PBA50 rolling into Fairborn for Classic regional event

While he is FAIRBORN — usually acknowledged for his accomplishments on the lanes, it’s Brian Kretzer’s efforts behind the scenes that are helping bring some of the best bowlers in the country to the Dayton area to compete.

Kretzer, winner of five PBA50 regional titles in the past year and recently named the PBA50 Central Region bowler of the year, has teamed up with Bowl 10 Fairborn proprietor Dave Flemming to establish the PBA50 Fairborn Central Classic.

The PBA50 regional event was created to fill the void left by the loss of several tournaments. According to Kretzer, the PBA50 has two less national and six less regional events this season, due primarily to scheduling conflicts.

“PBA50 bowlers need more places to bowl and

PBA50 FAIRBORN CENTRAL CLASSIC

July 18-20 Bowl 10 Fairborn, 1425 N. Broad St. Free

For information on sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, call 8789521 instead of sitting around and waiting for someone else to do it, we added one ourselves,” said Kretzer, a Dayton native who lives in Kettering. “If the bowling proprietors don’t come together and support our sport, the ride we’re on will be over.”

Kretzer and Flemming settled on July 18-20 for the Fairborn event, enabling bowlers to add it to a summer stretch that includes a regional tournament just outside Chicago, July 21-23, and a national event in Hammond, Indiana, July 24-27.

“Guys are always looking for something else to bowl, and it can break up their trip a bit,” Flemming said.

Kretzer and Flemming are estimating between 60 and 80 entries for the inaugural event, predominantly from the East, Central and Midwest regions, as well as a few big-name bowlers.

“We hope to have between eight and 12 national title-holders as well as a few PBA50 Hall of Famers,” Kretzer said.

Flemming is also encouraging local bowlers 50 and older to compete in what he hopes will become an annual PBA50 event.

“We have so many good bowlers, it would be great to see them come out,” he said.

While the event benefits PBA50 competitors, it’s also designed to help the community as select high school athletic departments will receive contributions as a result of the tournament sponsorships. A pro-am event will enable local bowlers to compete with the pros. Admission for the tournament itself will be free.

“Unlike most other sports, fans can be up close and talk with the pros,” Flemming said. “Bowling is unique in that way.”

“There are no negatives,” Kretzer said. “Someone just needed to step up, so that’s what we did.”