Steve Miller has some good news for Clearwater's Cindy Hall, but it will be a year before she can capitalize on it.
"I'm not a crusader, an activist or an agitator, and I don't want to start a big issue, but I'd like to bowl on the PBA men's tour, if only in a regional," said Hall, a tall right-hander with impressive credentials.
Miller, president and CEO of the Professional Bowlers Association, will give her and other interested women that opportunity next year, opening the door to female competitors.
"No women's tour player has ever asked to bowl on our tour, but that conversation has come up numerous times and I'm sure it will be a continuing discussion, especially since there is now no women's pro tour," Miller said.
"Next year we will address that situation through our new weekly pro-am series," he said. "With our new format, women can bowl in those pro-ams, and if one wins, she will be eligible to compete on the national tour, even if she is not a PBA member. It will be an open-entry opportunity for women to compete on tour."
Miller explained that for a woman to bowl the national or regional tour now, she must be a PBA member, which means qualifying through the PBA school. Six women competed in the recent ABC Masters Tournament in Reno, Nev. It counts as a PBA event, with all points and exemptions applying.
"If one of them had won, she would qualify to bowl the national tour," Miller said.
Hall has sent e-mails to the PBA, its southern regional headquarters and ESPN, which airs the tour.
The southern region responded by saying: "She should look to the women's pro tour." Hall, however, has heard nothing from the PBA or ESPN. The Professional Women's Bowling Association closed shop in August.
"I'm encouraged that Mr. Miller feels that way and that, perhaps next year, a woman will bowl the men's pro tour," Hall said.
If Hall tries to enter a southern regional in Tampa later this year, Miller said "we'd have to address it at that time."
Hall has a 230 average in a Seminole Lanes mixed league and owns two 800 series, a 300 game, three 299 performances and four 290 games.
The PBA was founded in 1958 by Eddie Elias in Akron, Ohio, and, as far as anyone at the headquarters can recall, no women has bowled on the tour except in mixed doubles tournaments.
TURTLES ON BOARD: The Clearwater Traveling Turtles Club has its annual tournament Feb.15 at 1 p.m. The singles event is open to all Turtles and sanctioned and unsanctioned bowlers with a $15 entry fee. The club uses funds to distribute canned foods to the Helping Hands in Clearwater. For information, call (727) 536-5845.
ROSEBERRY WINS: Jacksonville's Russ Roseberry defeated St.Petersburg's Cindy Gieschen 214-186 to win the NABI tournament and $185 at Seminole Lanes. St.Petersburg's Les Foerster finished third.
