The BPAA launches a new national championship

Bowling Digest, Winter, 2004

A NEW TEAM-ORIENTED TOURNAment that encourages new league development in addition to providing a national finals competition is ready for action, according to the BPAA. The BPAA now offers five tournaments with national finals.

The new BPAA National Mixed League Championship came from a vision the BPAA's immediate past president Jack Moran had to create a team-based tournament that was built around new league development.

BPAA member centers can form a new league or enhance an existing league as a basis for qualifying in this National Championship, which is scheduled to be held at Sam's Town in Las Vegas, A December 5-8 or December 12-15, 2005 (bowlers choose the week in which they want to bowl). Leagues can be formed from now through the 2005 summer season and be conducted as a full season (33-week) or short (16-week) league. All leagues must be sanctioned by the new USBC (ABC/WIBC).

Each team advancing to the National Finals will consist of four bowlers and may not have an entering league average that exceeds 780. Entries are limited to the first 252 teams that enter. The National Finals prize fund will be $100,000, with a first-place prize of $20,000, based on 252 team entries.

Any BPAA member bowling center interested in the National Mixed League Championship can access a "How To" guide on www.bpaa.com, e-mail BPAA tournaments at lucy@bpaa.com, or contact the BPAA at (800) 343-1329.