| PBA Bowling Tour: 1997 Season | |
|---|---|
| League | Professional Bowlers Association |
| Sport | Ten-pin bowling |
| Duration | January 21 – December 14, 1997 |
| PBA Tour | |
| Season MVP | Walter Ray Williams, Jr. |
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.
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
| Event | Bowling center | City | Dates | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- ↑ "1997 Ebonite Challenge". PBA.
- ↑ Callahan, Gerry (June 30, 1997). "The Last Frame". Sports Illustrated.