PBA announces 2008 PBA Senior Tour Schedule

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) has announced the schedule for the 2008 PBA Senior Tour.

The 2008 PBA Senior Tour is currently slated to have nine events, which includes six standard events, two Major events and the return of the PBA Ladies and Legends.

Both Major events will once again take place on the West Coast, with Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson, Ariz., hosting the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Senior Masters, June 8-13, while the PBA Senior U.S. Open will once again return to the Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas, June 15-20.

Of the nine tournaments, eight will be held in centers which hosted events in 2007. After a two-year hiatus, Airport Lanes in Jackson, Mich., has returned to the PBA Senior Tour schedule for the 2008 PBA Senior Jackson Open, May 10-13.

"We're very appreciative of the continued support from our loyal tournament hosts who accommodate the PBA Senior Tour players and staff year after year," John Weber, Director of PBA Senior and Regional Tours, said. "We look forward to a fantastic Senior Tour kickoff in Dayton, Ohio, followed by the return of the Ladies and Legends in Rockford, Ill., and we are pleased to welcome back Airport Lanes, which will undoubtedly provide a terrific conclusion to an excellent three-week opening of the PBA Senior Tour."

Following a three-week break after the opening swing, the Tour returns to Golden Pins Lanes for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. After hosting a standard event the last three seasons, this year Tucson will play host to the prestigious USBC Senior Masters. The following week, the second of two Majors takes place with the PBA Senior U.S. Open in Las Vegas, followed by time-honored stops in Klamath Falls, Ore., and Brentwood, Calif.

The winner of both the USBC Senior Masters and the PBA Senior U.S. Open will earn a berth in the 2008-09 PBA Tournament of Champions, one of four Majors on the Denny's PBA Tour.

The third and final swing of the season wraps up in the Midwest, starting with return trips to Olympia Lanes in Hammond, Ind., and Spare Time Lanes in Decatur, Ill.

PBA members wishing to bowl in PBA Senior Tour events may enter online beginning Jan. 30, or they may enter by filling out the entry form available on the PBA's official website, www.pba.com, starting Jan. 30 and mailing or faxing the form to the address on the entry form.

Entry fees for PBA Senior Tour events will be $425. Standard event cash spots will be increased to $900 while Super Senior checks (60 years and older) will pay $700. Finalist spots from 17th-24th places and 25th-32nd places will pay $1,150 and $1,050, respectively. As in past seasons, all prize funds are based on entries.

Non-PBA members who wish to bowl in PBA Senior Tour events can cash in one event per year, excluding the PBA Senior U.S. Open and USBC Senior Masters. The non-member entry fee is $475 for standard events.

PBA members will have priority over non-members up to 30 days prior to a tournament. After 30 days, all entries will be taken on a first come, first served basis until the field is full. Non-member entry forms can be found on PBA.com beginning Jan. 30.

Below is the complete 2008 PBA Senior Tour schedule (subject to change; events may be added in coming months).