THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 29, 1996 TAG: 9607290115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: 48 lines
Many of the best female bowlers in the nation will compete in this week's $65,000 Franklin Open at the Franklin Bowling Center.
The 32-lane center will host the tournament, formerly the Old Dominion Open in Newport News, for the first time. It is believed to be the first full-fledged professional sporting event in Franklin, and owner Chuck Gardner plans for it to become an annual event.
Gardner called John Falzone, president of the Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour, when one of the bowling regulars at the Franklin center learned that Denbigh Lanes in Newport News would not be hosting it this year.
``We only had 2 1/2 weeks notice,'' Gardner said. ``The investment is what I was worried about. It took $15,000 to bring the tournament here, but the city of Franklin was a big help.''
Four of this year's top five money leaders will compete, including LPBT leader Wendy MacPherson-Papanos, who has made $56,780 in 11 tournaments. Lisa Wagner, the winningest bowler in history with 30 LPBT titles, is also back to defend the title she won a year ago in Newport News.
The tournament starts this morning with qualifying. The 12 top-seeded bowlers, based on Merit Points Rankings, are not required to qualify. The other 51 bowlers will bowl eight games at 11 a.m. and eight games at 7 p.m. to compete for 20 spots.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, head-to-head competition for the 32 women begins, where each competitor will bowl each other, followed by one ``position round.'' For every game won, each woman is awarded 30 bonus pins.
Thursday night at 7 the top five bowlers will compete in stepladder-style finals to determine who goes home with the title and the $9,000 first prize.
The finals will be broadcast by the Prime Sports Network at noon on Aug. 6 and rebroadcast several times after that. ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
What: First annual $65,000 Franklin Open
Where: Franklin Bowling Center, 1327 Armory Drive
When: Monday through Thursday
Schedule: Today: Qualifying rounds 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday:
Top 32 match play (eight games) 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday: Top 32
match play (eight games), 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday: Stepladder
finals at 7 p.m.
Admission: $5 today, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursdays finals are
$10. Weekly pass is $20.
More info: Tournament director Deborah Elliott at 562-0221 by CNB