China's PBA Pioneers League Continues to Pursue PBA StatusJuly 30, 2015 · Ningbo Zhao

by Bill Vint, Professional Bowlers Association

PBA: July 30, 2015 - The Longmarch PBA Pioneers League in China is currently in its fifth season of working to develop players to PBA membership eligibility status. The PBA Pioneers League program involves rigorous three-day, 12-games-a-day qualifying events, and requires players to average at least 200 in order to meet the PBA's minimum eligibility requirement before applying for membership.

Longmarch Bowling owner Frank Zhao, who founded the PBA league program, said 26 bowlers from all parts of China are competing in the current session, which got underway following a Brunswick-sponsored visit to China by PBA Tour champion Sean Rash, PBA Tour Reps Chuck Gardner and Pat Mitchell for a series of clinics, pro-ams and exhibitions.

Representatives of the Pioneers league program will travel to Reno in December to compete in the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VII, following in the footsteps of the first delegation of Chinese bowlers ever to compete in the WSOB last fall at South Point in Las Vegas.

Zhao also said it appears representatives of the China Bowling Association and the China Sport Bureau will join the Chinese PBA members in Reno this year as the world's largest nation continues to pursue training and education for its emerging bowling programs.