BOWLING UPDATE (
5/13/12
)
The 9th New Mexico Open, to be held at Tenpins & More in Rio Rancho August 13-19 (2012) will retain it's place as the largest and richest bowling tournament, with prize-money of more than $45,600, an increase of more than $4,000 compared to last year. The field size is also expected to increase from 189 to more than 210, with bowlers coming in from at least 14 states.
There will be five qualifying squads, each restricted to 48 bowlers, with two on Friday (August 17) and three on Saturday August 18, with the field cut to the top 48 scorers for a semi-final round on Sunday morning. "We no longer clash, date-wise, with the long-running PBA Killeen Open in Texas, so we could take up to 240 bowlers", said tournament director, Steve Mackie. "If that were to occur, our prize-money would increase to near $50,000".
The field may include defending champion, Devin Bidwell of Simi Valley, CA as well as other prior winners, Andrew Cain AZ, Chris Klerk AZ, John Young NM, David Haynes NV, Mark French CA and Shawn Lee CO. Cain is the president of the United States Bowling Congress.
Since the event started in 2004, prize-money of $210,575 has been paid, with fifteen bowlers each having won more than $4,000. The leading money-winner is John Young at $9,350, showing the difficulty of mastering the special lane conditions created for the event by Mike Miller, former touring pro, who has come up with a different "challenge" every year.
In the championship round last year, PBA champion, Mike Edwards OK, almost ran the field, eliminating in order, Marvin Hale CA 191-168, George Gohagan GA 216-204 and Keith Ubert KS 211-178 before losing a high-scoring thriller to Bidwell 285-242. First prize is a record $8,500 in an event that continues to show almost annual growth since it's inception.
* Upcoming
calendar (view all calendar events):
MAY...
- Thur-Sun 17-20: Spring 9-pin No-Tap finals at various times
- Fri 18: Live music gig in Sports Bar from 8pm (no cover charge)
- Sat 26: Memorial Weekend Scratch Series Matchplay
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