THE PBA MAKES A TOUR STOP FOR THE BOWLING FOUNDATION

PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic Could Play Pivotal Role in Player of the Year Race

SEATTLE Wash. (March 6, 2009) – As the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour’s 2008-09 season heads down the homestretch, the PBA Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic scheduled for March 25-29 at AMF Babylon Lanes in West Babylon, N.Y., could play a pivotal role in the season points race and Player of the Year honors.

In 2008, 12-time Lumber Liquidator PBA Tour champion Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., defeated Hall of Famer Pete Weber, 257-191, to win the GEICO Classic heldatAMF Babylon Lanes.

Jones and Weber, along with a star-studded field including a number of competitors recently named to the list of the 50 greatest players in PBA history as part of its 50th anniversary celebration will be among the field of 64. Players on that list who will compete are all-time PBA Tour titles leader Walter Ray Williams Jr. (45 wins), Parker Bohn III, Chris Barnes, and Player of the Year contenders Wes Malott, Norm Duke and 2009 H & R Block Tournament of Champions winner Patrick Allen.

The format will consist of 14 games of qualifying with a cut to the top 32 for nine-game modified round robin match play. The field will then be cut to the top 16 for another round of match play to determine the top five for the stepladder finals to be televised by ESPN at 2 p.m. Eastern.

The tournament will feature two of the PBA’s lane conditioning patterns: Viper and Shark for the first two qualifying rounds, respectively, and for match play the left lane will use the Shark condition and the right lane Viper.

The Bowling Foundation partners with bowling organizations such as the PBA, Bowling Proprietor’s Association of America, Bowling Proprietors International and United States Bowling Congress to serve as the central and premier charitable arm of bowling, the industry and its partners worldwide to become a philanthropic leader toward social change.

"We are honored to be a part of this event,” said Troy Greisen, Bowling Foundation’s Executive Director.  “Just as the PBA showcases some of the world's greatest bowlers, The Bowling Foundation supports some of the most important charitable causes.  Our partnership with the PBA is yet another way we can show that bowling cares."

Tickets and pro-am entries are still being accepted for this event and information can be obtained by visiting pba.com or by calling AMF Babylon Lanes at (631) 661-6600.

PBA BOWLING FOUNDATION LONG ISLAND CLASSIC
AMF Babylon Lanes – West Babylon, N.Y.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
9 a.m. - Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour Qualifying Round (7 games total pins)
4:30 p.m. - Exempt Player Practice

THURSDAY, MARCH 26
10 a.m. - Round of 64 (7 games on Viper)
5 p.m. - Round of 64 (7 games on Shark)
Cut to top 32 players

FRIDAY, MARCH 27
11 a.m. - Match Play Round 1 (9 games, cut to top 16 players)
6 p.m. - Match Play Round 2 (9 games, top 5 advance to ESPN finals)

SATURDAY, MARCH 28
PBA Pro-Am Events and Fan Day
Pro-Am Times: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29
2 p.m. (Eastern) Live ESPN Television Finals 

About the PBA

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) features the best bowlers in the world competing in National, Regional and Senior Tour events and will award over $4.3 million in prize money during the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators PBA National Tour.  The organization has more than 4,000 members spanning 13 countries, and nearly one million viewers tune-in to watch the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour every Sunday on ESPN throughout the season. PBA sponsors include Bayer, Brunswick, CLR, Denny's, Etonic, Flomax, GEICO, Go RVing, H&R Block, Lumber Liquidators, Motel 6, Pepsi-Cola and the USBC, among others. For more information on the PBA, log on to www.pba.com.  This season marks the 50^th Anniversary of the PBA Tour.

About The Bowling Foundation
The Bowling Foundation operates and supports many youth related programs, bowling organizations and charitable causes through the efforts of bowlers, leagues, associations, and bowling centers.  Some of the most important programs include:  Bowl For The Cure with the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Special Olympics, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, Bowl For Veterans, and various scholarships and grants for schools and youth organizations.  For more information, log onto www.bowlingfoundation.org