After a one-year absence, the 68th U.S. Open will return to Brunswick Zone Carolier in North Brunswick, N.J., Feb. 21-27, with the addition of a unique three-day schedule of live television coverage. Carolier had previously hosted five consecutive U.S. Opens between 2005 and 2009.

The U.S. Open, considered by many to be the most challenging title in all of bowling to win, is an extreme test of bowling skill, patience and perseverance. What makes the U.S. Open special is that non-professionals, men or women, are invited to compete against the world’s top professionals on difficult lane conditions that place a high premium on accuracy and precise shot-making.

Bill O’Neill (pictured right) of Southampton, Pa., is defending U.S. Open champion, winning his first career major title in Indianapolis in 2010 over Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, who won the 2009 U.S. Open title at Carolier.

O’Neill’s victory – his second of the 2009-10 Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour season as well as the second of his young career – was part of a season that saw five first-time champions crowned.

Unique to the 2011 event will be three days of live television coverage, including the first-ever national network coverage of the final round of round-robin match play on Saturday, Feb. 26, plus live coverage of the “position round” – the dramatic final game of match play which will determine the four players who will advance to the stepladder finals on Sunday, Feb. 27.

The third show will provide live coverage of several matches during the final game in the opening round of match play on Friday, Feb. 25.

"Bringing the position round of the U.S. Open to a national television audience is something we are extremely excited about," said PBA Deputy Commissioner Tom Clark (pictured left). "The energy of that round consistently produces some of the most exhilarating moments in sports, but it’s a critical part of PBA competition that only spectators in the building and, most recently, Xtra Frame subscribers, ever get to witness."

An example was the 2010 position round in Indianapolis when eventual PBA Player of the Year Walter Ray Williams Jr., needed a seven-count on his fill ball to clinch a spot in the televised finals, but he left four pins standing, ending up tied with Norm Duke and eliminating both players from the show while Jason Couch slipped past both into a spot in the TV finals.

The next chapter in U.S. Open history will begin with 18 qualifying games for all players and continue through a grueling 51-game contest to determine the four finalists. In addition to Scroggins, the other U.S. Open champions at Carolier include Chris Barnes (2005), Tommy Jones (2006), Pete Weber (2007) and Norm Duke (2008).

 

68th U.S. Open Schedule

Brunswick Carolier Lanes, North Brunswick, N.J., Feb. 21-27, 2011

Monday, Feb. 21, 2011
8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - Practice squads
4 and 7 p.m. – Pro-Am squads

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011
8 a.m. - A Squad qualifying (6 games)
Noon - B Squad qualifying (6 games)
6 p.m. - C Squad qualifying (6 games)

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011
8 a.m. - B Squad qualifying (6 games)
Noon - C Squad qualifying (6 games)
6 p.m. - A Squad qualifying (6 games)

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011
8 a.m. - C Squad qualifying (6 games)
Noon - A Squad qualifying (6 games)
6 p.m. - B Squad qualifying (6 games)
Top 25 percent of field advances

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011
9 a.m. – Cashers’ Round (9 games)
Top 24 advance to match play
4:30 p.m. - Match Play Round 1 (7 games)
8 p.m. – Live television coverage, final game of Round 1 matches

Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011
9 a.m. - Match Play Round 2 (8 games)
4 p.m. - Match Play Round 3 (7 games)
8 p.m. – Live television coverage of the position round of match play (top four advance to stepladder finals)

Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011
tba – Top four, live television finals