As a follow-up to mumzie's post regarding an announcement on the show, the following appears in D/FW media coverage of the event.
Bowling tour is close to folding
By Rick Mauch
Special to the Star-Telegram
PWBA Dallas Open
• Noon today, Don Carter's All-Star Lanes West, 10920 Composite Drive, Dallas
• TV: ESPN
• Admission: $20
• Contact: (214) 358-1382 or
www.PWBA.com.
DALLAS -- Today is the final day of the Professional Women's Bowling Association Dallas Open. It's probably the final day of the tour, at least for this year.
Association president John Falzone said financial troubles will probably cancel the rest of this year's events and might shut down the tour for good. After today's stepladder finals in Dallas, the tour is scheduled to take a break until Sept. 14.
"Unless something happens soon, there will not be a late fall tour," Falzone said. "I've said we had a 50-50 chance, but I think now it's less than 50-50."
Falzone said the association, which had hoped a major sponsor would step forward, has set a Aug. 8 deadline for finding about $300,000 to salvage the fall events. The Women's International Bowling Congress recently advanced the association $400,000 of sponsorship money set aside for the 2004 tour, helping keep the tour going through Dallas.
"We have alternatives to restart the tour in 2004, but I'm not at liberty to discuss the fallback plan right now," Falzone said. "It doesn't mean the PWBA has folded if we don't come back in the fall. However, we will have a monumental task of holding everything together."
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills has faith the tour will return, even if this season is over.
"I'm looking forward to the new PWBA," she said.
Today's finals are topped by Michelle Feldman, the 2002 PWBA Player of the Year, who finished match play 58 pins ahead of Kendra Gaines and 175 ahead of third-seeded Carol Gianotti-Block. Dede Davidson and Rachel Perez of San Marcos claimed the last two spots in the televised finals. Dorin-Ballard, who won the event the past two years, finished 11th.
"We really are bowling like it's the last week, and it may be our last event of this year, but we'll be back," Gaines said.
