PBA League Rescheduled for September 26-28; Miami Waves and Phoenix Fury Teams Drafted

New York, NY – The Professional Bowlers Association has completed its roster of twelve teams to compete in the 2020 PBA League Elias Cup with the addition of 10 of the world’s best female bowlers to the Miami Waves and Phoenix Fury.

The twelve teams now split into two divisions, Carter and Anthony, will take to the lanes at *Bayside Bowl in Portland, ME, on September 26-28, with hometown team Portland Lumberjacks, looking to defend the prestigious Elias Cup. Bowling’s most thrilling team event was postponed due to Covid-19 health and safety precautions.

The seeding round will take place on September 26, followed by eight hours of live competition broadcasted on FS1 in four telecasts on consecutive days as follows:

PBA Elias Cup: Quarterfinals – Sunday, September 27, 12 p.m. ET on FS1
PBA Elias Cup: Quarterfinals – Sunday, September 27, 7 p.m. ET on FS1
PBA Elias Cup: Semifinals – Monday, September 28, 7 p.m. ET on FS1
PBA Elias Cup: Finals – Monday, September 28, 9 p.m. ET on FS1

After winning the coin toss, Phoenix Fury selected two-time, reigning PWBA Player of the Year Shannon O’Keefe as the first pick of the special PBA League Draft, followed by 5-time PWBA Champion Danielle McEwan to the Miami Waves. The draft was conducted virtually live on FloBowling with 35 eligible players based on 2019 PWBA Points. The two new 5-player rosters were selected in order (listed below), followed by 2020 full rosters.
Shannon O’Keefe, Phoenix Fury
Danielle McEwan, Miami Waves
Liz Johnson, Phoenix Fury
Dasha Kovalova, Miami Waves
Jordan Richard, Phoenix Fury
Clara Guerrero, Miami Waves
Stefanie Johnson, Phoenix Fury
Liz Kuhlkin, Miami Waves
Maria José Rodriguez, Phoenix Fury
Missy Parkin, Miami Waves

2020 PBA League Division Line-Ups and Rosters

Carter Division:

Dallas Strikers
Manager: Norm Duke
Norm Duke
Tommy Jones
Bill O'Neill
Brad Miller
Nick Pate

Philadelphia Hitmen
Manager: Jason Couch
Dom Barrett
Tom Smallwood
Shawn Maldonado
Jason Sterner
Matt Ogle

Brooklyn Styles
Manager: Johnny Petraglia
Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Brad Angelo
Rhino Page
BJ Moore
Thomas Larsen

Silver Lake Atom Splitters
Manager: Mark Baker
Chris Barnes
Jesper Svensson
Tom Daugherty
Chris Via
AJ Chapman

Las Vegas High Rollers
Manager: Amleto Monacelli
Francois Lavoie
Andrew Anderson
AJ Johnson
Richie Teece
Ildemaro Ruiz

Phoenix Fury
Manager: Kim Terrell-Kearney
Shannon O’Keefe
Liz Johnson
Jordan Richard
Stefanie Johnson
Maria José Rodriguez

Anthony Division:

NYC KingPins
Manager: Carolyn Dorin-Ballard
Pete Weber
Marshall Kent
Kyle Sherman
Darren Tang
Osku Palermaa

Motown Muscle
Manager: Del Ballard
EJ Tackett
Anthony Simonsen
Josh Blanchard
Mitch Hupe
Matt McNiel

Portland Lumberjacks
Manager: Tim Mack
Wes Malott
Kyle Troup
Kris Prather
Martin Larsen
Packy Hanrahan

L.A. X
Manager: Andrew Cain
Jason Belmonte
Jakob Butturff
Stu Williams
Patrick Girard
Anthony Lavery-Spahr

Brew City Ballers
Manager: Marshall Holman
Sean Rash
Ryan Ciminelli
Dick Allen
Christopher Sloan
Zeke Bayt

Miami Waves
Manager: Bob Learn Jr.
Danielle McEwan
Dasha Kovalova
Clara Guerrero
Liz Kuhlkin
Missy Parkin

*Location subject to change due to local government restrictions.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK TO TELEVISE 17 BOWLING EVENTS, FEATURING PWBA, COLLEGIATE AND YOUTH, IN 2020

ARLINGTON, Texas – Live coverage of a Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour event finals that will 

take place at the Hammer Junior Gold Championships is one of the many highlights of the 17 bowling shows CBS Sports Network will televise in 2020.

