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By RED BURNHAMThe past couple of years have not been the most productive for the PWBA (Professional Women’s Bowlers Association). The girls have had their problems. Lack of money for tournaments,sponsors that are hard to come by, and hassles among the members and some of the leaders, have plagued the organization.Lately, the formation of a new women’s group, the LPBA (Ladies Professional Bowlers Association), has made it even tougher. With one organization having more than its share ofproblems getting sponsors and sites for tournaments, it only has to be twice as hard with two groups.The two organizations have been going at it now for almost two years and neither has been able to crack the others’ defense. Both claim bigger and better tournaments for their members. Also, more of them. Up to now, it hasn’t proved so. However, if one were to listen to Kris Saunders, a member of PWBA, the answer to the problem could be here. Here in the name of Roger Blaemire.“If there is such a person as a savior, Roger could be it for the PWBA,” Kris said after she completed bowling in the recen-tlyheld WASA tournament at Bradley Bowl.“I’ve been a member of the PWBA for three years now,” the blonde bowlers said, “and I think I am one of its strongest believers, especially now. I must admit I had my doubts at times, but now I think we are on the right track, thanks to Roger. ”Blaemire is not a bowler. He doesn’t pretend to know anything about bowling. But he wasn’t hired by the PWBA to bowl. Hewas hired to direct the group to bigger and better tournaments. He is a marketing expert and he is marketing women’s bowling on a professional level. And he is doing it professionally.“I have never been so encouraged about our group as I am now,” Kris said, with pure excitement in her voice. “He is just great and the progress he has made in the first four or five months with the group is just amazing. He is lining up sponsors for tournaments, he is getting sites for the tournaments and most important he is working on a TV schedule that could be just great.”According to Miss Saunders, who is a pretty good bowler in her own right, Blaemire has lined up a dozen tournaments for the women for the remainder of year and possibly more. All will be a minimum of $25,000 with a top prize of at least $3,000. He is doing an excellent selling job, knows where the contacts are, and apparently is making it work.“The TV shows that he is putting together won’t come about until next winter, but if it goes it could be the biggest boom women’s pro bowling has ever had,” Kris continued. “I can’t really give the details of the shows yet, because they haven’t been finalized, but it has me and many others close to the scene very excited. The money will be great and the format is one that every bowler will enjoy.”According to Kris, some of the people that are going to be connected with the new program Blaemire is putting together will shock a lot of people. They are big names in entertainment and sports today. This has been one of the things that bowling hasn’t been able to do, men or women. There hasn’t been the backing that golf and tennis has received.f 9“We still have a long way to go,” Kris added, “but I think under the guidance of a man like Roger Blaemire we are heading in the right direction for the first time in the three years that I have been connected with the PWBA. And not only do I think so, but all the other members feel the same.Maybe the PWBA has taken the right page out of the PBA book by hiring a non-bowler to led it. Eddie Elias did it with the PBA and it hasn’t fared too badly, roger Blaemire isn’t God, but if he pulls this off the way Kris Saunders thinks he can, he just may earn the title of “Savior of the PWBA.”PIN NOTES . . . Pete Couture and Bill Spigner continue to cash checks on the PBA summer tour. Spigner teamed with Dennis Lanes in PBA Doubles that concluded early this week and finished fifth, to earn a split of $2,600. Pete had Steve Jones as a partner and they were sixth. They each took a check for $1,100 . . . Paul Moser was eighth . .. Mark Roth and Marshall Holman were the winners . . . The tour heads to Fresno, Calif.this week with pro-am action beginning today and actual tournament play on Saturday... Both Pete and Bill have cashed in all three of the summer stops up to now, Pete earning $2,650 inthat stretch and Bill $4,780Don’t forget the PBA stop thatwill be coming to Cranston, R.I. the end of August... Sign-up for a pro-am spot now, call Bowlmaster in Hartford for information or any local bowling establishment for entry blanks .
Newspaper Details
Manchester Journal Inquirer
Manchester, Connecticut, US
Fri, Jul 01, 1977
Page 52
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MI, USA 19 Apr 2020
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