PBA Bowling Tour: 1997 Season

This is a recap of the 1997 season for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. It was the tour's 39th season, and consisted of 28 events.

PBA Bowling Tour: 1997 Season
LeagueProfessional Bowlers Association
SportTen-pin bowling
DurationJanuary 21 – December 14, 1997
PBA Tour
Season MVPWalter Ray Williams, Jr.

John Gant won the season-opening Brunswick World Tournament of Champions for his first major title, while Rick Steelsmith was victorious at the PBA National Championship.

Walter Ray Williams, Jr. won three titles on the season, and was honored with his second consecutive PBA Player of the Year award and fourth overall.

At the Ebonite Challenge in Rochester, New York, Steve Hoskins rolled the PBA's 11th televised 300 game, and also went on to win the tournament.[1]

1997 also marked the end of ABC-TV's affiliation with the PBA Tour, as its Professional Bowlers Tour series came to a close after 36 years.[2]

Tournament schedule

EventBowling centerCityDatesWinner
Brunswick World Tournament of Champions National Bowling Stadium Reno, Nevada Jan 21–25 John Gant (4)
Columbia 300 Open Highland Lanes Austin, Texas Jan 28 – Feb 1 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (22)
Tucson Open Golden Pin Lanes Tucson, Arizona Feb 4–8 Pete Weber (22)
Brentwood Classic Harvest Park Bowl Brentwood, California Feb 11–15 John Mazza (7)
Northwest Classic Fiesta Bowl Richland, Washington Feb 18–22 Brian Voss (17)
Oregon Open Hollywood Bowl Portland, Oregon Feb 24–28 Jim Johnson Jr. (1)
AC-Delco Classic Cal Bowl Lakewood, California Mar 4–8 Parker Bohn III (12)
Showboat Invitational Showboat Bowling Center Las Vegas, Nevada Mar 9–15 Parker Bohn III (13)
Peoria Open Landmark Recreation Center Peoria, Illinois Mar 18–22 Wayne Webb (19)
PBA National Championship Ducat's Imperial Lanes Toledo, Ohio Mar 22–29 Rick Steelsmith (2)
Flagship Open Eastway Lanes/Erie Civic Center Erie, Pennsylvania Apr 1–5 Tim Criss (1)
Bud Light Championship Sports Plus Lake Grove, New York Apr 8–12 Wayne Webb (20)
Comfort Inn Classic Crown Lanes Tampa, Florida Apr 15–19 Pete Weber (23)
Greater Sebring Open Kegel Bowling Center Sebring, Florida Apr 21–26 Tim Criss (2)
Brunswick Johnny Petraglia Open Carolier Lanes North Brunswick, New Jersey May 6–10 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (23)
IOF Foresters Open Classic Bowl Mississauga, Ontario May 13–17 Norm Duke (12)
Harrisburg Open ABC North Lanes Harrisburg, Pennsylvania May 27–31 Tom Baker (9)
Greater Detroit Open Taylor Lanes Taylor, Michigan Jun 3–7 Ricky Ward (2)
Wichita Open Northrock Lanes Wichita, Kansas Jun 10–14 Brian Voss (18)
St. Clair Classic St. Clair Bowl Fairview Heights, Illinois Jun 17–21 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (24)
Oronamin C Japan Cup Tokyo Port Bowl Tokyo, Japan Sep 18–21 Doug Kent (2)
Ebonite Challenge 1 Bradley Bowl Windsor Locks, Connecticut Oct 4–8 Norm Duke (13)
Ebonite Challenge 2 Marcel's Olympic Bowl Rochester, New York Oct 11–15 Steve Hoskins (5)
Mobil 1 Classic Bay Lanes Bay City, Michigan Oct 18–22 Amleto Monacelli (17)
Ebonite Challenge 3 Woodland Bowl Indianapolis, Indiana Oct 25–29 John Mazza (8)
Ebonite Classic Pinboys of Western Branch Chesapeake, Virginia Nov 1–5 Amleto Monacelli (18)
Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championship Funfest Entertainment Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nov 8–12 Steve Hoskins (6)
Merit Mixed Doubles Championship Orleans Bowling Center Las Vegas, Nevada Dec 12–14 Tim Criss (3),
Carol Gianotti-Block

References

  1. "1997 Ebonite Challenge". PBA.
  2. Callahan, Gerry (June 30, 1997). "The Last Frame". Sports Illustrated.
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