then participate in seven PBA Women's Series events which will be held in conjunction with Denny's PBA Tour events throughout the 2008-09 season. The championship match of all PBA Women's Series events will be televised as part of the ESPN telecasts for the seven Denny's PBA Tour events in which women's events will run concurrently.
Tour Trials alternates will have a good chance at competing in one or more Women's Series because they will be needed to fill out fields for original qualifiers who may not be able to compete in every Women's Series event.
In addition, the top 28 (plus Asbaty, Pluhowsky, Esterson and Dorin-Ballard) from the Tour Trials will get to compete in the PBA Mixed Doubles next January in Reno which will pay out $50,000 to the winning doubles team.
Those players competing in the Women's Series will be required to become PBA members but will only have to join PBA once they qualify. The entry fee for the U.S. Women's Open is $250 with an additional $750 entry fee (to be paid on site) for those who choose to enter the Tour Trials. Entry information may be obtained by calling (800) 514-2695, ext. 3173 or by e-mailing uswomensopen@bowl.com.
The U.S. Women's Open starts with an official practice session on Thursday, July 31, followed by four days of qualifying, each day taking place on a different PBA Experience oil pattern. The participants will bowl eight games a day, with the top 16 after the 32 total games advancing to bracket match play.
The final 16 will break into four brackets, with the preliminary rounds and championship being taped Aug. 5 and 6 for later airing on ESPN. From bowl.com
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