BVL BENEFITS FROM NEW ‘BEAT THE CHAMPS’ FORMAT

Chicago’s 61st “Beat the Champs” target score show, held at Poplar Creek Bowl in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, attracted more than 300 spectators who watched two all-time great bowlers, Jason Belmonte and Kelly Kulick, share the lanes with two talented youth bowlers, 14-year-old Jos Weems and 17-year-old Abigail Sharkey.

PBA Hall of Famer and FOX Sports commentator Randy Pedersen handled the play-by-play on the show, joined by USBC Hall of Famer and former proprietor Bill Spigner.

Event sponsor Storm Products Inc. produced the livestream and created commemorative laminated tickets.

The net proceeds from the tournament will be donated to charity. Historically, the donations went primarily to local charities associated with the event’s erstwhile sponsor, the Chicago Sun Times. Now that the tournament is held not just in Chicago but statewide, this year’s proceeds will be donated to the Bowlers to Veterans Link, with the money directed back to help needy veterans in Illinois.

Men and youth bowlers will need to do some good bowling to top the target scores of Belmonte (680), Weems (627) and Abigail Starkey (648). Women won’t need quite as many strikes to outscore Kulick (553).