JOHN BASSETTI | Bowling PWBA's status hasn't changed much lately

Will there be a professional women's bowling national tour again?
The idea is being kicked around, but, its seems, movement in the planning stages is slow.
"We're putting together a business plan," said Jan Schmidt, director of tournaments and marketing for the Women's International Bowling Congress.
"We're doing a lot of investigative work in terms of other women's sports organizations and other bowling organizations and other pro sports for women and determining what's worked for them and what hasn't," Schmidt said from her office in Greendale, Wisconsin.
One of those organizations is the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
Last event
The last event before the Professional Women's Bowling Association ceased operations was in July, 2003. Since then, the WIBC assumed the rights to the assets (name, logo, merchandise) of the old PWBA national Tour. At one time, the PWBA had a three-part schedule that included swings in winter-spring, summer and fall.
In short, nothing has changed since the WIBC released a report in June.
"We're just proceeding with developing a business plan by talking to sponsors and TV. We need to put together those ingredients if we're going to go forward. We aren't going to report anything until we have something concrete."
Schmidt, whose last full-time bowling with the PWBA was in 1998, said that some women are competing in men's regional tour events. The PBA has opened membership to women, but qualifying for the men's national tour would require nailing down one of the six exemptions available per event.
The WIBC, itself, will cease to exist as of Jan. 1, 2005 when it merges with the ABC, YABA and USA Bowling to form the United States Bowling Congress.
"That's part of what's going on in the industry," Mark Miller of the Bowling Communications department at bowling headquarters said of the creation of unified membership.
"Whatever plan develops for the women's tour will be given to the new organization," Miller said. "Those assets would transfer to the U.S. Bowling Congress."
Local
A pair of 259s sandwiched Tim Graham's 300 for an 818 set in the Max Belchyk Classic at Holiday on Sept. 16.
Tracie Scott had 298 in Wednesday Nite Ladies at Wedgewood on Sept. 15 before finishing with a 627 set.
Teri Haefke had 296 in Lucianno's Restaurant Mixed at Wedgewood on Sept. 4 when her 759 set led men and women.