Thomas and Ivonne Gross lead the field in the 1st Maribor Open Strike Tournament at Strike Bowling Center in Maribor, Slovenia, after day one. The couple, which will represent Austria in this year's QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup In Russia, rolled 1330 and 1325 in the second qualifying squad on Saturday, Sep. 8, respectively.

Squad 1 leader Helmut Peinelt (right), slipped to second place with 1313. Dirk Völkel, both of Germany, is fourth at 1312. Rounding out the top 5 is Christian Schrempf, Austria, with 1277.

The inaugural Maribor Open runs through September 16, 2007 at Strike Bowling Center, a state-of-the-art 16-laner with the latest Brunswick equipment in Maribor, Slovenia. The tournament is designated as a newcomer on the 2008 European Bowling Tour.

The Maribor Open offers total prize money of 73.000 Euro or approximately 100,000 U.S. Dollar. Men and women will compete in the same division with women receiving 8 pins handicap, the standard on the European Bowling Tour.

The winner will receive the 8.000 Euro top prize (approx. $11,000). The general tax in Slovenia is 25 per cent and will be automatically deducted from the prize money of each foreigner.

The 1st Maribor Open Strike Tournament is underway at Strike Bowling Center in Maribor, Slovenia. Helmut Peinelt (right) from Germany took the early lead with 1313 six-game total.

Christian Schrempf, is second with 1277. Ivonne Gross is in third place with 1267 including 48 pins women's handicap. Fourth place belonged to European Doubles champion Thomas Tybl, both Austria, with 1256. Rounding out the top 5 was Jan Petan, Slovenia, with 1245.

The inaugural Maribor Open runs through September 16, 2007 at Strike Bowling Center, a state-of-the-art 16-laner with the latest Brunswick equipment in Maribor, Slovenia. The tournament is designated as a newcomer on the 2008 European Bowling Tour.

The Maribor Open offers total prize money of 73.000 Euro or approximately 100,000 U.S. Dollar. Men and women will compete in the same division with women receiving 8 pins handicap, the standard on the European Bowling Tour.

The winner will receive the 8.000 Euro top prize (approx. $11,000). The general tax in Slovenia is 25 per cent and will be automatically deducted from the prize money of each foreigner.

Bowlingdigital will cover the event live from Maribor commencing Wednesday, September 12 all the way through to the finals on Sunday, September 16.