The live finals of the PWBA Las Vegas Open, scheduled as part of the Junior Gold Opening Ceremony at The Orleans Arena, is set for July 12 at 9 p.m. (Eastern). Located in The Orleans Hotel and Casino, the arena will seat approximately 9,000 spectators for the show. The 1995 U.S. Open set the attendance record for a bowling event at 7,212.

CBS Sports Network will have live coverage of seven PWBA stepladder finals in 2020, including all majors, plus four shows from the Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships, the finals of all four divisions of the Junior Gold Championships, and the two title matches at the USA Bowling National Championships.

Las Vegas also will host the stepladder finals of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Queens, on Tuesday, May 19 at 8 p.m. (Eastern) at the South Point Bowling Plaza. It is the first of the four PWBA majors that will be televised live. Dasha Kovalova of Ukraine won her first career PWBA Tour title and major championship at last year’s event.

The U.S. Women’s Open stepladder finals are June 30 (8 p.m. Eastern) at USA Bowl in Dallas, the PWBA Players Championship finals are Aug. 23 (5 p.m. Eastern) at Seminole Lanes in Seminole, Florida, while the PWBA Tour Championship will be announced at a later date.

The finals of college bowling’s major events, the Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships that will be held at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming, Michigan, to kick off the action. The ISC women’s finals will air Tuesday, April 21, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), and the ISC men’s singles will be televised April 28 at 11 p.m. (Eastern).

The ITC women’s title match will be televised May 5 at 8 p.m. (Eastern) and the men’s final will air May 12 at 11 p.m. (Eastern).

Six TV shows will be taped for broadcast when the Junior Gold Championships and USA Bowling National Championships are held in Las Vegas in July.

The boys and girls finals in each of the four divisions of the Junior Gold Championships will air on four consecutive Tuesdays starting July 21 with the 12-and-under finals, followed by the U15 (July 28), U17 (Aug. 4) and U20 (Aug. 11) divisions. All finals will air at 8 p.m. (Eastern).

The U15 title match of the USA Bowling National Championships will air Aug. 18, and the U12 final will be on CBS Sports Network on Aug. 25, with both starting at 8 p.m. (Eastern).

The 2020 CBS Sports Network bowling schedule (all times Eastern):

• Tue., April 21, Intercollegiate Singles Championships (women), Wyoming, Mich., 8 p.m.
• Tue., April 28, Intercollegiate Singles Championships (men), Wyoming, Mich., 11 p.m.
• Tue., May 5, Intercollegiate Team Championships (women), Wyoming, Mich., 8 p.m.
• Tue., May 12, Intercollegiate Team Championships (men), Wyoming, Mich., 11 p.m.
• *Tue., May 19, USBC Queens, Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• *Tue., June 30, U.S. Women's Open, Dallas, 8 p.m.
• *Sun., July 12, PWBA Las Vegas Open, Las Vegas, 9 p.m.
• Tue., July 21, Junior Gold Championships (Under 12), Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• Tue., July 28, Junior Gold Championships (Under 15), Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• Tue., Aug. 4, Junior Gold Championships (Under 17), Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• *Sat., Aug. 8, PWBA Greater Columbus Open, Columbus, Ohio, 7:30 p.m.
• Tue., Aug. 11, Junior Gold Championships (Under 20), Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• *Sat., Aug. 15, PWBA Tennessee Open, Clarksville, Tenn., 5 p.m.
• Tue., Aug. 18, USA Bowling National Championships (Under 15), Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• *Sun., Aug. 23, PWBA Players Championship, Seminole, Fla., 5 p.m.
• Tue., Aug. 25, USA Bowling National Championships (Under 12), Las Vegas, 8 p.m.
• *TBA, PWBA Tour Championship, TBA

    *televised live

CBS Sports Network will re-air many of the events, so check local listings. Visit CBSSportsNetwork.com for listings and channel information.

Visit BOWL.com/Collegiate to learn more about the Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships.

For information on the Junior Gold Championships and USA Bowling National Championships, visit BOWL.com/Youth.

