U.S. Open Returns to Woodland
Bowl in Indianapolis

After a 14-year absence, the 67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open is returning to Indianapolis Feb. 21-28 where it will be hosted by Woodland Bowl – an 80-lane bowling center which has played a prominent role in the sport’s colorful history for two decades.

The U.S. Open, considered by many to be the most challenging and most cherished title to win in all of bowling, is open to any 190-or-higher average bowler – male or female, professional or amateur – who cares to ante up the $500 entry fee. Every player then gets to bowl 18 qualifying games over three days to try to make the cut and continue advancing toward the title.

As the fourth and final major championship on the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour schedule, rewards for overcoming the demanding U.S. Open lane conditioning pattern are worthwhile - a projected $60,000 first prize and a three-year PBA Tour exemption.

Whoever wins in 2010 will join a lengthy list of storylines generated from Woodland Bowl, which has hosted three previous U.S. Opens, two PBA World Championships, three PBA Touring Players Championships, the 2009 PBA Etonic Marathon Open and the 2005 USBC Junior Gold National Championships.

Woodland Bowl’s first “major” champion was Ron Palombi Jr. who romped past Amleto Monacelli, 269-205, in the 1990 U.S. Open title match. In 1991, who can ever forget Pete Weber’s near-perfect 289-184 U.S. Open victory over Mark Thayer – after which Weber hoisted the “eagle” trophy over his head only to watch it crash to the floor and explode into pieces? In 1996, the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Opens were held concurrently for the first time ever at Woodland Bowl. The finals were contested before a crowd of 1,600 at Market Square Arena where Dave Husted defeated George Brooks to become the first male to successfully defend his U.S. Open title and become the event’s first three-time champion. A rookie on the women’s pro tour – Liz Johnson – won the 1996 Women’s U.S. Open.

In PBA World Championships held at Woodland Bowl, Walter Ray Williams Jr. won in 2006 and Norm Duke won in 2008. In PBA Touring Players Championships, Weber won in 1992, Jason Couch won in 1993 and Williams won in 1994.

In 2009, Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, won the Etonic Marathon Open – an extended format event contested on six different PBA lane conditioning patterns.

The next chapter in U.S. Open history begins with 18 qualifying games for all players – six games each on Feb. 23, 24 and 25. The field will then be cut to the top 25 percent for a nine-game “casher’s round” on Feb. 26. The top 24 after 27 games will then advance to round-robin match play which concludes on Feb. 27. The top four players will advance to the live ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, is the defending U.S. Open champion. Pete Weber will return to Indianapolis seeking an unprecedented fifth U.S. Open title. Other past U.S. Open champions in the field will be Duke (2008), Tommy Jones (2006), Chris Barnes (2005), Williams (1998 and 2003), Mika Koivuniemi (2002), and Robert Smith (2000).

Bowlers who would like to take on the Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open challenge can find entry forms and information on pba.com under the “schedule” tab. Click on the “67th Lumber Liquidators U.S. Open” link and look for “Enter This Tournament.”

67TH LUMBER LIQUIDATORS U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE
Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 21-28

Sunday, Feb. 21
Noon, 3 & 6 p.m. – Pro-Am squads

Monday, Feb. 22
8 a.m. - Practice (A Squad, B Squad A-L)
12:30 p.m. - Practice (B Squad M-Z, C Squad)
7 p.m. – Pro-Am squad

Tuesday, Feb. 23
8 a.m. - A Squad qualifying (6 games)
Noon - B Squad qualifying (6 games)
6 p.m. - C Squad qualifying (6 games)

Wednesday, Feb. 24
8 a.m. - B Squad qualifying (6 games)
Noon - C Squad qualifying (6 games)
6 p.m. - A Squad qualifying (6 games)

Thursday, Feb. 25
8 a.m. - C Squad qualifying (6 games)
Noon - A Squad qualifying (6 games)
6 p.m. - B Squad qualifying (6 games)
Top 25 percent of field advances

Friday, Feb. 26
9 a.m. – Final qualifying round (9 games)
Top 24 advance to match play
6 p.m. - Match Play Round 1 (8 games)

Saturday, Feb. 27
11 a.m. - Match Play Round 2 (8 games)
6 p.m. - Match Play Round 3 (8 games)
Top 5 advance to ESPN stepladder finals

Sunday, Feb. 28
12:30 p.m. Eastern - Live ESPN finals