With the possibility of winning $1 million and competing at Cowboys Stadium in front of perhaps the largest crowd in bowling history, there has never been more on the line for Bowling's U.S. Women's Open defending champion Kelly Kulick (pictured right).

The road to making bowling history will be a long and challenging one for Kulick. For one, she will face the largest field in the history of the U.S. Women's Open as nearly 300 athletes are expected to compete.

The event begins with qualifying on Saturday at AMF Euless Lanes in Euless, Texas, and continues until a champion is crowned on June 30 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. BOWL.com will have live streaming of all rounds leading up to the ESPN2 televised finals, which will be broadcast July 2 at 6 p.m. Eastern.

"It's hard to sum up the challenge in front of me in words," said Kulick, a Union, N.J., native who defeated Liz Johnson (left) of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 233-203 to win last year's title. "The size and scope of this event brings meaning and respect to women's bowling. Being in Cowboys Stadium, I hope to create our own Super Bowl."

The first-place prize in the U.S. Women's Open is a guaranteed $50,000, but should a bowler roll a 300 game in the championship match she would win $1 million.

"I don't think it would surprise me if someone shot 300 because this tournament is already bringing so many firsts," said Kulick, who also won the U.S. Women's Open in 2003. "If the stars align, I think it would be possible. Wouldn't that be a great way to make sports history?"

Organizers of the U.S. Women's Open, sponsored by the Brands of Ebonite International and conducted by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, hope to set the world record for attendance at a bowling event. The current record stands at 7,212, set at the men's U.S. Open in 1995 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

"There has never before been an event like the 2011 Bowling's U.S. Women's Open, both in our industry and in pro sports," BPAA Executive Director Steve Johnson (right) said. "Records will be shattered, history will be made and a champion will be crowned as women's bowling gets its well-deserved chance to take center stage."

The 2011 U.S. Women's Open is already poised to break one record with 291 participants signed up to compete, which would top the previous record of 267 set in 2003. A total of 17 countries will be represented in the field.

 

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