Go to PWBA.com for information on the PWBA Tour, including news, player bios, and more.

The PWBA Tour, Junior Gold Championships and USA Bowling National Championships are collaboratively funded by the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA) and USBC.

PAJAK ROLLS A PAIR OF 299 GAMES TO TAKE PEPSI PWBA ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER OPEN LEAD

SEMINOLE, Fla. – Getting away from the game during the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour’s recent break has seemingly done wonders for Daria Pajak’s game.

In Friday’s second qualifying round of the Pepsi PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Open, the Pila, Poland native averaged 245, including a pair of 299 games over a three-game span. Now, after first having to go through the pre-tournament qualifier just to make the field, she will lead 12 bowlers into Saturday morning’s final qualifying block.

The top five players in total pinfall after Saturday morning’s six games at Seminole Lanes will advance to the stepladder finals, which will be televised live at 6 p.m. (Eastern) on CBS Sports Network.

“I feel great, I’m speechless,” Pajak said. “I lined up very well, matched up, where I had a couple of boards down the lane where I could miss, and I just never let it go. When I saw the ball was doing something different, I was trying to get a better feel at the bottom, and it worked. I could miss quite a bit.”

Pajak said the PWBA’s break in July was just what she needed, that she “needed to clear my head.” She has performed better each day this week.

She averaged 226 over eight games to lead Thursday’s qualifying event and then had a great start on Friday, with a 1,885 total (235 average) during the eight-game morning block. It was not comparable to the afternoon block, however.

After starting with games of 223 and 236, Pajak had a 299, 274, 299 again and a 266 game – a ridiculous 284.5 average over the four games.

So, the only disappointing part was missing a 300 game twice, right?

“No, not at all,” Pajak said. “I would love to have a 300 game. It’s great, a cute accomplishment, but 299, 274, and then 299 feels just as good.”

Pajak’s collegiate teammate at Webber International, Verity Crawley of England, also made a big move on Friday afternoon, starting in 15th place and moving up to fourth.

Crawley started the second round with an 814 set that included a 290 and 300 game.

“It definitely gave me a lot of confidence,” Crawley said. “I felt like my shot-making was really good, which was more important than anything.”

Liz Kuhlkin of Schenectady, New York, the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open champion, led the opening round with a 2,014 pinfall total, ahead of Kelly Kulick (1,850) of Union, New Jersey, and Pajak.

“It’s funny, because I didn’t practice yesterday, so I came into today kind of rusty, I guess you could say,” said Kuhlkin, who had the event’s first perfect game in the opening round. “It was a very pleasant surprise to bowl the way I did today.”

The Pepsi PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open is the first of three elite-field events that will take place in August. Following the U.S. Women’s Open, the top 24 players on the PWBA points list earned their way into the elite-field events with the remainder of the 32-player field determined through a pre-tournament qualifier (PTQ).

Colombian players delayed
Three players who qualified for the Pepsi PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open, based on being in the top 24 in points after the U.S. Women’s Open, were not available at the start of the event on Friday morning.

Clara Guerrero, Maria Jose Rodriguez, and Rocio Restrepo were delayed because of travel issues after competing for their native Colombia in the Central American and Caribbean Sports Games, a multi-sports event, in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Rule 6 of the PWBA rules addresses late arrivals, stating “any competitor who is late for the official start time for the first round of qualifying may be disqualified. Any competitor who is late for the starting time for any subsequent round of qualifying must enter play in the current frame and game in which her group is then bowling, and she will receive no score for frames and/or games missed.”

The players notified the tournament manager they were en route to the event, so they were not disqualified and arrived just before the start of the second round. The three bowlers will receive points based on their finishes.

Sandra Gongora, who also competed in the games in Colombia, withdrew from the Pepsi PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open earlier in the week.

PEPSI PWBA ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER OPEN
(At Seminole Lanes, Seminole,  Fla.)
FRIDAY’S QUALIFYING (After 16 games)
     1, Daria Pajak, Poland, 3,920. 2, Liz Kuhlkin, Schenectady, N.Y., 3,833. 3, Jordan Richard, Tipton, Mich., 3,761. 4, Verity Crawley, England, 3,687. 5, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 3,653. 6, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 3,618.
      7, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 3,594. 8, Shannon O'Keefe, Shiloh, Ill., 3,577. 9, Erin McCarthy, Omaha, Neb., 3,549. 10, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 3,525. 11, Birgit Poppler, Germany, 3,523. 12, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 3,512.

