SEATTLE (December 28) – The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour travels to Medford, OR, as Lava Lanes hosts the inaugural PBA Medford Open, Monday, Jan. 7, through Sunday, Jan. 13. The tournament marks the 12th of 20 PBA Tour stops during the 2001-2002 Season. ESPN will televise the finals live, from 12:30–2:00 p.m. ET (9:30-11:00 a.m. PT), Sunday, Jan. 13.
The PBA Tour has gone through some noticeable changes since its new ownership group took control in 2000, two of which are the new tournament format and the drastically increased prize fund. The format, which now includes single-elimination match play, was changed to create compelling competition that is exciting and dramatic for fans.
To begin the tournament, all bowlers compete in nine games of qualifying. Only the top 64 bowlers advance to the second nine-game round of qualifying, after which a cut to the top 32 is made. Single-elimination bracket competition commences with the round of 32 and bowlers must win best-of-five games matches to advance. After three rounds of head-to-head matches, the four remaining bowlers plus a wild card qualifier meet in the finals to vie for the title and $40,000 top prize. But, the first-place prize is not the only dramatically increased money. The entire prize fund has increased 140% and pays out to 64th place.
Additionally, the overall look of a PBA tournament has been revamped, too. The bowling center is transformed into an arena-type setting beginning with the round of 16. Fans can watch the single-elimination matches from bleachers on both sides of the lanes. The live ESPN finals will have added excitement with a new facelift to the set and more in-depth player profiles, allowing fans across the country to learn more about the everyday lives of their favorite PBA stars.
More than 100 of the world's best bowlers are scheduled to compete including Parker Bohn III, Jason Couch, Norm Duke, Brian Voss, Pete Weber, Walter Ray Williams Jr. and Danny Wiseman. "The Medford Meteor", PBA Hall of Famer Marshall Holman is entered and will compete in one of only a few choice tournaments this season.
Other Oregonians competing in the tournament include Blaise Bedolla (Sutherlin), Kevin Croucher (Grants Pass), Allan Reyes (Ashland), Bryon Smith (Roseburg), Jason Taylor (Medford) and Dave Thiessen (Portland).
Fans can bowl with the pros in the Pro-Am competition, Monday-Wednesday, Jan. 7-9. This is an excellent opportunity for fans to compete alongside the pros, as well as get autographs and photographs with the stars of the PBA Tour. Anyone interested in attending Pro-Ams or the event during tournament week should contact Lava Lanes at (541) 245-2755.
