Women bowlers from across the US converging on Tulsa

Tulsa is getting ready to be bowled over by one of the country's biggest sporting events. The Women's International Bowling Congress rolls into town this weekend for its 86th annual championship.

Tuesday, April 5th 2005, 10:13 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa is getting ready to be bowled over by one of the country's biggest sporting events. The Women's International Bowling Congress rolls into town this weekend for its 86th annual championship.

The event is at River Lanes and run 17 hour days for 72 straight days with more than 40,000 bowlers. The tournament travels to different towns each year. Tulsa was chosen over places like Salt Lake City and Detroit.

Because these are amateur bowlers, the mood is more vacation than competition and officials say they like to go out on the town. Julie Piekarski with the Women's International Bowling Congress: "A lot of sightseeing, any tours they can get their hands on. They go eat, they shop, they like to visit the cities that we're in."

Steve Inasy with River Lanes: "They're in town 3-and-a-half days, but they're only going to be in the bowling center for 7 hours, so they're going to be out there spending some cash, and that's what we need as Tulsa."

River Lanes will be closed to public bowling for the entire 72 days of the tournament, but the public is more than welcome to come watch the competition.

The best part is admission is free nearly every day except for a few days when professional bowlers are in town.