No World Series of Bowling in 2018
World Series of Bowling X will not mark the spot until 2019.
With the transition of its television package to Fox next year, the Professional Bowlers Association has delayed the annual extravaganza until next March. The multi-event WSOB will take place March 11-21 at Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit.
The PBA replaced the World Series on this year’s schedule with the recently announced PBA Fall Swing in October at Tulsa, Okla.
PBA titles will be contested on live TV on four consecutive nights, according to commissioner Tom Clark.
Local scene
After bowling four weeks as the reigning PBA50 Player of the Year, Brian Leclair of Albany has decided not to aggravate his injured left knee any further on the spring and summer senior tour. Leclair cashed in all four of his tournaments, earning a total of $4,575, but did not advance to a championship round. He won twice last year . ... Bill Neumann of Rensselaer
finished 22nd — one spot below Leclair — in last week’s PBA50 Johnny Petraglia Open in Farmingdale.
Liz Kuhlkin of Rotterdam qualified 20th and finished 28th in last week’s PWBA Fountain Valley (Calif.) Open, earning $1,150. Kuhlkin was 15th in the season-opening event in Las Vegas, then failed to cash the following tournament in Rohnert Park, Calif . ... Brandon Vallone of Clarksburg, Mass., defeated Joseph Mains of Port Ewen (Ulster County) 202-201 and 183-158 in the championship final of the Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour Masters at Town ’n Country.
The New Era Senior Tour is adding an optional “mystery doubles” component to its tournament Saturday at Uncle Sam. Doubles teams will be randomly decided by computer for those who pony up the extra $10.
National news
The PBA’S 38-year association with ESPN ended Sunday with the taped telecast of the Elias Cup. CBS Sports Network, on Tuesday nights beginning May 22, will have coverage of the PBA Tour Finals and U.S. Open before Fox takes over the TV package in 2019 . ... Next year’s USBC Masters will be March 26-April 1 in Las Vegas, also site of the USBC Open Championships. Fox Sports 1 will televise the final live.
For those who like to look ahead, Aug. 11 (a Saturday) has been designated National Bowling Day. Bowlers can get a free game at participating bowling centers. For more information, visit http://gobowling.com.