The U.S. Women’s Open starts Friday in Reno and when it ends next week it will be in an interesting setting, though not as interesting as last year.
I was one of the lucky 8,017 people who were in Cowboys Stadium last year for the taping of the TV finals of the Women’s Open, which was won by Leanne Hulsenberg.
It was quite an experience, with one memorable event being when an usher directed a few of us to an extra bathroom during a busy time between games. That “extra bathroom” turned out to be in the visitor’s lockerroom so we got to “go” where the Green Bay Packers and so many other teams have “gone.”
This year’s TV finals venue will be outside on Virginia Street in downtown Reno under the famous Reno Arch. I can’t make it this year, but I will be watching the show when it airs on ESPN2 on Tuesday, July 3 at 7 p.m. Central time. Fans can only hope it’s half as entertaining as Pete Weber’s win was in the U.S. Open in February.
“I got acclimated to Cowboys Stadium quickly, and it didn’t feel so ominous though it was such a big place,” Hulsenberg said in this USBC news release. “I was surprised I felt comfortable there. We were there all morning, and that helped. But being outside will be totally different, I don’t even picture it yet. For anyone who makes it to the finals, it’s going to be different.”
The Women’s Open competition leading up to the TV finals will be at the National Bowling Stadium. It includes three 6-game qualifying blocks, a 6-game semifinals round for the top 25 percent from qualifying, and a 16-woman round robin match play segment, before the top five advance to the TV finals.
All of the competition leading up to the TV finals will be webcast live on BOWL.com.
First prize is $40,000.
USBC said the Senior U.S. Women’s Open will take place alongside the U.S. Women’s Open. A field of more than 60 is expected to vie for the top prize of $5,000.