Did not advance
      13, (TIE) Bryanna Cote, Red Rock, Ariz., and Daria Kovalova, Ukraine, and Liz Johnson, Palatine, Ill., 3,479, $1,200. 16, Sydney Brummett, Wichita, Kan., 3,475, $1,200. 17, Jodi Woessner, Oregon, Ohio, 3,449, $1,200. 18, Giselle Poss, Nashville, Tenn., 3,382, $1,200.
      19, Taylor Bulthuis (n), Coral Springs, Fla., 3,373, $1,200. 20, Lindsay Boomershine, Perry, Utah, 3,352, $1,200. 21, Josie Barnes, Nashville, Tenn., 3,347, $1,200. 22, Jen Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 3,344, $1,200. 23, Stefanie Johnson, McKinney, Texas, 3,273, $1,200. 24, Elise Bolton, Merritt Island, Fla., 3,250, $1,200.
      25, Katie Thornton (n), Savannah, Ga., 3,225, $1,200. 26, Pamela Alvarez, Mexico, 3,217, $1,200. 27, Summer Jasmin, Beckley, W. Va., 3,172, $1,200. 28, Samantha Infantino (n), Wellington, Fla., 3,083, $1,200. 29, Janelle Irwin, Schenectady, N.Y., 3,045, $1,200. 30, Clara Guerrero, Colombia, 1,778, $1,200.
      31, Maria Jose Rodriguez, Colombia, 1,739, $1,200. 32, Rocio Restrepo, Louisville, Ohio, 1,718, $1,200.
     n-non-member

Nationwide Insurance Renews Sponsorship of Professional Women’s Bowling Association

Nationwide will return as the official insurance sponsor of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour for the 2017 season.

As part of its sponsorship deal with the PWBA, Nationwide will be the title sponsor of the PWBA event in Rochester, New York. The Nationwide PWBA Rochester Open will take place July 13-15 at AMF Gates Lanes.

“Nationwide’s partnership with the PWBA Tour has allowed us to become part of the bowling community, and we’re excited to continue this successful relationship,” said Ann Ritterspach, Associate Vice President, Nationwide Affinity Relationship Management. “We look forward to the opportunity to continue our support of the pro women’s tour and for Nationwide local agents to engage bowling fans at several PWBA Tour stops this upcoming season.”

The 2017 PWBA Tour season kicks off April 27-29 at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, California. The tour once again will feature four major events – the United States Bowling Congress Queens, PWBA Players Championship, U.S. Women’s Open and the PWBA Tour Championship – and 13 of the 14 events will be televised on CBS Sports Network, including live coverage of the four majors.

Nationwide will be featured on the PWBA Tour broadcasts on CBS Sports Network.

“It’s great to see Nationwide continuing its support of the PWBA Tour,” PWBA spokesperson and star Kelly Kulick said. “Respected partners such as Nationwide are so important as we continue to draw more competitors and fans to the PWBA Tour and build a future for the sport.”

To learn more about exclusive offers from Nationwide, bowling fans can go to Nationwide.com/USBC.

Go to PWBA.com for more information about the PWBA Tour, including the 2017 schedule, news, player biographies and much more.

VETERANS STILL A FORCE AS TOUR HEADS TO PWBA LEXINGTON OPEN

ARLINGTON, Texas – Take a quick look at the field of players competing each week on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour, such as this week’s PWBA Lexington Open, and you will see a list littered with players who were in college within the last five or so years.

While these competitors are trying to make their mark on the PWBA Tour, there is a smaller group who have nothing to prove, except maybe to themselves.

The PWBA Lexington Open takes place this week at Collins Bowling Center – Eastland in Lexington, Kentucky. There will be a practice session at 5 p.m. Thursday, with competition starting at 10:30 a.m. Friday with the first of two six-game qualifying blocks. Play continues Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with a cashers’ round and continues through match play and its unique group stepladder.

