WTBA creates new World Bowling Tour event
August 18, 2011
The World Tenpin Bowling Association will conduct its first owned and operated World Bowling Tour event in 2012 when the WTBA International Open presented by Sunset Station Casino and Hotel takes place in Henderson, Nev., next year.
The WTBA International Open will take place at the 72-lane Sunset Station Strike Zone Bowling Center from Jan. 28-Feb. 5. The prize fund will exceed $100,000 with at least $20,000 going to the winner.
"On behalf Station Casinos, we are extremely pleased with the WTBA's decision to award the Sunset Station and Strike Zone Bowling Center a World Bowling Tour event," Station Casinos Corporate Director of Bowling Sales David Garber said. "The WTBA International Open presented by Sunset Station Casino and Hotel will be a very important stop on the World Tour and we invite all amateurs and professionals to attend this wonderful event."
In addition to presenting sponsor Sunset Station, Brunswick has also signed on as a supporting sponsor for the WTBA International Open.
"Brunswick has always been supportive of competitive bowling and we are especially keen for the advancement of international competitive bowling," President of Brunswick Bowling Products Brent Perrier said. "We are pleased to lend our support to the WTBA World Tour in general and the WTBA International Open in particular."
The tournament will be a six-game re-entry style event that mirrors events on the European Bowling Tour, where players post their best six-game score to try and make the first cut. The event will be open to men and women and will have a special prize fund for women.
"WTBA believes that the World Bowling Tour is the future of our sport, and we are proud to announce we have created a new event for the best athletes in the world," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "This event will be made possible by our partnerships with Sunset Station and Brunswick. They have stepped up to make this event a reality."
The WTBA also announced the Bahamas will host a WTBA event for the first time in its history when the Bahamas International Bowling Classic 2012 joins the World Bowling Tour next year.
The inaugural event is scheduled to be conducted Feb. 27-March 4 at Mario's Bowling and Entertainment Palace, a new 50-lane bowling center in Nassau. It will mark the first time a World Bowling Tour event will be held in the American Zone outside of the United States.
"Hosting an international bowling tournament provides the Bahamas with the opportunity to showcase the sport of bowling on the international arena," Mario's Bowling Marketing Manager Odette Carey said. "Attracting professional athletes, fans and media attention around the world brings excellent exposure for the Bahamas."
The Bahamas event is the first tournament to be confirmed for the 2012 World Bowling Tour. The Tour is currently in its inaugural year and boasts a schedule of eight events around the world.
"Although the 2011 World Bowling Tour has yet to conclude, it has been so successful that we are proud to announce the first tournament to join the Tour in 2012," Dornberger said. "The Bahamas are not only a beautiful place to visit, but it's a country with very passionate bowlers who look forward to hosting a WTBA event for the first time."
The 2011 World Bowling Tour continues Aug. 21-26 with the Korean Daejeon Open in Daejeon, Korea. The World Bowling Tour Thailand will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from Sept. 24-30 and the AMF Australian Masters will take place in Sydney, Australia, from Oct. 10-22.
The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit WorldTenpinBowling.com.
The WTBA International Open will take place at the 72-lane Sunset Station Strike Zone Bowling Center from Jan. 28-Feb. 5. The prize fund will exceed $100,000 with at least $20,000 going to the winner.
"On behalf Station Casinos, we are extremely pleased with the WTBA's decision to award the Sunset Station and Strike Zone Bowling Center a World Bowling Tour event," Station Casinos Corporate Director of Bowling Sales David Garber said. "The WTBA International Open presented by Sunset Station Casino and Hotel will be a very important stop on the World Tour and we invite all amateurs and professionals to attend this wonderful event."
In addition to presenting sponsor Sunset Station, Brunswick has also signed on as a supporting sponsor for the WTBA International Open.
"Brunswick has always been supportive of competitive bowling and we are especially keen for the advancement of international competitive bowling," President of Brunswick Bowling Products Brent Perrier said. "We are pleased to lend our support to the WTBA World Tour in general and the WTBA International Open in particular."
The tournament will be a six-game re-entry style event that mirrors events on the European Bowling Tour, where players post their best six-game score to try and make the first cut. The event will be open to men and women and will have a special prize fund for women.
"WTBA believes that the World Bowling Tour is the future of our sport, and we are proud to announce we have created a new event for the best athletes in the world," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "This event will be made possible by our partnerships with Sunset Station and Brunswick. They have stepped up to make this event a reality."
The WTBA also announced the Bahamas will host a WTBA event for the first time in its history when the Bahamas International Bowling Classic 2012 joins the World Bowling Tour next year.
The inaugural event is scheduled to be conducted Feb. 27-March 4 at Mario's Bowling and Entertainment Palace, a new 50-lane bowling center in Nassau. It will mark the first time a World Bowling Tour event will be held in the American Zone outside of the United States.
"Hosting an international bowling tournament provides the Bahamas with the opportunity to showcase the sport of bowling on the international arena," Mario's Bowling Marketing Manager Odette Carey said. "Attracting professional athletes, fans and media attention around the world brings excellent exposure for the Bahamas."
The Bahamas event is the first tournament to be confirmed for the 2012 World Bowling Tour. The Tour is currently in its inaugural year and boasts a schedule of eight events around the world.
"Although the 2011 World Bowling Tour has yet to conclude, it has been so successful that we are proud to announce the first tournament to join the Tour in 2012," Dornberger said. "The Bahamas are not only a beautiful place to visit, but it's a country with very passionate bowlers who look forward to hosting a WTBA event for the first time."
The 2011 World Bowling Tour continues Aug. 21-26 with the Korean Daejeon Open in Daejeon, Korea. The World Bowling Tour Thailand will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from Sept. 24-30 and the AMF Australian Masters will take place in Sydney, Australia, from Oct. 10-22.
The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit WorldTenpinBowling.com.