Record field set for Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles

26 July, 2016

PWBA Tour

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The largest field in the 17-year history of Donna Conners’ tribute to her late friend, Luci Bonneau, will arrive in Houston this weekend to compete for Professional Bowlers Association and Professional Women’s Bowlers Association Tour titles in the PBA-PWBA Xtra Frame Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles tournament, sponsored by Storm.

After raising nearly $750,000 to help fund breast cancer research and assist those who may not be able to afford proper care, Conners continues to enhance the tournament to accommodate an increasing number of PBA and PWBA competitors who want to participate.

True, there is a $16,000 first prize at stake for the winning team, but that’s not the reason bowlers from across the nation support “The Luci,” as the tournament is affectionately known. The bowlers want to support the cause in the name of a beloved former competitor.

Conners will take the event to new heights this year by adding a fourth qualifying squad, meaning there will be room for an additional 42 teams. In previous years, the tournament at Bowl on Bellaire (formerly named Palace Lanes) was limited to 126 teams. But Conners doesn’t ever want to turn away players who want to participate.

So in its 17th year, the tournament will include its largest entry ever – more than 300 individuals. And for the second year in a row, bowling fans around the world will be able to follow the event from start to finish, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online video-streaming service.

In addition to the world-class competition, “the Luci” includes a world-class pro-am in which amateur bowlers bowl alongside PBA and PWBA stars, winning significant merchandise prizes donated by a number of Houston area retailers, bowling industry companies and the players themselves.

Throughout the event, activities are aimed at raising money that will be donated to The Rose, a Houston-based organization that helps women who can’t afford breast care treatment or mammograms, and the Huntsman Group, a cancer research based in Utah.

“My mission statement is that you have to have players to bowl the tournament. If you don’t have the players, you don’t have a pro-am,” Conners said in explaining her philosophy. “If you don’t have a pro-am, you can’t raise money. It’s all about the players. That’s the rule we live by. The players are great; they make it happen.”

For those who would like to support Conners’ efforts, but can’t attend the event, visit click here to make a contribution online.

Shannon O’Keefe, Bill O’Neill win second Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles title
2016 PBA Tour Schedule & Champions
2016 PWBA Tour Schedule & Champions

PBA/PWBA Xtra Frame Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles Schedule

Bowl on Bellaire in Houston, Texas, USA (July 29-31, 2016)

Thursday, July 28, 2016
9 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Open practice sessions

Friday, July 29, 2016
8 a.m. – A Squad, 8 qualifying games
1:30 p.m. – B Squad, 8 qualifying games
8 p.m. – Pro-am squad

Saturday, July 30, 2016
8 a.m. – C Squad, 8 qualifying games
1:30 p.m. – D Squad, 8 qualifying games
Top 30 games after 8 games advance to cashers’ round
8 p.m. – Pro-am squad

Sunday, July 31, 2016
8 a.m. – Top 38 teams, 4-game cashers’ round
Top 8 teams after 12 games advance to round-robin match play
Noon – Top 8 teams, 8 games round robin match play

History of Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles Winners

2000 – Donna Conners/Mark Scroggins
2001 – Amy Dillon/Chris Barnes
2002 – Diandra (Hyman) Asbaty/Dino Castillo
2003 – Genie Franklin/Wes Malott
2004 – Krystal Scott/Russ Wilson
2005 – Rachel Perez/Paul Fleming
2006 – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard/Marc Laracuente
2007 – Shannon Pluhowsky/Tommy Jones
2008 – Shannon Pluhowsky/Tommy Jones
2009 – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard/Parker Bohn III
2010 – Shannon Pluhowsky/Tommy Jones
2011 – Shannon Pluhowsky/Tommy Jones
2012 – Shannon O’Keefe/Bryan O’Keefe
2013 – Shannon O’Keefe/Bill O’Neill
2014 – Missy Parkin/Scott Norton
2015 – Shannon O’Keefe/Bill O’Neill