While most tour stops feature those still seeking a PWBA title, it also has veteran players such as Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Anne Marie Duggan, and Leanne Hulsenberg – all who have skins on the wall but still love to compete.

All three won PWBA Player of the Year awards before the tour ceased operations in 2003 and each was eager to compete again. Hulsenberg owns 26 PWBA career titles to rank third on the all-time PWBA career titles list, while Dorin-Ballard has 20. Lisa Wagner leads the list with 32 titles with Aleta Sill second at 31.

Dorin-Ballard started the season in Las Vegas by reaching the group stepladder and has cashed in six of the eight events this season. She has three top-11 finishes, five top-25 finishes but, of course, still wants more, though she will miss this week’s stop because of business commitments.

“I’ve been bowling OK; it’s definitely not good enough for me,” said Dorin-Ballard. “I’m bowling better than I did last year. I’ve made a few changes, like where my hand sits and how my body is positioned. It may not look different but the feel is different so I do struggle with it every now and then. I’m happy with the way I’m bowling, but not satisfied.”

While it might sound like she’s being overly critical of herself, Dorin-Ballard says that always has been one of her biggest assets.

“I think I was able to channel that and that was one asset that made me as competitive as I was on the PWBA Tour,” she said. “My philosophy was to always give myself a chance to win every week. And I did that. There are weeks now that I don’t feel like I do that, and that’s what bothers me the most.”

But things have changed since her last time on the PWBA Tour. More than a decade ago, she and her husband, former Professional Bowlers Association standout Del Ballard Jr., both were competing on their respective tours with Del later becoming a coach. The couple now has a 12-year-old daughter, which has made for changes.

“We (Del and her) only had to worry about ourselves, so now it’s quite different,” she said. “It’s harder to leave home and it bothers me to miss some things. But it’s really cool to be out here with some of my old friends.”

Besides old friends, she also has the opportunity to see the next generation of bowlers, plus the bowling styles and equipment that are quite different than what she watched on the previous PWBA Tour. And with so many of the players making their first trek on a professional tour, a few have reached out to learn from the veterans.

“Some of them ask some great questions and look for a little advice,” she said. “It’s been cool. There was nothing for so many years, so they didn’t really know who to turn to. Here, Leanne, Anne Marie and myself, we have a fountain of knowledge about everything – and we’re not just talking about how to throw a bowling ball.”

So while she continues to work to make a PWBA show on CBS Sports Network as competitor, instead of working on TV as a broadcaster, she’ll also continue to enjoy the opportunity to once again be on the PWBA Tour.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t having fun and still love it,” Dorin-Ballard said. “I do. I love it. I love throwing a ball as much now as I did then.”

All rounds of the PWBA Lexington Open will be broadcast on Xtra Frame, the exclusive online bowling channel for the Professional Bowlers Association. Visit XtraFrame.TV for more information.

Go to PWBA.com to learn more about the PWBA Tour, including news, the season schedule, player biographies and more.

2016 PWBA LEXINGTON OPEN
Thursday, June 30
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.:  Practice
7 p.m.:  VIP event
Friday, July 1
8 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Practice
10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Six games of qualifying
5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.: Six games of qualifying
Saturday, July 2
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Cashers’ round – six games
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.:  Round-robin match play – six games
5 p.m. – 6 p.m.:  Group stepladder finals
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.:  Pro-Am
Sunday, July 3
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.:  Pro-Am

The Professional Women's Bowling Association "Go Bowling" Players Championships Kicks Off Today

The Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour added additional events for the 2016 season, including the return of a major championship – the Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship.

The Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship, the second major on the 2016 PWBA Tour, will take place at The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay, Wisconsin, starting with Thursday’s practice session. Competitors will bowl two six-game blocks of qualifying Friday before the field is cut to the top 16 for match play.

Sixteen games of match play will take place Saturday to determine the four finalists for Sunday’s TV show.

CBS Sports Network will have live coverage of the stepladder finals of the Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship on Sunday at noon Eastern.

In addition to the live show, the stepladder finals of the PWBA Wichita Open, PWBA Pepsi Lincoln Open and PWBA Greater Detroit Open will be contested and taped for later broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

The Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship only is open to PWBA members. Anne Marie Duggan, Kim Adler and Liz Johnson - all USBC Hall of Fame members - each won the event before the PWBA went on hiatus in 2003, and all three will compete in this year’s event.

