ARLINGTON, Texas - The 2021 U.S. Women's Open will feature a record-setting top prize of $100,000, and the finals will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
The 2021 U.S. Women's Open, which is taking place Aug. 24-31 at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, California, will mark the first professional women's bowling event to award its champion a six-figure first-place prize, with the stepladder finals airing Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. Eastern.
The second major championship on the 2021 Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour schedule will feature an increased overall prize fund of $275,000.
In addition to this year's U.S. Women's Open, the four major championships presented by the United States Bowling Congress and Bowling Proprietors' Association of America will be awarding $100,000 to each champion through 2023. These events include the U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Open, USBC Queens and USBC Masters.
"The U.S. Women's Open has a long and storied history, and we're excited to be able to add to its legacy in 2021 with a record top prize and national exposure on CBS Sports Network," USBC President Melissa McDaniel said. "Looking ahead to 2022 and 2023, we're proud to be able to commit to $100,000 top prizes at our major championships, while continuing to recognize champions and build a future for the sport."
Along with the increased prize fund and exposure during the U.S. Women's Open, the PWBA Tour Championship will return during the Fall Classic Series at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, this October as the final major of the season with a $50,000 top prize and live finals on CBS Sports Network.
The Tour Championship, with a new format, will replace the PWBA Bowl for the Cure Classic on the schedule as the final event of the Fall Classic Series on Oct. 29-31 and feature a projected prize fund of $200,000. The CBS Sports Network broadcast will be Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
The Tour Championship will mark the conclusion of the 2021 PWBA Tour season, which kicked off in January and will include 20 events across the United States.
"The PWBA Tour Championship has provided our athletes and fans with some incredible moments over the past five seasons, and it's fitting that it will help us wrap up another amazing year on national television, along with an increased prize fund," PWBA Director of Operations Tennelle Milligan said. "We're excited to conclude our season live on CBS Sports Network, while crowning our final champion of the year."
The 2021 U.S. Women's Open will feature three eight-game qualifying rounds to determine the bowlers advancing to the Cashers' Round at the recently renovated Double Decker Lanes, which installed new lanes leading up to the major championship. The eight-game Cashers' Round will determine the 24 athletes advancing to round-robin match play.
Match play will consist of three eight-game rounds, with total pinfall and bonus pins for each victory during match play determining the top five for the stepladder finals. Advancers to the championship round will have bowled 56 games to earn their spots on CBS Sports Network.
"We're excited to welcome back the top athletes on the PWBA Tour to Double Decker Lanes for the U.S. Women's Open," said Jim Decker, BPAA President and proprietor of Double Decker Lanes. "To be able to showcase this event on CBS Sports Network and help support a record-setting top prize means a great deal to our center, staff and the BPAA and its membership."
The Fall Classic Series will run from Oct. 24-31 in Reno and feature three national tour stops. The PWBA Reno Classic will kick things off Oct. 24-26, and the PWBA Pepsi Classic will take place Oct. 27-28.
A total of 24 bowlers will qualify for the Tour Championship, based on their 24-game qualifying totals from the Reno Classic and Pepsi Classic (12 games each).
All pinfall will drop heading into the Tour Championship, with total pinfall, plus bonus pins for each win or tie during the tournament's 24 games of match play, determining the five players advancing to the stepladder finals.
All qualifying and match-play rounds of the 2021 U.S. Women's Open and Tour Championship will be broadcast on BowlTV.com. BowlTV will provide wire-to-wire coverage of the Reno Classic and Pepsi Classic, including the stepladder finals.
Information on dates and locations for USBC's major championships in 2022 and 2023 will be released at a later date.
