21st August, Arlington, Texas: For the first time, two women's only events, US Women's Open and the USBC Queens, have been added to the schedule for the WTBA World Bowling Tour bringing the tour to 14 events in 2012.

"These are two major events for women bowlers, so it's only natural that they would want to be a part of the World Bowling Tour," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "The growth of the World Bowling Tour has simply been incredible, and this is very positive for the sport on an international level."

The USBC Queens is scheduled for April 19-24 in Euless, Texas, at AMF Euless Lanes, which was the site of the 2011 US Women's Open. The Queens is expected to feature a prize fund of nearly US$125,000.

"We're proud to add the USBC Queens - one of the most prestigious women's events in the world - to the 2012 World Bowling Tour," USBC Executive Director Stu Upson said.

"International participants have a history of doing well in this event, and we look forward to even more international participation moving forward."

The US Women's Open will take place in Reno, Nevada, at the National Bowling Stadium from June 21-27. The finals will take place on specially constructed lanes beneath the famous Reno Arch in downtown Reno.

"As one of the premier female bowling events in the world it was only natural that Bowling's US Women's Open be listed on the schedule," Bowling Proprietors' Association of America Executive Director Steve Johnson said. "We're truly pleased to be included as last year we had 17 countries represented and expect even more this year."

The 2011 World Bowling Tour wraps up this week with the AMF Australian Masters, which ends October 22. Upon completion of that event, the top three men and three women in the World Bowling Tour rankings will be announced.

Those players will take part in the World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the Professional Bowlers Association on November 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA..

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of 115 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.

18th August, Arlington, Texas: The World Tenpin Bowling Association World Bowling Tour continues to gain momentum heading into 2012 as two more events have signed on to be a part of the second year of the tour.

The International Bowling Championship 2012 supported by DHC in Hakata, Japan, and the Columbia 300 Vienna Open in Vienna, Austria, have been added to the schedule. The additions bring the World Bowling Tour to 12 events for 2012, with more announcements expected soon.

"We're pleased to welcome these two new events to the World Bowling Tour," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said. "The World Bowling Tour continues to grow and gain momentum, and we will be announcing even more additions to the tour in the coming days."

The International Bowling Championship will feature one of the largest prize funds on the World Bowling Tour with an estimated US$350,000 available. The event will take place February 7-11.

"It's my honor and pleasure to announce that we are going to have a big event - the International Bowling Championships 2012 supported by DHC - in Hakata, Japan, in February next year under the sponsorship of DHC Corporation," Japan Bowling Congress Chairman Kyohei Akagi said.

"I'm expecting men and women participants from all over the world, and I'd like to show vigorous Japan to you all."

The Vienna Open will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2012 and is scheduled to take place October 2-7 at Plus Bowling.

"We're very proud to announce that the 10th Vienna Open will be a part of the World Bowling Tour," Vienna Open Tournament Organizer Wolfgang Lohschmid said. "Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and we welcome bowlers from around the world to join us for our great event."

In addition to the events in Japan and Austria, two other new events for 2012 have been previously announced with the Bahamas International Bowling Classic and the WTBA International Open on the schedule. The eight events that made up the inaugural tour in 2011 have all agreed to remain a part of the tour in 2012.

The 2011 World Bowling Tour wraps up this week with the AMF Australian Masters, which ends October 22. Upon completion of that event, the top three men and three women in the World Bowling Tour rankings will be announced..

Those players will take part in the World Bowling Tour Finals presented by the Professional Bowlers Association on November 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA..

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of 115 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.

18th August, Arlington, Texas: The World Tenpin Bowling Association will conduct its first owned and operated World Bowling Tour event in 2012 when the WTBA International Open presented by Sunset Station Casino and Hotel takes place in Henderson, Nevada next year.

The WTBA International Open will take place at the 72-lane Sunset Station Strike Zone Bowling Center from January 28 to February 5. The prize fund will exceed US$100,000 with at least US$20,000 going to the winner.

"On behalf Station Casinos, we're extremely pleased with the WTBA's decision to award the Sunset Station and Strike Zone Bowling Center a World Bowling Tour event," Station Casinos Corporate Director of Bowling Sales David Garber said.

"The WTBA International Open presented by Sunset Station Casino and Hotel will be a very important stop on the World Tour and we invite all amateurs and professionals to attend this wonderful event."

"The WTBA International Open presented by Sunset Station Casino and Hotel will be a very important stop on the World Tour and we invite all amateurs and professionals to attend this wonderful event."

In addition to presenting sponsor Sunset Station, Brunswick has also signed on as a supporting sponsor for the WTBA International Open.

"Brunswick has always been supportive of competitive bowling and we are especially keen for the advancement of international competitive bowling," President of Brunswick Bowling Products Brent Perrier said.

"We're pleased to lend our support to the WTBA World Tour in general and the WTBA International Open in particular."

The tournament will be a six-game re-entry style event that mirrors events on the European Bowling Tour, where players post their best six-game score to try and make the first cut. The event will be open to men and women and will have a special prize fund for women.

"WTBA believes that the World Bowling Tour is the future of our sport, and we're proud to announce we have created a new event for the best athletes in the world," WTBA President Kevin Dornberger said.

"This event will be made possible by our partnerships with Sunset Station and Brunswick. They have stepped up to make this event a reality."

The 2011 World Bowling Tour continues August 21-26 with the Korean Daejeon International Open in Daejeon, Korea. The World Bowling Tour Thailand will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 24-30 and the AMF Australian Masters will take place in Sydney, Australia, from October 10-22.

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.

Photos courtesy of Strike Zone Bowling Center.

17th August, Arlington, Texas: Bahamas will host a World Tenpin Bowling Association event for the first time in its history when the Bahamas International Bowling Classic 2012 joins the World Bowling Tour next year.

The inaugural event is scheduled to be conducted February 27 to March 4, 2012 at Mario's Bowling and Entertainment Palace, a new 50-lane bowling center in Nassau. It will mark the first time a World Bowling Tour event will be held in the American Zone outside of the United States.

"Hosting an international bowling tournament provides Bahamas with the opportunity to showcase the sport of bowling on the international arena," Mario's Bowling Marketing Manager Odette Carey said. "Attracting professional athletes, fans and media attention around the world brings excellent exposure for The Bahamas."

The Bahamian event is the first tournament to be confirmed for the 2012 World Bowling Tour. The Tour is currently in its inaugural year and boasts a schedule of eight events around the world.

"Although the 2011 World Bowling Tour has yet to conclude, it has been so successful that we're proud to announce the first tournament to join the Tour in 2012," World Tenpin Bowling Association President, Kevin Dornberger said. "The Bahamas are not only a beautiful place to visit, but it's a country with very passionate bowlers who look forward to hosting a WTBA event for the first time."

The 2011 World Bowling Tour continues August 21-26 with the Korean Daejeon International Open in Daejeon, Korea. The World Bowling Tour Thailand will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 24-30 and the AMF Australian Masters will take place in Sydney, Australia, from October 10-22.

The World Tenpin Bowling Association, which is made up of more than 100 bowling federations, governs the sport throughout the world. For more information on WTBA and the World Bowling Tour, visit www.worldtenpinbowling.com.

Photos courtesy of The Bahamas Tourism Agency.