For Shannon Pluhowsky, who missed the opportunity to compete on the previous incarnation of the PWBA Tour, this week could be the opportunity to nail down the one title missing from her  extensive resume – a PWBA title.

“It’s always exciting to win, and to get the first one would be really exciting, since the tour folded before I had a chance to bowl,” Pluhowsky said. “This is our second full season of a tour, so to just get the first one, would be special. Hopefully, more will keep coming after that.”

The fact that Pluhowsky, a 16-time Team USA member, has not won a title since the PWBA Tour resumed last season seems like an aberration for a competitor who owns two major titles, three PBA Women’s Series titles and dozens of medals in international competition.

“That’s surprising to me,” said Johnson, a longtime teammate of Pluhowsky on Team USA. “Maybe she needs to let it go and just let it come to her. She’s going to get one, then she’s going to get 20. I have no doubt in my mind. She has a Queens title, she’s made so many shows, she’s going to get there. It’s just a matter of time.”

Pluhowsky continues to put herself in position to win that elusive first title. She already has been on two TV shows this year and will be on at least one TV show in Green Bay this week, as she’s a finalist in the PWBA Wichita Open.

“On the TV shows, it was just a couple of bad games,” Pluhowsky said of her first two TV appearances this season. “I had a bad game against Liz (Johnson) and then a bad spare shot (missed 7 pin), or otherwise I would have won my first title. But, I have another chance.”

The first priority for Pluhowsky this week will be the Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship. Players always look forward to the majors, mainly because of the format.

“The Players is a little different format, more games, so that will help,” Pluhowsky said. “In a short format, anything can happen, but the majors are longer and are usually better for us. You can have a couple of bad games, like I did at Queens, and still not be in bad shape. We look forward to majors.”

Go to PWBA.com for more information on the Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship and the complete PWBA Tour schedule, plus news, player biographies and more.

2016 GO BOWLING PWBA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
(All times local)
Thursday, June 23
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Media event
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.:  Practice
7 p.m.:  VIP event
Friday, June 24
8 a.m. – 9 a.m.:  Practice
11 a.m.:  Six games of qualifying
5 p.m.:  Six games of qualifying
– After 12 qualifying games, cut to top 16 for match play
Saturday, June 25
8:30 a.m.: Round-robin match play – eight games
2 p.m.:  Round-robin match play – eight games
– After 16 round-robin match-play games, cut to top four for TV show
7 p.m.:  Pro-Am
Sunday, June 26
11 a.m.:  Live TV stepladder finals on CBS Sports Network

PEPSI To Sponsor Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) today announced a new sponsorship deal making Pepsi the official soft drink of the 2016 PWBA Tour.

As part of the agreement, Pepsi will be the title sponsor of the PWBA Tour stop in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Pepsi PWBA Lincoln Open will take place June 9-12 at Sun Valley Lanes.

“As the official soft drink of bowling and longtime partner for Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America centers, we are excited to partner with Pepsi as part of the growing PWBA Tour,” BPAA President Tom Martino said. “The PWBA Tour also provides a wonderful way to showcase the iconic Pepsi products that are offered in bowling centers and to continue to build our relationship to benefit BPAA members.”

As an official sponsor, Pepsi also will be featured during 2016 PWBA Tour telecasts on CBS Sports Network. The United States Bowling Congress and CBS Sports Network recently reached an agreement to televise 23 major championship bowling events in 2016, including 13 telecasts of the PWBA Tour.

“Seeing Pepsi as an official sponsor of the PWBA Tour gives us a great feeling of pride,” PWBA spokeswoman Kelly Kulick said. “Pepsi has a rich history in bowling and we’re looking forward to our new partnership.”

The stepladder finals of the 2016 Pepsi PWBA Lincoln Open will be taped during the PWBA Players Championship in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on June 26, and will air on CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, July 12.

Go to PWBA.com for more information about the PWBA Tour and players.

