Move to weekend should make PBA50 regional bigger and better

PBA50 FAIRBORN CENTRAL CLASSIC

Organizers have their sights set on more competitors, fans and excitement at this year’s PBA50 Fairborn Central Classic.

“Our participation last year, especially given that it was held Tuesday through Thursday, was spectacular,” Brian Kretzer said. “For a firstyear event, we were thrilled.”

Close to 50 bowlers participated in the inaugural PBA50 regional event last year and more than 70 bowlers took part in the pro-am event.

“What was most exciting was the number of people who came out to watch the tournament,” Bowl 10 proprietor Dave Flemming said. “We had a number of the pros comment about the fact that we had more people come out on a Wednesday night, at a regional, than they do at some of the national stops.”

Scheduling will likely play a part in both an increase in the number of bowlers and fans as this year’s event will be held WHEN: July 13-15

WHERE: Bowl 10 Fairborn, 1425 N. Broad St. FRIDAY: Pro-am – 7 p.m.; SATURDAY: Squad A – 9 a.m. (eight games), Squad B – 3 p.m. (eight games); Top 14 players advance (based on 42 or more entries); SUNDAY: Round robin match play – 10 a.m. (10 games), cut to top four for two-game match play. ADMISSION: Free on a Saturday and Sunday with the pro-am kicking off the festivities on Friday night.

“We’re hoping, by moving it to the weekend, it will be more convenient for the guys who work during the week,” Flemming said. “We should see an increase in the total number of players.”

The timing in mid-July may also increase the tournament roster, as there are multiple Midwest national stops in Minnesota, Indiana and Michigan in the weeks following the Fairborn regional.

Kretzer — who recently finished second to Mika Koivuniemi in the PBA Senior U.S. Open in Las Vegas — was a driving force behind establishing the Bowl 10 regional event and will be among the many pros competing for the title.

“We’re hoping to have six to eight national title holders and two or three hall of famers,” Kretzer said. “Some of the best in the country will be here.”

The Kettering native thinks the Miami Valley is an ideal location for a major event such as a PBA50 Regional.

“I think it’s great that we can have an event in Dayton because it’s such a great sports town,” he said.

“And there is no other sport where you can be up close and talk to the guys,” Flemming said. “It’s a lot of fun for the fans and the bowlers.”