1997 PBA Tour season

Last updated
PBA Bowling Tour: 1997 Season
League Professional Bowlers Association
Sport Ten-pin bowling
DurationJanuary 21 – December 14, 1997
PBA Tour
Season MVP Walter Ray Williams, Jr.
PBA Tour seasons

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.

Contents

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 12th 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

EventBowling centerCityDatesWinner
Brunswick World Tournament of Champions National Bowling Stadium Reno, Nevada Jan 21–25 John Gant (4)
Columbia 300 OpenHighland Lanes Austin, Texas Jan 28 – Feb 1 Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (22)
Tucson OpenGolden Pin Lanes Tucson, Arizona Feb 4–8 Pete Weber (22)
Brentwood ClassicHarvest Park Bowl Brentwood, California Feb 11–15 John Mazza (7)
Northwest ClassicFiesta Bowl Richland, Washington Feb 18–22 Brian Voss (17)
Oregon OpenHollywood Bowl Portland, Oregon Feb 24–28 Jim Johnson Jr. (1)
AC-Delco ClassicCal Bowl Lakewood, California Mar 4–8 Parker Bohn III (12)
Showboat InvitationalShowboat Bowling Center Las Vegas, Nevada Mar 9–15Parker Bohn III (13)
Peoria OpenLandmark 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 OpenEastway Lanes/Erie Civic Center Erie, Pennsylvania Apr 1–5 Tim Criss (1)
Bud Light ChampionshipSports Plus Lake Grove, New York Apr 8–12Wayne Webb (20)
Comfort Inn ClassicCrown Lanes Tampa, Florida Apr 15–19Pete Weber (23)
Greater Sebring OpenKegel Bowling Center Sebring, Florida Apr 21–26Tim Criss (2)
Brunswick Johnny Petraglia OpenCarolier Lanes North Brunswick, New Jersey May 6–10Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (23)
IOF Foresters OpenClassic Bowl Mississauga, Ontario May 13–17 Norm Duke (12)
Harrisburg OpenABC North Lanes Harrisburg, Pennsylvania May 27–31 Tom Baker (9)
Greater Detroit OpenTaylor Lanes Taylor, Michigan Jun 3–7 Ricky Ward (2)
Wichita OpenNorthrock Lanes Wichita, Kansas Jun 10–14Brian Voss (18)
St. Clair ClassicSt. Clair Bowl Fairview Heights, Illinois Jun 17–21Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (24)
Oronamin C Japan Cup Tokyo Port Bowl Tokyo, Japan Sep 18–21 Doug Kent (2)
Ebonite Challenge 1Bradley Bowl Windsor Locks, Connecticut Oct 4–8Norm Duke (13)
Ebonite Challenge 2Marcel's Olympic Bowl Rochester, New York Oct 11–15 Steve Hoskins (5)
Mobil 1 ClassicBay Lanes Bay City, Michigan Oct 18–22 Amleto Monacelli (17)
Ebonite Challenge 3Woodland Bowl Indianapolis, Indiana Oct 25–29John Mazza (8)
Ebonite ClassicPinboys of Western Branch Chesapeake, Virginia Nov 1–5Amleto Monacelli (18)
Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players ChampionshipFunfest Entertainment Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nov 8–12Steve Hoskins (6)
Merit Mixed Doubles ChampionshipOrleans Bowling Center Las Vegas, Nevada Dec 12–14Tim Criss (3),
Carol Gianotti-Block

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References

  1. "1997 Ebonite Challenge". PBA.
  2. Callahan, Gerry (June 30, 1997). "The Last Frame". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.