Turbo Signs PWBA Player of the Year Liz Johnson

2016 is looking like a very good year for Turbo Bowling Accessories; made even better by the signing of two of the brightest stars on the new Professional Women's Bowling Tour, PWBA Champions Liz Johnson and Elysia Current. Johnson, the 2015 PWBA Player of the Year and current Women's U.S. Open Champion, joins the list of more than 30 great women bowlers on the Turbo Staff. "I am very excited about joining the Turbo team," said Johnson.  "They have a great history and I am very honored to be a part of the 'family.' Thanks to Lori Mraz and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard for all their help. I am looking forward to representing Turbo on the 2016 Tour and around the world." The U.S. Open was Johnson's 4th major title to go along with her 10 standard pro titles. She started her pro career as the 1996 PWBA Rookie of the Year, and she was named Player of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America (now IBMA) in 2005 and 2007. As an amateur, Johnson was named the Alberta Crowe Star of Tomorrow, and she was an All American and MVP during her college years at Morehead State University. She is an 11 year member of Team USA and a member of the team that recently won the 2015 World Bowling Women's Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Elysia Current, the Head Bowling Coach at Delaware State University, launched her professional career in 2015 by winning the first tournament of the new PWBA Tour, the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open. Prior to that sensational start, she finished second in the 2011 USBC Queens, and she was an All American at both Wichita State University and Fairleigh Dickinson University in her college years. She was named College Bowler of the Year by the IBMA in 2004. "Liz is a proven leader, and no doubt one of the greatest female champions of this generation," said Turbo President Lori Mraz. "Her dedication to the sport both on and off the lanes is admirable. Elysia brings us a direct connection to both the professional and college ranks, and she is a great example and inspiration for future generations. We look forward to working with both of these great ladies in our Turbo Driven to Bowl Clinics and many other areas." Turbo remains steadfast in its commitment to Women's Professional Bowling as proven by many years of sponsorship of the Women's US Open, prior sponsorship of the PWBA and LPBT Tours and confirmed Registered Product Partnership with the New PBA Tour. Other PWBA National Player Staff members include Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Danielle McEwan, Diandra Asbaty, Leanne Barrette-Hulsenberg, Lindsay Boomershine, Anne Marie Duggan, Sandra Gongora, Clara Guererro, Brittni Hamilton, Kayla Johnson, Megan Kelly, Marsha Klompken, Shannon Pluhowsky, Lucy Sandelin, Mary Wells, Kristina Wendell, and Diana Zavjalova.

Smithfield Foods To Sponsor PWBA Tour Championships

Smithfield Foods will sponsor the final event of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association season, the

PWBA Tour Championship, set to take place in September with the finals on national television.

The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship promoted by GoBowling.com will bring together the top 16 bowlers from the 2015 PWBA Tour season, including the winner of each tour stop, for the season-ending event starting Sept. 10 in Arlington, Texas. The stepladder finals will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. Eastern, with the winner presented with the Smithfield Cup.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the PWBA during its comeback season,” Bob Weber, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Smithfield Foods, said. “The early tour events have drawn a good deal of interest and the PWBA Tour will be a great avenue for our brands to reach bowling fans.”

Smithfield Foods was founded in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1936 and has become the world’s largest producer of pork products. In addition to its Smithfield flagship brand, other notable brands produced by Smithfield Foods include Eckrich, Farmland, Armour, Cook’s Gwaltney, John Morrell and Nathan’s Famous.

The two-year partnership also makes Smithfield the Official Elite Title sponsor of the PWBA Tour.

The PWBA Tour re-launched earlier this year with a three-year funding commitment from the BPAA and the United States Bowling Congress. The season kicked off with the USBC Queens in May and has seen sold-out fields for its first three standard events.

“It’s always great to see when a company such as Smithfield Foods sees the value of marketing through our sport,” said Kelly Kulick, the spokesperson for the PWBA who could be featured in PWBA-themed ads for Smithfield. “The opportunity for women to compete as professional bowlers on a regular basis is possible because of the PWBA Tour and because of companies like Smithfield.”

The PWBA Tour has two more tour stops this season before the PWBA Tour Championship takes place at the International Training and Research Center.

Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, who won the PWBA Wichita Open for her first career PWBA title, currently leads the points list followed by Diana Zavjalova of Latvia, and Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey.

Visit PWBA.com to learn more about the PWBA, including the season schedule, player information, points list and more.