8 QUALIFYING CENTERS FOR U.S. OPEN NAMED

The USBC and BPAA will introduce a special direct-qualifier program for the 2018 U.S. Open, which will be held at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

The operation of the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Open is a collaborative effort by USBC and BPAA and jointly funded by the two organizations. The 2018 U.S. Open will take place Oct. 24-31.

The direct-entry program for the 2018 tournament will give 10 BPAA bowling centers across the country the opportunity to host a qualifying event, from which one bowler can earn a spot in the U.S. Open field.

The centers will be able to determine the format, provided it includes at least nine games and is contested on a Sport Bowling-compliant lane condition. Direct qualifiers for the 2018 U.S. Open must be held between Nov. 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018.

The host centers for the direct qualifiers for the 2018 event will be:

Lucky Strike Lanes, Malone, N.Y.
Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Mich.
Buffaloe Lanes Mebane, Mebane, N.C.
Gaudé Lanes Bowling Center, Biloxi, Miss.
Sparetime Lanes, Decatur, Ill.
May City Bowl, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
International Training and Research Center, Arlington, Texas
Golden Pin Lanes, Tucson, Ariz.

Two additional centers will be announced at a later date.

“We’re looking forward to getting some of our centers involved in the U.S. Open and the new format, which we feel really has added even more prestige to a great event,” BPAA President Nancy Schenk said. “Bowlers at the grassroots level from coast to coast will have a chance to join the select field, and we can’t wait to see the response to these qualifiers.”